Description
Pepperoni pasta bake brings Italian comfort straight to your dinner table with melted cheese and zesty marinara. Hearty layers of pasta, spicy pepperoni, and rich sauce create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Protein:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) rotini pasta
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
- 4 ounces (113 grams) sliced pepperoni sausage
Vegetables:
- 1 small onion, diced
Cheese and Sauce:
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 (28 ounce/794 grams) jar spaghetti sauce
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C), preparing a 9×13 inch baking dish for the pasta creation.
- Boil a large pot of lightly salted water and cook rotini pasta for 8-10 minutes until perfectly al dente, then drain thoroughly.
- In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, brown ground beef with diced onions, carefully removing excess fat after cooking.
- Combine the seasoned beef mixture with spaghetti sauce and pepperoni slices in a spacious mixing bowl.
- Fold the cooked pasta into the sauce mixture, ensuring each pasta piece is generously coated with the rich, savory blend.
- Carefully transfer the entire pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, creating an even layer.
- Generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese across the top, covering the entire surface.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, watching for the cheese to melt and turn a beautiful golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to settle and cheese to set.
Notes
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based crumbles for a leaner or vegetarian version.
- Add extra vegetables like bell peppers or spinach for increased nutrition and flavor complexity.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like provolone or parmesan for unique taste profiles.
- Prepare ahead by assembling the dish and refrigerating up to 24 hours before baking, perfect for meal prep enthusiasts.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 594 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 950 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 37 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg