Recipe Of The Day - Pizza Casserole

Taste of Home is one of my favorite magazines. I remember when the first issue came out and I quickly bought a subscription. I thought I had died and gone to heaven! I have so many copies of past magazines that they fill the entire bottom of a large dining room hutch back in our house in Minnesota. Unfortunately I could only bring a few copies with me, but I have since bought more while living in Minocqua. I also have many of their annual cookbooks and cannot wait to be able to look through them again.

Today's recipe is from the Casseroles, Slow Cooker & Soups Magazine that was displayed on newstands until April 27, 2009. Julie Sterchi from Harrisburg, Illinois submitted this recipe. I have made a Pizza Casserole before, but I used the spiral macaroni. Whenever I make a recipe that calls for ground beef, I sometimes will substitute ground turkey.

Pizza Casserole

3 pounds ground beef

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 jar (28 ounces) spaghetti sauce

2 jars (4-1/2 ounces each) sliced mushrooms, drained

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

Dash pepper

1 package (16 ounces) wide egg noodles, cooked and drained

2 packages (3-1/2 ounces each) sliced pepperoni

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

In a Dutch oven, brown beef and onion over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. Add spaghetti sauce, mushrooms, salt, garlic powder, oregano and pepper; heat through.

Spoon 4 cups into a 6-qt. slow cooker. Top with half of the noodles, pepperoni and cheeses. Repeat layers. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour or until cheese is melted.

Makes 12 servings. This recipe can be halved to use in a 3-qt. slow cooker.