Pizza Casserole
A filling pasta casserole with rotini, hamburger or Italian sausage, onion, bell pepper, and pasta sauce, topped with creamy cheese and pepperoni.
Servings 8 servings
Equipment
- 9x1392 basking dish
- large pot
- colander
- large skillet
- cutting board
- knife
- cooking spoon
- rubber spatula
- aluminum foil
Ingredients
- 1 pound hamburger or Italian sausage
- 1 onion chopped
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- 24 ounces pasta sauce
- 1 pound dry rotini pasta cooked al dente and drained
- 16 ounces cottage cheese
- 12 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 –5 ounces pepperoni slices
- Cooking spray or grease for the baking dish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 × 13 × 2-inch baking dish or coat it with cooking spray.
- Cook the rotini according to the package directions, just until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook the hamburger or Italian sausage with the chopped onion and bell pepper until the meat is browned and cooked through. Drain excess grease.
- Combine the cooked meat and vegetables with the pasta sauce and drained rotini. Stir until evenly mixed.
- Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the cottage cheese and shredded mozzarella. Spread the cheese mixture over the pasta.
- Arrange the pepperoni slices over the cheese layer.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10–15 minutes, until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- For crispier pepperoni or browned cheese, broil for the final 1–2 minutes, watching closely. Only do this if your baking dish is rated for broiler use.
- Serve warm.
Notes
Cook the rotini just until al dente. It will continue cooking in the oven, and overcooked pasta can become too soft.
Use hamburger or Italian sausage, depending on your preference. Remove sausage casings before cooking, if necessary.
For a shortcut, use a portion of precooked hamburger equivalent to 1 pound before cooking. Cook the onion and bell pepper separately, then add the cooked hamburger and heat through before combining with the sauce and pasta.
Customize the casserole with your favorite pizza toppings. Cook and drain additional raw meats before adding them. Cook moisture-rich vegetables, such as mushrooms, first to help prevent a watery casserole.
Use 3–5 ounces of pepperoni, depending on how generously you like to cover the top.
Grease the baking dish well to help prevent the pasta and cheese from sticking.
Optional broiling adds 1–2 minutes to the baking time. Watch closely to prevent burning, and use only a broiler-safe baking dish.
Makes approximately 8 servings.
