Pizza Casserole

For my mother's birthday this year, I decided to make her a few frozen meals. This way, she could just pull something out of the freezer but still enjoyed the homemade goodness of it. I, of course, doubled all the recipes so I could try out the food first and make sure it tasted good.

This pizza casserole tasted similar to one my family used to make growing up. However, we made that casserole without meat and this one has ground beef in it. So I imagine if you are in a vegetarian mood, this would turn out just find without the beef. If I were to change anything about the recipe, I would layer it. Put cheese and pepperoni in between layers of pasta, instead of just on top.

Ingredients:
1lb ground beef
1/2 large onion, chopped
1 jar (28 oz) spaghetti sauce
1 pkg (8oz) spiral pasta
2 cups (8 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
4 oz pepperoni

Directions:
Prepare pasta as directed on pacakage. Meanwhile, brown ground beef and onion in a large skillet. Drain fat. Once noodles are cooked and drained, add them and the spaghetti sauce to the meat. Put contents in a 13x9 casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheese and pepperoni. (Alternately, put half of contents in a 13x9 dish, sprinkle with cheese and pepperoni, add the rest of the pasta and put on another layer of cheese and pepperoni.)

If you wish to freeze, allow to cool and then cover and freeze. Let thaw in fridge overnight. Bake in preheated oven at 350 for 35-40 minutes or until heated through.

If you do not want to freeze it, simple put in the oven until cheese is melted and bubbly.