Description
This Pizza Spaghetti Casserole combines classic Italian flavors in a comforting baked dish. Tender spaghetti is layered with browned ground pork sausage, crispy turkey pepperoni, rich tomato-basil pasta sauce, and a blend of Italian cheeses, then baked to bubbly perfection. It’s an easy, crowd-pleasing meal perfect for family dinners or feeding a group.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz uncooked spaghetti
- ½ tsp salt
Meats
- 1 (1-lb) package mild ground pork sausage
- 1 (5-oz) package turkey pepperoni slices (use as much as desired)
Sauce and Cheese
- 1 (26-oz) jar tomato-and-basil pasta sauce
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 (8-oz) package shredded Italian three-cheese blend
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 350ºF and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Spaghetti: Boil spaghetti in salted water according to package instructions until al dente, then drain thoroughly and transfer to the prepared baking dish.
- Brown Sausage & Cook Pepperoni: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground pork sausage for about 5 minutes until fully cooked and no longer pink, stirring occasionally. Drain excess fat and wipe the skillet clean. Add turkey pepperoni slices and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until they become slightly crisp.
- Assemble Casserole: Spread the browned sausage evenly over the spaghetti. Pour the tomato-and-basil pasta sauce over the sausage, then arrange half of the pepperoni slices evenly on top of the sauce. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan and Italian three-cheese blend evenly over the pepperoni, and then arrange the remaining pepperoni slices on top of the cheese layer.
- Cover: Cover the baking dish with nonstick or lightly greased aluminum foil to keep the casserole moist during baking.
- Bake: Bake the casserole for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and just starting to brown.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of pepperoni to suit your taste preferences.
- For a spicier kick, substitute mild sausage with spicy Italian sausage.
- Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving to make slicing easier.
- This dish can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking.
- Use low-fat cheese options to reduce calories if desired.
