Description
This hearty Meaty Pasta Bake is a comforting casserole featuring tender pasta combined with flavorful Italian sausage, pepperoni, and rich spaghetti sauce, all topped with melted mozzarella cheese. Perfect for a family dinner, it comes together with simple ingredients and bakes to a bubbly, cheesy perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Ingredients
- 1 pound pasta noodles (16 oz.)
- 3/4 – 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 3 – 5 ounces pepperoni slices (quartered)
- 1 jar spaghetti sauce (24-32 oz.), or more to taste
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded (8 oz.)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking and set it aside for later use.
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta noodles according to the package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
- Cook Sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon or spatula, and cook until browned and cooked through. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
- Add Sauce and Pepperoni: Return the drained sausage to the skillet and stir in the spaghetti sauce and quartered pepperoni slices. Let the mixture heat through to meld the flavors together.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the drained pasta to the sausage and sauce mixture in the skillet. Stir well to ensure the noodles are evenly coated with sauce and meat.
- Assemble and Bake: Transfer the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese on top. Bake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes until the cheese is fully melted and the dish is hot and bubbly.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, use spicy Italian sausage or add crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- You can substitute penne or rigatoni for the pasta noodles if preferred.
- To save time, use pre-cooked sausage or leftover meat from a previous meal.
- This dish can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated before baking; just add additional baking time if baking from cold.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated thoroughly before serving.
