Description
This Cheesy Pepperoni Pasta Bake is a comforting and hearty casserole perfect for family dinners. It features al dente rotini pasta mixed with a savory ground beef and pepperoni meat mixture, combined with gooey mozzarella and mild cheddar cheeses, all baked together in a rich marinara sauce seasoned with Italian herbs. Topped with extra melted cheese, this dish is easy to prepare and sure to please pasta and pizza lovers alike.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Pasta
- 8 ounces rotini pasta, cooked al dente according to package instructions, drained
Meat Mixture
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup (138 g) pepperoni slices
- 2 cups (226 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- 1 cup (113 g) mild cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook ground beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef seasoned with kosher salt and pepper. Stir and cook until no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
- Combine ingredients: Add the cooked rotini pasta, pepperoni slices, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella, shredded cheddar cheese, marinara sauce, and Italian seasoning to the skillet with the ground beef. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly, then transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella evenly over the top of the pasta and meat mixture in the baking dish.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
- Rest and serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can customize this casserole by adding your favorite pizza toppings like mushrooms, olives, or bell peppers to give it extra flavor and texture.
- For a spicier kick, substitute spicy pepperoni or sprinkle red pepper flakes into the meat mixture before combining.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 498 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 986 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 94 mg
