Pizza Pasta Casserole

This is a great recipe for the pizza lovers out there, but it doesn’t take as long to make because there is not waiting for dough to rise. It is also a great recipe to use any leftover pasta that you have sitting in the fridge; that’s how I came up with this. I also am not sure exactly what makes it taste like pizza. When I made the dish I was just trying to get rid of some things from the fridge, but when we took it out of the oven it smelled like pizza and then it tasted like pizza too.

If you try it out, let me know what you think.

What You’ll Need…

1lb Pasta (Any kind you like.)

½ Medium Onion (Chopped)

1 Bell Pepper (Chopped)

1 Handful Mushrooms (Sliced)

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

8 Slices Bacon (I use turkey bacon.)

1 ½ - 2 Cups Tomato Sauce (Your favorite brand.)

3oz Brie (Optional)

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat your oven to 400.

Start out by chopping and slicing you vegetables. I like to slice the mushrooms, but you can cut them anyway you want. When the vegetables have been cut, set them aside and place a pot of water on the stove and bring to a boil. When the water starts to boil add your pasta and cook until it is how you like your pasta. I like my pasta past al dente.

While you are waiting for your water place 8 slices of bacon on a cooling rack that is on a baking sheet. Allow the bacon to bake in the oven at 400 for about 15 minutes or until crispy.

Now onto the vegetables, sauté the vegetables until soft.

When the pasta is to the doneness that you like it, drain the pasta and move to a greased 9 x 13 pan.

At this point the bacon should be done and cooled. When it has cooled enough that you can work with it slice it into about 1 inch pieces.

Layer the vegetables and bacon on top of the pasta and then top that with the tomato sauce. Now, if you are going to use brie, cut off the rind, cut into 5 pieces and flatten the pieces. Place the cheese on top and fill in the “empty” areas with grated Parmesan. You can always use another cheese in place of the brie, or just cover the top completely with Parmesan.

Bake the dish at 350 for 30 minutes.

Enjoy!