Despite Papa’s Pepperoni Bake containing a whole bunch of flavors including tender pasta, tangy olives, melty mozzarella, and succulent sausage, it really emphasizes what we’re all here for: the spicy, savory pepperoni decorating the top of the casserole! There’s a reason it’s the classic pizza topping, and there’s a reason Papa wanted it to be the star of his casserole. Papa’s Pepperoni Bake knows how to highlight the magic of this beloved meat.
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) package rotini pasta, uncooked
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 (16-ounce) jar pasta sauce
- 2 (12-ounce) containers cottage cheese
- 1 (2.25 ounce) can sliced black olives
- 12 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 2 (3-ounce) packages sliced pepperoni
Directions
Step 1 –Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Step 2 –Lightly grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish.
Step 3 –Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil.
Step 4 –Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes.
Step 5 –Drain the pasta.
Step 6 –Heat a skillet over medium heat.
Step 7 –Add the sausage to the hot skillet and cook, crumbling as it cooks, until evenly browned, about 5-7 minutes.
Step 8 –Add the cooked pasta, the cooked sausage, and the pasta sauce to the prepared casserole dish and stir to combine.
Step 9 –In a medium bowl, add the cottage cheese, the olives, and the mozzarella cheese and mix to combine.
Step 10 –Spoon the cheese mixture over the sausage-pasta mixture.
Step 11 –Top the cheese mixture layer with the pepperoni slices.
Step 12 –Bake the casserole until bubbly and lightly browned, about 25 minutes.
Step 13 –Serve.
