Loaded Pizza Pasta Casserole

Name: Loaded Pizza Pasta Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 65 min
Yield: 8 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 10 ounces shaped pasta, such as fusilli or elbows; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced; 1 pound lean ground beef, 85 percent lean; 1 medium onion, chopped; 1/2 cup chopped bell pepper, red or green; 2 cloves garlic, finely minced; 1/2 teaspoon dried basil leaves, or 1 to 2 teaspoons fresh chopped basil; 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano; 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper; 14 ounces pizza sauce; 1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes; 1 to 2 (2 1/4-ounce) cans sliced ripe olives; 4 to 6 ounces pepperoni, sliced; 12 to 16 ounces mozzarella cheese, or a pizza blend of cheeses, shredded, divided; Kosher salt, to taste; Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

A hearty pasta casserole combines pepperoni, ground beef, and pizza sauce for a satisfying family meal or potluck contribution.

⭐ 4.3 (103 reviews) Prep: 20 minCook: 45 minTotal: 65 minYields: 8 servings

Category Tags:

Entree Dinner Pasta

Cuisine Tags:

American

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Instructions

Preheat the oven to 350 F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking pan.
Cook pasta in salted boiling water according to package directions, then drain.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, sauté mushrooms until golden brown, then remove and set aside.
Add ground beef and onion to the skillet; cook, stirring, until the onion is translucent.
Stir in bell pepper and garlic, cooking until beef is no longer pink, then drain excess grease if needed.
Add basil, oregano, crushed red pepper, pizza sauce, tomatoes, olives, pepperoni, and the sautéed mushrooms; simmer, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
Mix the beef and pepperoni sauce with the drained pasta until thoroughly combined.
Spoon half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, top with half of the cheese, then repeat layers with the remaining pasta and cheese.
Bake for 25 to 35 minutes, until hot, bubbly, and the cheese is melted.

Nutritional Info (per serving)

Calories: 548 kcal

Carbohydrate: 22 g

Cholesterol: 116 mg

Fiber: 4 g

Protein: 37 g

Saturated Fat: 15 g

Sodium: 1021 mg

Sugar: 5 g

Fat: 34 g

Unsaturated Fat: 0 g