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Easy Baked Pizza Pasta Casserole

A serving spoon lifts a cheesy portion of pepperoni pizza pasta bake out of a white dish, showing extreme cheese pull.
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Make this ultimate pizza pasta bake soon for a simple, cheesy weeknight dinner everyone loves. It combines classic pizza flavors into one satisfying, comforting casserole.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound rotini or penne pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar pizza or marinara sauce
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1 cup sliced pepperoni
  • 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
  3. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
  4. Add the chopped onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
  5. Stir in the pizza sauce, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and water. Bring the sauce mixture to a simmer.
  6. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the cooked pasta and the sliced pepperoni. Mix well to coat everything in the sauce.
  7. Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese and all of the Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
  8. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the sauce is bubbly and the cheese is melted and lightly golden brown.
  9. Remove the dish from the oven and sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup of mozzarella cheese over the top. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • You can prepare this casserole ahead of time. Assemble everything through step 6, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. Add 10 minutes to the covered baking time if baking straight from the refrigerator.
  • For a make ahead pasta bake option, you can freeze the assembled, unbaked casserole. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.
  • Feel free to swap the Italian sausage for ground beef or ground turkey for a different flavor profile.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://carlacooking.com/easy-pizza-pasta-bake-casserole/