pizza pasta skillet casserole

Serves: 8

1 yellow onion, diced
1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon honey
3 tablespoons tomato paste
12 ounces gluten-free penne
1 3 1/2-ounce package thinly-sliced pepperoni
1 pound ground beef
8 ounces white mushrooms, sliced
5 ounces fresh baby spinach
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves, chopped
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Olive oil
Salt

DIRECTIONS

Coat the bottom of a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat with olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add half the onion and a pinch of salt and saute until translucent. Crush the tomatoes between your fingers and add them to the onions, along with the Italian seasoning and honey. Simmer until reduced by a third, 10-15 minutes. Pour the sauce into a bowl and rinse the skillet.
Cook pasta according to the package directions, except omit the salt; drain. Return drained pasta to pot. Meanwhile, cut 3/4 of the pepperoni slices in quarters; set aside.
Add a splash of olive oil to the skillet and cook ground beef, remaining onion, and mushrooms until meat is brown and onion is tender; drain off fat. Stir in the spinach and cook just until wilted.
Stir in the reserved quartered pepperoni slices and tomato sauce. Add beef mixture to the cooked, drained pasta in the pot. (Do not rinse skillet.) Stir to combine.
Return half of the pasta and beef mixture to the skillet. Sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers. Top with the reserved whole pepperoni slices.
Bake in a 350° F oven about 35 minutes or until casserole is heated through and cheese and pepperoni are lightly browned.