A hearty, cheesy casserole loaded with ground beef, sausage, bacon, and pepperoni, layered with pasta and rich tomato sauce. It’s the ultimate comfort food for a hungry family!
Author:Lorenzo Bonucci
Prep Time:20 minutes
Cook Time:35–40 minutes
Total Time:55–60 minutes
Yield:6–8 servings 1x
Category:Casserole
Method:Baking
Cuisine:American
Diet:None
Ingredients
Scale
450 g ground beef
250 g Italian sausage, casings removed
100 g bacon, chopped
100 g pepperoni, sliced
1 small onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp Italian seasoning
½ tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper
400 g penne or rigatoni
700 ml marinara or pasta sauce
120 ml beef broth
1 tsp Italian seasoning
200 g shredded mozzarella
100 g shredded cheddar
50 g grated Parmesan
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, optional
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 190°C. Cook the pasta in salted water according to the package directions, but drain it 1–2 minutes before fully tender. Set aside.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped bacon and cook for 4–5 minutes until crisp. Transfer to a plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat in the skillet.
Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it apart as it browns. Drain excess grease if necessary.
Add the onion and cook for 3–4 minutes. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for another 30 seconds.
Stir in the pepperoni, marinara sauce, and beef broth. Simmer for 5 minutes. Stir the cooked bacon back into the mixture.
Add the drained pasta and stir until everything is evenly coated.
Transfer the mixture to a greased 23 × 33 cm baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan.
Cover loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
Let the casserole rest for 5–10 minutes. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.
Notes
Add sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, or black olives for extra flavor.
Use spicy Italian sausage for extra heat.
Add extra mozzarella for a cheesier casserole.
Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over the top for added spice.
For an extra pizza-style finish, arrange a few additional pepperoni slices over the cheese before baking.