Cheesy Baked Pasta Pizza Casserole

Ingredients

- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 cups homemade pizza sauce
- 12 ounces pasta (suggest fusilli or penne)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced pepperoni
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 1 tablespoon garlic parsley seasoning
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Fresh parsley for garnish

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Prepare the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until slightly underdone (about 2 minutes less than the package instructions to prevent overcooking later). Drain the pasta and set it aside.

3. Cook the Meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef and mild Italian sausage. Break the meat into small crumbles as it cooks, about 7-8 minutes, until browned. Drain excess fat.

4. Season the Meat: Add garlic parsley seasoning and Italian seasoning to the meat. Stir well to ensure even distribution of flavors.

5. Assemble the Casserole: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, cooked meat, and homemade pizza sauce. Mix until all components are evenly coated with sauce.

6. Layer the Casserole: In a 9x13 inch baking dish, spoon half of the pasta-meat mixture. Spread a cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Add the remaining pasta-meat mixture.

7. Top the Casserole: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top, followed by parmesan cheese. Arrange sliced pepperoni and black olives aesthetically over the cheese.

8. Bake: Transfer the baking dish to the preheated oven. Bake for 25 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Optionally, for a golden-brown top, broil for an additional 2-3 minutes, watching closely to prevent burning.

9. Garnish and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven. Allow it to cool for about 5 minutes. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley before serving.

Total Time

PT1H
1 hour

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Pizza Casserole, Cheesy Pasta Bake, Italian Dinner, Family Dinner, Baked Casserole, Pasta Recipes, Comfort Food, Gourmet Recipe, Easy Dinner, Weeknight Meal

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 3,200

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