ITALIAN CASSEROLE

Italian Casserole image

Provided by Gail Welch

Time 45m

Number Of Ingredients 14

2 c rotini or any pasta
1 1/2 lb ground chuck
1/2 tsp salt or seasoned salt
1/2 tsp black pepper (coarse ground)
1 small white onion, chopped (optional)
2 1/2 c spaghetti sauce or pizza sauce
1 can(s) tomato paste (6 ounce)
1 can(s) tomato sauce (8 ounce)
1/2-1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp oregano leaves
2 c mozzarella cheese
20 slice pepperoni
2 Tbsp grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Steps:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook rotini in boiling water 7-9 minutes. Drain and set aside.
2. While rotini is cooking, brown seasoned ground chuck (with salt and pepper) and onion (if desired).
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.
4. Pour 1/2 cup spaghetti sauce in bottom of 3 qt casserole dish. Pour half of beef and pasta mixture over sauce.
5. Top with 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Then pour remaining meat and pasta mixture over top.
6. Add 1 cup of mozzarella cheese on top of meat mixture.
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.