Pizza Casserole

Name: Pizza Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 20 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, for pan, plus more divided; 12 oz Cavatappi Pasta; 2 tbsp Kosher Salt, divided; 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed; 8 oz cremini mushrooms, stemmed, sliced; 1 small yellow onion, (about 1 1/2 c.), chopped; 2 clove Garlic, finely chopped; 3 (8-oz.) cans tomato sauce; 1 (14.5-oz.) can tomatoes, diced; 1.5 tsp Dried Oregano; 1 tsp Dried Basil; 0.25 tsp Red Pepper Flakes, crushed; 0.5 green bell pepper, seeds and stem removed, into 1/2" pieces, chopped; 3 cup Mozzarella Cheese, shredded divided; 0.333 cup pepperoni (about 2 oz.), sliced

Loaded with sausage and veggies, this easy weeknight casserole has all of the cheesy, tomato-filled goodness of our favorite take-out pizza.

Brooke1999

Prep20 min

Total20 min

Servings6

Difficultyeasy

ItalianMediterraneanDinner / SupperEntrees

Ingredients

4 tbspextra-virgin olive oil,   for pan, plus more divided
12 ozCavatappi Pasta
2 tbspKosher Salt, divided
1 lbItalian sausage, casings removed
8 ozcremini mushrooms, stemmed, sliced
1 smallyellow onion, (about 1 1/2 c.), chopped
2 cloveGarlic, finely chopped
3(8-oz.) cans tomato sauce
1(14.5-oz.) can tomatoes, diced
1.5 tspDried Oregano
1 tspDried Basil
0.25 tspRed Pepper Flakes, crushed
0.5green bell pepper, seeds and stem removed, into 1/2" pieces, chopped
3 cupMozzarella Cheese, shredded divided
⅓ cuppepperoni (about 2 oz.), sliced

Instructions

1
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease a 13"-by-9" glass baking dish with oil.
2
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add pasta and 2 tablespoons salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 7 to 9 minutes (pasta should still be slightly undercooked in the center). Drain pasta; set aside.
3
Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add sausage and cook, breaking into bite-size pieces, until browned and cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer sausage to a medium bowl, leaving as much fat in skillet as possible.
4
In same skillet over medium heat, combine mushrooms and 1 tablespoon oil. Cook, tossing occasionally, until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, then transfer mushrooms to bowl with sausage.
5
In same skillet over medium heat, cook onion, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil, stirring occasionally, until onion is softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, and remaining 1 teaspoon salt. Remove 2 cups sauce and reserve. Fold bell peppers and cooked sausage, mushrooms, and reserved pasta into remaining sauce. Cook, stirring, until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes more.
6
Pour half of pasta mixture into prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella. Top with remaining pasta mixture. Pour reserved 2 cups sauce over. 
7
Cover pan with foil and bake until hot and bubbling around the edges, about 20 minutes. Remove foil, top with remaining 2 cups mozzarella, then pepperoni, and continue to bake until cheese is melted and pepperoni is browned, 15 to 20 minutes more.