Description
Comfort meets Italian-American fusion in this cheese tortellini pepperoni pizza casserole, blending cheesy pasta with classic pizza flavors. Hearty layers of tortellini, pepperoni, and melted cheese create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 1 package (16 ounces / 453 grams) cheese tortellini
Cheese Sauce and Seasonings:
- 2 cups milk
- 8 ounces (226 grams) Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella-based cheese blend
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Pizza Elements:
- 1/2 cup pizza sauce
- 2 ounces (57 grams) pepperoni, quartered (about 1/2 cup)
- Additional pepperoni slices for topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish with a light coating of cooking spray.
- Cook cheese tortellini according to package instructions until perfectly tender, then drain thoroughly and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium temperature. Add minced garlic and sauté until aromatic and lightly golden, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Pour warm milk into the garlic-infused pan, incorporating Italian seasoning. Maintain a gentle heat without allowing the milk to boil.
- Reduce heat to low. Gradually incorporate Velveeta and shredded cheese into the milk, stirring consistently until the mixture transforms into a smooth, velvety sauce.
- Remove from heat and gently fold cooked tortellini and quartered pepperoni into the cheese sauce, ensuring complete and even coating.
- Transfer the cheesy tortellini mixture into the prepared baking dish, distributing evenly across the surface.
- Distribute pizza sauce across the top, using a spoon to create a delicate marbled pattern throughout the casserole.
- Layer pepperoni slices uniformly across the surface and sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese over the entire dish.
- Bake for 25 minutes, watching for melted, bubbling cheese with golden-brown edges indicating perfect doneness.
- Allow the casserole to rest 5-10 minutes after removing from the oven, enabling the cheese to slightly set and making serving easier.
Notes
- Customize Cheese Selection Experiment with different cheese combinations like sharp cheddar, provolone, or smoked gouda to add depth and unique flavor profiles to the casserole.
- Make It Lighter Substitute whole milk with skim or almond milk, and use reduced-fat cheese varieties to create a lighter version without compromising taste.
- Veggie Boost Incorporate extra vegetables like spinach, bell peppers, or mushrooms to increase nutritional value and add colorful texture to the dish.
- Gluten-Free Adaptation Replace regular tortellini with gluten-free tortellini and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free for those with dietary restrictions.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 583
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1,120 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 62 mg