Ah, you’re talking about pizza spaghetti casserole—basically, a fun mashup of two comfort foods: pizza and spaghetti. It’s cheesy, tomato-y, and super customizable. Here’s a simple recipe you can follow:
Ingredients (serves ~4-6)
- 8 oz (about half a box) spaghetti
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 jar (about 24 oz) marinara sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup pepperoni slices (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti: Boil in salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the meat: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef or sausage until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Mix sauce and seasonings: Add the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the meat. Simmer 5 minutes.
- Combine spaghetti and sauce: In a large bowl or directly in a baking dish, mix cooked spaghetti with the meat sauce.
- Assemble casserole:
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a baking dish, layer the spaghetti and sauce mixture.
- Sprinkle mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheese on top.
- Add pepperoni slices if you like.
- Bake: 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Let it cool 5 minutes before scooping. Optional: top with fresh basil or red pepper flakes.
💡 Tips & Variations
- Add chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives for extra veggies.
- Use cooked chicken instead of beef for a lighter version.
- For extra “pizza flavor,” sprinkle a bit of crushed red pepper or Italian herb blend on top before baking.
If you want, I can also give you a super-quick one-pot version that skips boiling the spaghetti separately. That’s perfect if you want it faster and with less cleanup.
Do you want me to give that version too?
