Hearty Meat Lovers Pasta Casserole

 

🔹 Meat Lovers Casserole 🍖🧀

👉Yields: 6 servings

👉Prep time: 15 minutes

👉Cook time: 25 minutes

✅️Ingredients:

▶️ Pasta & Meat:

🔹️8 oz rotini pasta, cooked al dente

🔹️1 lb ground beef

🔹️½ tsp kosher salt

🔹️¼ tsp pepper

🔹️1 cup (138 g) pepperoni slices

▶️ Cheese:

🔹️2 cups (226 g) mozzarella, shredded

🔹️1 cup (113 g) mild cheddar, shredded

▶️ Sauce & Seasoning:

🔹️1 jar (24 oz) marinara sauce

🔹️1 tsp Italian seasoning

✅️Instructions

🔹 Preheat Oven:

▶️ Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).

▶️ Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

🔹 Cook Ground Beef:

▶️ In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add ground beef.

▶️ Season with salt and pepper. Cook until no longer pink (8–10 min).

▶️ Remove from heat and drain excess grease.

🔹 Combine Ingredients:

▶️ To the same skillet, add cooked pasta, pepperoni slices, 1 cup mozzarella, cheddar, marinara sauce, and Italian seasoning. Mix well.

🔹 Bake:

✅️ Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish.

✅️ Top with remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese.

✅️ Bake 25–30 min until cheese is hot and bubbly.

✅️ Let rest a few minutes before serving.

✅️ Garnish with fresh parsley.

💡 Tip: For extra flavor, sprinkle a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes on top before baking.