Description

This Cheesy Pepperoni Pasta Bake is a comforting and flavorful casserole that combines perfectly cooked rotini pasta with a savory meat mixture of ground beef, pepperoni, and marinara sauce. Topped with a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, baked until bubbly and golden, this dish makes for a satisfying family meal that’s easy to prepare and customize with your favorite pizza toppings.

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

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Instructions

Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
Cook ground beef: Place a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, salt, and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until it is no longer pink and fully cooked, about 8-10 minutes. Drain off any excess grease from the skillet.
Combine ingredients: To the skillet with the cooked beef, add the cooked rotini pasta, pepperoni slices, 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese, shredded cheddar cheese, marinara sauce, and Italian seasoning. Stir everything together until well combined. Then, transfer the entire mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly.
Add cheese: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta mixture in the baking dish.
Bake: Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden. Remove 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 for added flavor and texture.
For a spicier kick, substitute regular pepperoni with spicy pepperoni or sprinkle red pepper flakes into the meat mixture before baking.

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