Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole

🍕 Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole

Ingredients:

Pasta Base:

• 12 oz rotini or penne pasta

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• 1 small onion, diced

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Meat Mix:

• 1/2 lb ground beef

• 1/2 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)

• 1/2 cup pepperoni slices (plus extra for topping)

• 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled

• Optional: 1/2 cup diced ham

Sauce & Seasoning:

• 1 jar (24 oz) pizza or marinara sauce

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

• Salt and pepper to taste

Cheese:

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions:

1. Cook Pasta:

   • Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.

2. Prepare Meat Mixture:

   • In a large skillet, heat olive oil. Sauté onions and garlic until soft.

   • Add ground beef and sausage. Cook until browned. Drain excess fat.

   • Stir in pepperoni, bacon, and optional ham. Cook 1-2 minutes more.

3. Combine with Sauce:

   • Add sauce, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes to the meat mixture. Simmer for 5 minutes.

   • Stir in cooked pasta until evenly coated.

4. Assemble Casserole:

   • Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

   • In a 9×13″ baking dish, spread half of the pasta/meat mixture.

   • Top with half the mozzarella and cheddar cheese.

   • Add the remaining pasta mixture, then the rest of the cheeses and Parmesan.

   • Top with extra pepperoni slices.

5. Bake:

   • Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.

   • Uncover and bake another 10-15 minutes, until cheese is bubbly and golden.

6. Serve:

   • Let sit for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.