italian casserole

Name: Italian Casserole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 cup(s) rotini or any pasta; 1 1/2 pound(s) ground chuck; 1/2 teaspoon(s) salt or seasoned salt; 1/2 teaspoon(s) black pepper (coarse ground); 1 small white onion, chopped (optional); 2 1/2 cup(s) spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce; 1 can(s) tomato paste (6 ounce); 1 can(s) tomato sauce (8 ounce); 1/2-1 teaspoon(s) sugar; 1/2 teaspoon(s) garlic salt; 1/2 teaspoon(s) oregano leaves; 2 cup(s) mozzarella cheese; 20 slice(s) pepperoni; 2 tablespoon(s) grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

(5 RATINGS)

1.90K Pinches 13 Photos

Gail Welch

Carthage, TX

Updated on Nov 4, 2025

I love the meaty marinara pasta that you can buy. So I decided to try to make it at home. It is easy to make and very appetizing. This tastes like a cross between a meat lovers pizza and lasagna. I hope you like it.

Rate

Blue Ribbon Recipe

We love meals that are easy to make and pack a punch of flavor. This is full of tomatoey flavor and has a great meaty taste throughout the dish. The bits of ooey, gooey cheese are perfect. Gail is right, it tastes like a cross between pizza and lasagna. So good!

— The Test Kitchen

prep time 15 Min

cook time 30 Min

method Bake

yield 6 serving(s)

Ingredients

2 cups rotini or any pasta
1 1/2 pounds ground chuck
1/2 teaspoon salt or seasoned salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (coarse ground)
1 small white onion, chopped (optional)
2 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce
1 can tomato paste (6 ounce)
1 can tomato sauce (8 ounce)
1/2-1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon oregano leaves
2 cups mozzarella cheese
20 slices pepperoni
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

How To Make italian casserole

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook rotini in boiling water 7-9 minutes. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

While rotini is cooking, brown seasoned ground chuck (with salt and pepper) and onion (if desired).
Step 3

Combine pasta, 2 cups of spaghetti sauce (or pizza sauce), tomato paste, tomato sauce, sugar, garlic salt, and oregano. Add beef mixture to pasta and sauce.
Step 4

Pour 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in bottom of 3 qt casserole dish. Pour half of beef and pasta mixture over sauce.
Step 5

Top with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Then pour remaining meat and pasta mixture over top.
Step 6

Add 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on top of meat mixture.
Step 7

Place pepperoni slices on top of cheese and bake for 25-30 minutes until hot and pepperoni is somewhat crisp. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
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Nutrition Facts

(per serving*)

calories: 564kcal, carbohydrates: 27g, cholesterol: 27g, fat: 35g, fiber: 4g, protein: 34g, saturated fat: 15g, sodium: 1534mg, sugar: 8g, unsaturated fat: 19g

*Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is estimated.

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