Easy Pizza Pasta Bake with Ground Beef
Published Oct 30, 2023
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Make dinner delicious, filling, and fun with my Pizza Pasta Bake! This casserole is filled with rotini pasta, red sauce, ground beef, veggies, cheese, and your favorite toppings! A kid and adult-friendly meal that can be made gluten-free and dairy-free.
Table of Contents
What Makes This Recipe Great
A good casserole recipe is an absolute must in my house. Today, I’m giving y’all my secret weapon that combines favorite Italian dishes into an easy-to-prep, oven-does-the-work recipe that both kids and adults love. Enter, easy Pizza Pasta Bake!
This warm, hearty, and comforting dish is everything you love about pasta… AND pizza! Tons of cheese, sauce, and toppings atop a bed of tender pasta and baked to perfection! It comes together in just 30 minutes and makes all the tummies in my house very, very happy!
My favorite thing about this recipe is that it’s really easy to customize to your family’s preferences and dietary needs– Make it gluten-free or dairy-free, add your favorite toppings, make it half and half– your choice! It’s full of flavor, ooey-gooey, and soooo satisfying!
Ingredients Notes
- rotini pasta: Or gluten-free pasta of choice cooked according to package instructions.
- ground beef: You can substitute ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork if desired.
- yellow onion
- garlic
- olive oil
- pizza sauce: Spaghetti sauce or marinara sauce will also work.
- mozzarella cheese: For dairy-free, use your favorite non-dairy cheese shreds.
- pepperoni
- garnish: Fresh basil and parmesan cheese
How to Make This Baked Pizza Pasta Recipe
- Boil a large pot of water and cook your pasta according to package directions.
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Heat a large skillet or cast iron pan over medium/high heat. Add olive oil to the skillet. Once warm, add the onions and minced garlic. Stir, and cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add in the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- To the ground beef, add the cooked pasta and pizza sauce. Mix with a spoon until combined. Cover the top of the mixture with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices.
- Place the skillet in a 400F preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melty and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh chopped basil and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.
Mac’s Pro Tip
Expert Tips
- Alternatively, you can prep your ingredients in a skillet and transfer everything to an oven-safe casserole dish or baking dish if preferred.
- Feel free to substitute your favorite pizza toppings– add peppers, Italian sausage, pineapple, bacon, black olives, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, Italian seasoning, and more!
- Use whatever pasta shape you prefer– I like fusilli pasta, penne pasta, and rotini pasta the best. Even spaghetti noodles work well.
Serving Tips
Serve this baked pizza pasta recipe warm with sides like Caesar salad, fresh garlic bread, or by itself!
This recipe is also perfect for large groups or family gatherings, considering it’s filling, easy to double batch, and delicious from kid to adult!
Storage Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave and serve with your favorite garnishes.
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Any kind of tomato-based marinara or pizza sauce can be used.
For best results, reheat in your casserole dish at 350F for about 20 min. Mix some water or butter into the pasta to help it not dry out.
More Kid-Friendly Casseroles
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Easy Pizza Pasta Bake with Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 1 lb rotini pasta or gluten-free pasta of choice cooked according to the box
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 med yellow onion chopped
- 3-4 cloved garlic
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 1/2-3 cups pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese sub dairy-free cheese of choice
- 12-14 pepperonis
- Garnish: Fresh basil and parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400F. Heat a large skillet or cast iron over medium/high heat. Add olive oil to the skillet. Once warm, add the onions and minced garlic. Cook until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add in the ground beef and cook until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- To the ground beef, add the cooked pasta and pizza sauce. Mix with a spoon until combined. Cover the top of the mixture with mozzarella cheese and pepperonis.
- Place the skillet in a 400F oven for 8-10 minutes or until the cheese is melty and bubbly.
- Garnish with fresh chopped basil and parmesan cheese
Notes
Expert Tips
- Alternatively, you can prep your ingredients in a skillet and transfer everything to an oven-safe casserole dish or baking dish if preferred.
- Feel free to substitute your favorite pizza toppings– add peppers, Italian sausage, pineapple, bacon, black olives, mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, Italian seasoning, and more!
- Use whatever pasta shape you prefer– I like fusilli pasta, penne pasta, and rotini pasta the best. Even spaghetti noodles work well.
Serving Tips
Serve this baked pizza pasta recipe warm with sides like Caesar salad, fresh garlic bread, or by itself! This recipe is also perfect for large groups or family gatherings, considering it’s filling, easy to double batch, and delicious from kid to adult!Storage Tips
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave and serve with your favorite garnishes.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
