Thispizza pasta casseroleis the ultimate comfort meal with layers of pasta smothered in a hearty marinara sauce, covered with cheese, then baked until bubbly!
Optional: Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
In a large pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until browned and crumbled. Remove 1/3 cup of the browned sausage to a paper towel lined plate and set aside for topping the casserole.
Remove pot from heat. To the pot, add onion, green pepper, mushrooms, separated slices of pepperoni (reserving 12-15 slices for topping the casserole), marinara sauce, garlic, Italian seasoning, and Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine. Add the cooked pasta and continue stirring until combined.
In the baking dish, add ½ of the pasta mixture. Sprinkle ½ cup of Monterey jack cheese and ¾ cup of mozzarella evenly over it. Spread remaining pasta mixture on top and top with the remaining cheese. Place the reserved pepperoni slices and sausage on top.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes.
Carefully remove dish from the oven and remove foil. Sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan or red pepper flakes, if using. Serve immediately.
Notes
Toppings: Use your favorite pizza toppings if you don't care for pepperoni, green pepper and mushrooms. Storage: Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.Make-ahead: To make this in advance, assemble up until baking and store covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Remove from the refrigerator and bake as directed.