This is a scrumptious casserole that merges two of your favorite dishes into one. It will bring you the flavor of a pizza in the shape of pasta.
This makes for a wonderful family meal that your kids would love since it has all your favorite flavors baked into one casserole dish. This is one of those perfect weeknight meals which you can make the night before and then just pop it in the oven when you get home the next day.
Health Benefits
Calories per serving: 455g
Calories from the fat present: 216 (45%)
Total Fat: 24g
Sodium: 667mg
Carbohydrates: 29g
Protein: 29g
If taken in proper portions, this meal can prove to be a healthy meal. The cheese content may be a little bit intimidating but they have their health benefits as well. Cheese provides calcium, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B12, zinc, and phosphorous, to the body. It is also said to have conjugated linoleic acid, this is a fact that possibly has weight0reducing, heart protective, and anti-cancer properties. If you wish, you can even substitute the cheeses for low-fat cheese for an even healthier meal.
Ingredients
ounces of spiral shaped pasta (uncooked). The sauce tends to cling to the sections between the spirals really well and thus has a stronger taste.: 8
Italian sausage: 1 pounds
cups of spaghetti sauce: 4
canned, drained: 4 ounces
grated parmesan cheese: 1 cup
package sliced pepperoni: 6 ounces
mozzarella cheese (shredded): 8 ounces
How To Make Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
- Before you start preparing, preheat the oven to 350 degrees, this is if you plan on preparing and cooking it at the same time. Otherwise, if you plan to bake the dish the next day, you can skip this part.
- Fill a large pot with water and bring it to a boil. Put in the spiral pasta and cook for seven to ten minutes, according to package instructions. Drain, and then return the pasta to the pot.
- In a saute pan, add oil and sausage. Cook it for a while till you see it slightly browning. Take it out of the pan and onto a plate with tissue laid out on it.
- In the same large pot with pasta, add the sausage, mushrooms, and spaghetti sauce.
- Add some parmesan cheese and half of the pepperoni slices.
- Take a baking pan and grease it by spread some butter on it.
- Spread the pasta mixture on the pan, top it with mozzarella, and then arrange the rest of the pepperoni slices on top.
- Let the concoction bake for 20 minutes until you see the cheese bubble.
Trivia
During the 1800s, the pizza was considered a peasant meal by the Italians. This concept took a turn when Raffaele Esposito, an Italian baker created and baked margarita pizza for a visiting royalty. He topped the pizza with white mozzarella cheese, red tomato sauce, and green basil leaves which immensely impressed the king and queen. This lead to pizza being in demand overnight, and regular product in the menus of several Italian restaurants.