Description
Mama’s Pizza Casserole is a hearty and comforting baked pasta dish featuring rotini pasta mixed with a savory ground beef and pizza sauce filling, layered with pepperoni, mozzarella, cheddar cheese, and optional vegetables. Perfect for family dinners, this casserole combines favorite pizza flavors into an easy-to-make, crowd-pleasing meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 12 ounces uncooked rotini pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 3 cups pizza sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Toppings
- 1 cup sliced pepperoni, divided
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup sliced black olives (optional)
- 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Baking Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking during baking.
- Cook the Pasta: Boil the rotini pasta according to the package directions until it’s al dente, meaning it’s cooked but still firm to the bite. Drain the pasta thoroughly and set aside.
- Cook the Ground Beef Mixture: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and chopped onion, cooking until the beef is browned and the onion is soft, breaking the beef into crumbles as it cooks. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add Sauce and Seasonings: Stir in the pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper into the skillet with the cooked beef mixture. Allow this sauce to simmer gently for about 5 minutes to meld the flavors together.
- Combine Pasta and Meat Sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked rotini pasta with the meat sauce, half of the sliced pepperoni, and half of the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Mix everything well until evenly blended.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spread the pasta and meat sauce mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Top the casserole with the remaining shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses and the rest of the pepperoni slices. If desired, sprinkle sliced black olives and diced green bell pepper over the top for added flavor and color.
- Bake the Casserole: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Rest Before Serving: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. This allows the casserole to set slightly for easier portioning and enhanced flavors.
Notes
- Substitute ground beef with Italian sausage for a richer flavor.
- Add mushrooms or spinach to increase vegetable content and nutritional value.
- This casserole reheats well, making it great for leftovers or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
