PEPPERONI PIZZA CASSEROLE

HOW TO MAKE PEPPERONI PIZZA CASSEROLE

The Pepperoni Pizza Casserole is Simple to make, can be done in about twenty minutes, and is perfect for those occasions when you require BOTH pizza and pasta! This pizza casserole is the epitome of comfort food because of the presence of ground beef, pepperoni, and mountains of cheese. Serves a Large crowd!

This recipe for spaghetti casserole is perfect for those occasions when you can’t get by with just one kind of carb — pizza OR pasta — and you need both of them. I’ve got you taken care of. The pizza pasta casserole is a simple dish that can be ready in less than twenty minutes. It is the epitome of comfort food.

Two cups of pizza sauce are used to cover the onion, the ground beef, one pound of pasta, one pound of mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni which are all included in this dish. In other words, a whole hungry army can be satisfied with this pizza casserole. Or maybe it’s just my preteen daughter when she gets home from a long day of school and sports practice.

With this pizza pasta casserole, you are free to substitute any toppings you like most on pizza in place of the ones that I have specified in the recipe card that follows. Alternately, Italian sausage could be used in place of ground beef, and additional sautéed vegetables could probably be added to the mixture as well as other replacements.

INGREDIENTS YOU’LL NEED:

Rotini pasta; I used 1 pound cooked and drained.

2 Tbsp.Of olive oil.

1 large sweet onion – diced.

Lean ground beef; I used 1 pound.

1 Tsp.Of oregano.

1 Tsp.Of kosher salt.

1 Tsp.Of freshly ground black pepper.

2 Cups.Of pizza or marina sauce.

Shredded mozzarella cheese; I used 2 cups.

24 pepperonis.

PREPARATION:

1st Step:

Prepare the oven broiler for high heat and coat a baking dish or casserole dish measuring 9 by 13 inches with cooking spray; leave aside.

2nd Step:

Cook the pasta in a stockpot according to the recommendations provided by the manufacturer; after it’s done, drain it and put it aside.

3rd Step:

While the pasta is cooking, add the olive oil and onion to a Dutch oven or other large pot. Cook the mixture over medium-high heat for about four to five minutes, or until the onion starts to soften, stirring the mixture regularly.

4th Step:

Add the ground beef, then evenly sprinkle it with oregano, salt, and pepper, and crumble it while it cooks to promote even cooking. Stir the meat regularly while it’s cooking.

5th Step:

Once the meat has finished cooking, pour in the pizza sauce, then add the prepared spaghetti and give everything a good swirl to incorporate.

6th Step:

Move the mixture to the casserole dish that has been prepared, evenly top with the cheese and pepperoni, and broil for approximately three minutes, or until the cheese has melted or until it has reached the desired level of browning.

7th Step:

Keep a close eye on it because cheese can burn quickly under a broiler, sometimes in just 15 seconds. Serve right away, and try garnishing with some fresh parsley if you want.