Description
This hearty Pizza Casserole combines classic pizza flavors like Italian sausage, pepperoni, and mozzarella cheese layered over tender penne pasta and baked to bubbly perfection. It’s an easy, comforting one-dish meal perfect for family dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 4 cups penne pasta
Meats
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 cup sliced pepperoni
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cups sliced mushrooms
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Liquids & Sauces
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
Cheeses & Seasonings
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish
- Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly to prevent sticking.
- Cook Pasta: Boil the penne pasta until it reaches an al dente texture as per package instructions, then drain and set aside.
- Sauté Vegetables: In a large skillet over medium heat, sauté the chopped onion and green bell pepper for about 5 minutes until they soften.
- Cook Sausage: Add the ground Italian sausage to the skillet with the vegetables, cooking until browned thoroughly. Drain any excess fat to keep the casserole from being greasy.
- Add Garlic and Mushrooms: Stir in minced garlic and sliced mushrooms, cooking for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until the mushrooms soften.
- Simmer Sauce: Pour in the marinara sauce, and add dried oregano and basil. Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes to meld the flavors, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Layer Casserole: In the prepared baking dish, create layers starting with half of the cooked pasta, then half of the sauce mixture, followed by pepperoni slices, mozzarella cheese, and Parmesan cheese. Repeat these layers with the remaining ingredients to build up the casserole.
- Bake Covered: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake in the oven for 25 minutes to heat through and melt the cheeses.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and slightly golden.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil if desired before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground beef or turkey for ground Italian sausage for a different flavor or leaner option.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this dish gluten-free.
- Adding crushed red pepper flakes can add some spicy heat if desired.
- Leftovers reheat well in the oven or microwave for a quick meal the next day.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the sausage and pepperoni and add extra vegetables like zucchini or spinach.
