Let’s assemble and bake this hearty Pizza Casserole:

1. Preheat Oven and Prepare Dishes & Pasta:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Lightly grease two 9×13-inch baking dishes with non-stick cooking spray or butter.
• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook the spiral or cavatappi pasta according to package directions until al dente (tender but still firm). Drain the pasta well and set aside.

2. Cook Meat and Sauce Base:

• While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat.
• Add the ground beef and chopped onion to the hot skillet. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat with a spoon, until the meat is thoroughly browned and the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes.
• Carefully drain off any excess grease from the skillet.
• Stir in the spaghetti sauce and the seasoned salt. Bring to a simmer and cook for a minute or two for flavors to meld.
• Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet with the meat sauce. Stir gently until the pasta is well coated.

3. Assemble the Casseroles:

• Divide the pasta and meat sauce mixture evenly between the two prepared 9×13-inch baking dishes. Spread it out to create an even layer in each dish.
• Sprinkle the shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the pasta mixture in both dishes (using about 2 cups of cheese per dish).
• Arrange the sliced pepperoni evenly over the cheese layer on both casseroles.

4. Bake:

• Place both baking dishes in the preheated oven.
• Bake, uncovered, for 25-30 minutes. The casserole is done when it’s heated through, the sauce is bubbly around the edges, and the cheese is melted and lightly golden.

5. Rest and Serve:

• Carefully remove the hot casseroles from the oven. Let them rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the casserole to set slightly, making it easier to serve neat portions.
• Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or extra Parmesan if desired (optional).

A hearty, cheesy, pizza-inspired pasta bake ready to feed a crowd