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Description
A hearty, cheesy, and satisfying meal that combines all your favorite pizza toppings with pasta! This dish is perfect for feeding the family and makes great leftovers for lunch. It’s a crowd-pleaser with its savory sausage, pepperoni, and melty mozzarella.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb rotini pasta
- 1 lb ground pork sausage
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 bell pepper, chopped
- 1 cup mushrooms, sliced
- 1 package pepperoni slices
- 1 can black olives, sliced
- 2 jars pizza sauce (about 24 oz each)
- 2–3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese (the more, the better!)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Italian seasoning (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). This ensures your dish will bake evenly and the cheese will get nice and bubbly.
- Cook the Pasta:
- In a large pot of salted water, boil the rotini pasta according to the package directions until al dente (firm to the bite).
- Drain the pasta and set aside. Do not overcook the pasta, as it will continue to soften while baking.
- Brown the Sausage:
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground pork sausage until browned and fully cooked, about 7-8 minutes.
- Drain any excess fat if necessary.
- Sauté the Veggies:
- To the same skillet, add the chopped onion, bell pepper, and sliced mushrooms. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.
- Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning (if using) for extra flavor.
- Mix it All Together:
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, sausage and veggie mixture, pizza sauce, pepperoni slices, and black olives.
- Stir until everything is well combined, making sure all the pasta is coated with sauce.
- Layer and Top with Cheese:
- Pour the pasta mixture into a large baking dish (or divide into two smaller dishes if doubling the recipe).
- Generously top with shredded mozzarella cheese—the more, the better for that gooey, cheesy top!
- Bake:
- Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake uncovered for about 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, golden, and bubbly.
- Serve:
- Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before serving. This dish pairs perfectly with a side salad or garlic bread for a complete meal. Enjoy!
Notes
- Custom Toppings: Feel free to customize this pasta bake with your favorite pizza toppings, such as cooked bacon, jalapeños, or more veggies like spinach or zucchini.
- Make-Ahead: You can assemble this dish ahead of time, cover it with foil, and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, pop it in the oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes if baking from cold.
- Storage: This pasta bake stores well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Simply reheat in the oven or microwave for a delicious next-day meal.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American