Description
A hearty Supreme Pizza Casserole combining penne pasta, seasoned ground beef, classic pizza toppings like pepperoni, bell peppers, and olives, all baked with gooey mozzarella cheese and savory pizza sauce for a comforting family meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound penne pasta
Meat and Sauce
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 Tablespoons dried minced onion (or 1/2 cup freshly chopped yellow onion)
- 1/2 Tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 32 ounces pizza sauce or marinara sauce (Contadina brand recommended)
Cheese and Toppings
- 2 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
- 16 slices pepperoni
- 1 small green bell pepper, seeded and sliced
- 1 can (4 ounces) sliced black olives
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray and set aside to prepare for the casserole assembly.
- Cook Pasta: Cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain thoroughly and set aside to cool slightly.
- Cook Ground Beef Mixture: In a large pot, brown and crumble the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain any excess grease. Add minced onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, and pizza sauce to the pot. Stir well to combine, then remove from heat.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked and drained penne to the beef and sauce mixture. Stir to ensure the pasta is evenly coated and mixed thoroughly.
- Layer in Baking Dish: Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread out evenly. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella evenly over the top. Arrange pepperoni slices, green bell pepper slices, and black olives on top of the cheese layer.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the casserole is hot and bubbly around the edges.
- Finish and Serve: Carefully remove the foil and let the casserole stand for 5 minutes before serving to allow it to set slightly and enhance flavors. Enjoy your delicious Supreme Pizza Casserole!
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding sliced mushrooms or diced onions to the beef mixture.
- Use low-fat mozzarella cheese to reduce fat content if desired.
- To make it spicier, add crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven.
- Ensure pasta is al dente to avoid a mushy casserole texture.
