Pepperoni Casserole

This is another delicious, cheap and family friendly recipe that I stumbled upon. I originally was going to make it for some friends who were to come over, but a week later, I decided to just make it for my husband and I.  This dish is the perfect combination for lovers of pizza and pasta.  As with many of the other recipes I discover, a link at the bottom will give you the details of the original recipe.

                           

Ingredients
Pepperoni (1 package)
Cottage cheese (2 12oz packages)
Mozzarella Cheese (1 package)
Olives (whole or sliced, one can)
Sausage (1 lb)
Rotini pasta (1 lb)
Pasta sauce (16 oz)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Boil water and cook pasta according to package until al dente. (Pasta will also bake in oven so don't overcook).  Cook sausage over medium heat until browned. Grease 9x13 or other casserole dish.  Put cooked pasta, sausage and pasta sauce in casserole dish and mix well. In separate bowl, mix olives, mozzarella and cottage cheeses (I accidentally only used half the cottage cheese and it still turned out fine).  Spread cheese mixture over other ingredients. Layer pepperoni on top and bake for 20-25 minutes until cheese is melted.

 

                      

The result is a pizza-like casserole and it is so yummy!  This recipe makes excellent leftovers and also has the potential to have different varieties. Try different types of sausage, crushed red pepper, green peppers, mushrooms or other pizza topping favorites.

Cooking Tip
Make this recipe ahead of time and throw it in the refrigerator for a busy weeknight. Then, just bake it on that busy night and have a ready made dinner!

Pepperoni Casserole Original Recipe