Inside: A marinara pasta bake that is perfect to make ahead for even the busiest of nights and a hot dinner casserole that everyone is sure to love!
Pizza Pasta Casserole
Recently we were struck with a 14-day stay home situation (not to beat around the bush about what we were struck with, or anything) lol.
And, as a result, we were using DoorDash too much and not enjoying the regular home-cooked meals that we’re so used to.
You can imagine how excited I was when a good friend showed up at the front door with a pan of her famous pizza pasta, a big loaf of delicious french bread, and a fresh caesar salad – all things delicious!
When another family got taken out for a little bit I couldn’t wait to pass the favor onto them, having to of course share the copycat/pseudo Pizza Hut pasta bake with them as well!
This marinara pasta bake is awesome for an easy dinner or a dinner that needs to be made ahead and baked on the fly.
Pizza Pasta ingredients…. HOWEVER! Leave anything out – or add in – anything that you want or don’t want in regards to your preferences! For example, I would normally add black olives sprinkled on top but no one in my family likes them besides me, so no black olives it is! Make this your own really easily that way!
- 5 cups rotini pasta, cooked al dente
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup green peppers
- 1/2 cup white onions
- 1 tbsp butter
- 24 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
- 4 oz water
- 4 oz pepperoni
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
To make this pasta, it all comes together so quickly, I have no doubt that you’ll love it!
To make this pasta bake ahead of time and freeze to cook later:
- Assemble entire pasta in a disposable container
- Cover with two sheets of foil
- Freeze for up to three months
- Thaw in fridge 24 hours before cooking
- Follow cooking directions in recipe
Pizza Pasta Casserole
Ingredients
- 5 cups rotini pasta cooked al dente
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup green peppers
- 1/2 cup white onions
- 1 tbsp butter
- 24 oz. jar spaghetti sauce
- 4 oz water
- 4 oz pepperoni
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Bake pasta to al dente, 1-2 minutes less than the minimum baking time
- Drain noodles in a colander and rinse well with cold water
- Brown Italian sausage and ground beef in one pan
- Drain meat over an empty bowl to get the fat off of the meat
- In the empty meat pan, brown onions and peppers in butter
- Combine cooked noodles, spaghetti sauce, meat and vegetables in a large mixing bowl
- Dice all but 10 pepperoni and add to above mixture
- Pour mixture into greased 9x13 dish
- Sprinkle cheese on top of casserole
- Top with remaining pepperoni
- Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 25-30 minutes