Have Kids--Must Make--Easy Cheesy Pizza Casserole!

Doesn't sound so fabulous-right?  I didn't think so the first time I made this--but it is surprisingly eatable-even very tasty-and has become one of my family's favorite dinners. 

My kids are such complainers when it comes to eating something two days in a row, but never with Pizza Casserole--not once. OK, I had to come back and edit this, today, of course, my picky eater Evie just complained that we were having it for lunch--again, but she ate it, after picking out all of my craftily hidden spinach.

This recipe makes three casseroles but it's very simple to cut down to one or two.  And, it's so easy to make--the ingredients don't even need to be exact!


Easy Cheesy Pizza Casserole (x 3)
Ingredients:
2 T olive oil
1 onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
3 lbs ground beef
1 1/2 tsp. Italian seasonings
Spinach--2 large handfuls
Rotini pasta, 29 oz., cooked and drained (I used two boxes of Barillo plus bowties because that's all I had in my pantry.)
Spaghetti sauce 3 to 4 (26oz.) jar-your favorite kind
Mozzarella cheese, about 8 cups shredded
Pepperoni-small package (I use turkey pepperoni--my kids like it just as much.)

To start: Add onion, garlic, Italian seasonings and ground beef to oil and cook until beef is brown.  Drain beef mixture. Next, add the spinach and cook until wilted. 

 (I usually cook mine just enough so my kids won't notice it.)

Combine beef mixture with pasta and 3 jars spaghetti sauce.  Add extra sauce according to your desire for extra sauciness.  Stir in 2 cups shredded cheese. 

Divide into three greased 9x13x2 in. pans.  Sprinkle the rest of cheese on top, then add pepperoni. (I folded pepperonis in half, two at a time, and used scissors to cut hearts for our Valentine's casserole, then used the heart leftovers on the middle casserole.)

Bake 350 for about 30 minutes or until really hot and delicious.

To freeze, I cover with one layer of saran wrap, then cover with tin foil.  Thaw in refrigerator overnight and cook for about 40 minutes.  Be sure to take off saran wrap before cooking.

Serve with garlic bread and lots of veggies.  Enjoy!

Grateful Mom Goal of the Day: Make Valentine's Day special for my family.