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Ground Beef Pizza Casserole - A Cozy, Crowd-Pleasing Weeknight Bake

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 or 85/15)
  • 12 ounces short pasta (penne, rotini, or ziti) or 8 ounces egg noodles
  • 2 cups marinara or pizza sauce (more if you like it saucy)
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced
  • 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 bell pepper, diced (red or green)
  • 1 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 20–30 slices pepperoni (regular or turkey)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil (for sautéing, if needed)
  • Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)

Method
 

  1. Preheat and prep. Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with a little olive oil or cooking spray.
  2. Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta 1–2 minutes shy of al dente according to package directions. Drain well and set aside. Slightly undercooked pasta holds up better in the oven.
  3. Brown the beef. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up as it browns. Season with salt and pepper. If there’s excess fat, drain it to avoid a greasy casserole.
  4. Sauté aromatics and veggies. Add diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet. Cook 3–4 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and mushrooms (if using). Cook 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
  5. Season and sauce. Stir in Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Pour in marinara or pizza sauce and bring to a gentle simmer. Taste and adjust salt and pepper. The sauce should be well-seasoned now.
  6. Combine with pasta. In a large bowl (or the pasta pot), toss the cooked pasta with the beef sauce. Fold in half the mozzarella and half the Parmesan for richness and even cheese pull.
  7. Assemble. Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Arrange pepperoni slices over the top in a single layer for even crisping.
  8. Bake. Bake uncovered for 18–22 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the edges are lightly browned. For extra golden top, broil 1–2 minutes at the end, watching closely.
  9. Rest and garnish. Let the casserole rest 5–10 minutes to set. Sprinkle with chopped basil or parsley for freshness. Slice and serve warm.