Pizza Casserole with Italian Sausage (Print Version)
Baked pasta casserole with Italian sausage, marinara sauce, penne pasta, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan, and pepperoni topping.
# Ingredients:
→ For the Pasta and Meat
01 -
16 oz penne pasta
02 -
1 lb ground Italian sausage
03 -
1 medium onion, diced
04 -
2 cloves garlic, minced
→ For the Sauce
05 -
1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
06 -
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes
07 -
1 teaspoon dried oregano
08 -
1 teaspoon dried basil
09 -
1/2 teaspoon salt
10 -
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
→ For the Cheese Topping
11 -
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
12 -
1/2 cup sliced pepperoni
13 -
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
# Instructions:
01 -
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
02 -
Cook the penne pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 -
In a large skillet, brown the Italian sausage over medium heat, breaking it up as it cooks. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until the onion is translucent.
04 -
Stir in the marinara sauce, diced tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for 5 minutes to let the flavors come together.
05 -
Add the cooked pasta to the sauce mixture in the skillet. Stir everything together so the pasta is evenly coated with sauce.
06 -
Transfer the pasta and sauce mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it out evenly.
07 -
Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the pasta. Top with all of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Arrange the sliced pepperoni over the mozzarella - it'll look just like a pizza!
08 -
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and starting to turn golden in spots.
09 -
Let it stand for 5 minutes before serving - this helps it set up so it's easier to dish out. Serve hot and watch it disappear!
# Notes:
01 -
This is a total crowd-pleaser and kids absolutely love it!
02 -
You can customize with your favorite pizza toppings - add mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, or whatever you like.
03 -
This reheats beautifully, so leftovers are fantastic for lunch the next day.
04 -
You can assemble this ahead of time and refrigerate, then bake when ready to eat.
05 -
Use mild or spicy Italian sausage depending on your preference.