Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza Orzo

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 small bell pepper, diced
• 1/2 white onion, diced
• 1 pound ground sweet Italian sausage
• 1 package (5 ounces) sliced pepperoni, divided
• 1 jar (24 ounces) marinara sauce
• 1 package (16 ounces) orzo pasta, cooked according to package directions
• 1/2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 2 teaspoons Adodo seasoning
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1-1/2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°.
2. Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet (or any oven-safe skillet).
3. Add in the diced peppers and onions, stirring occasionally and cooking over medium heat until they start to soften.
4. Add the ground Italian sausage, and cook until browned, breaking it up into bite-sizes pieces as you go.
5. Cut about 2/3 of the pepperoni slices in half and add it to the skillet, stirring until combined.
6. Pour in the marinara sauce and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes.
7. Add in the cooked orzo pasta and stir well.
8. Stir in the Italian seasoning, Adobo and black pepper, adjusting the seasonings to your taste.
9. Spread the mixture out evenly in the skillet.
10. Sprinkle with shredded Italian blend cheese.
11. Spread the remaining pepperoni slices over the top of the cheese.
12. Place the skillet in the oven and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
13. Remove from the oven and serve hot with a side salad and garlic bread for a full meal.

The original recipe for this tasty alternative to pizza can be found here.