Description
A hearty and delicious pizza casserole featuring fusilli pasta, Italian sausage, vegetables, and plenty of cheese baked to bubbly perfection. This comforting dish combines all the flavors of pizza in a convenient casserole form that's perfect for family dinners or potlucks.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz fusilli pasta
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb bulk Italian sausage (sweet or hot)
- 1 medium onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 green bell pepper seeded and diced
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms quartered
Seasonings and Sauce
- 1 ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 1 ½ tsp dried oregano
- 3 15-oz cans strained tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
Cheese and Toppings
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (about 4 oz) sliced pepperoni
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it aside. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the pasta according to the package instructions until it is al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Cook the sausage: While the pasta is cooking, in a large skillet, cook the sausage over medium heat, breaking it into small bite-sized pieces, for 6-8 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Cook the vegetables: Add the diced onion, minced garlic, bell pepper, and quartered mushrooms to the skillet with the sausage. Cook until the onion is soft, about 4-6 minutes. Stir in the kosher salt, red pepper flakes, dried basil, and dried oregano. Then add the strained tomatoes and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a simmer for 3-4 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Assemble the casserole: Pour the meat and vegetable sauce onto the cooked noodles in a large bowl. Add half of the sliced pepperoni and mix well. Pour half of the noodle mixture into the prepared baking dish and sprinkle with half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Add the remaining noodles on top, then finish with the remaining cheese and top with the remaining pepperoni slices.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes. Remove the cover and continue baking uncovered until the casserole is bubbling and the cheese is beginning to brown, approximately 15-20 minutes.
Notes
- Use sweet or hot Italian sausage depending on your spice preference.
- Strained tomatoes can be substituted with tomato sauce if preferred.
- Feel free to add extra vegetables like spinach or olives for added flavor and nutrition.
- Allow the casserole to rest 5-10 minutes after baking before serving for easier slicing.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
