Description
This Cheesy Pepperoni Pasta Bake is a comforting and flavorful casserole that combines al dente rotini pasta with seasoned ground beef, pepperoni slices, a blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, and zesty marinara sauce. Topped with melty cheese and baked until bubbly, it’s an easy and satisfying family-friendly meal perfect for weeknights.
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
- 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Cheese:
- 2 cups (226 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded, divided
- 1 cup (113 g) mild cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef seasoned with kosher salt and pepper until no longer pink, about 8-10 minutes. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the cooked rotini pasta, pepperoni slices, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella, shredded cheddar cheese, marinara sauce, and Italian seasoning to the skillet with the beef. Stir well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Transfer to Baking Dish: Pour the combined mixture into the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly.
- Add Cheese Topping: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta mixture.
- Bake: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese on top is melted, bubbly, and golden.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the pasta bake rest for a few minutes to set before serving. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- You can customize this casserole by adding your favorite pizza toppings such as mushrooms, olives, or bell peppers to the mixture before baking.
- For an extra spicy flavor, use spicy pepperoni or add red pepper flakes to the meat mixture while cooking.
