Pizza Stew

If you like hearty stew’s and pepperoni pizza, you will love this amazing combination! A rich tomato based stew with just the right amount of veggies, seasoned with oregano and basil, but spiced with pepperoni.
Thank you to my neighbor, Miss Deb, for this fabulous recipe. We made it a couple times over the holidays and absolutely adored it. It’s hearty, filling and has great flavor.

You’ll Need:
1 -28oz Can Crushed Tomatoes
1 – 14oz can Diced Tomatoes
1 lb ground beef or turkey
1 pkg pepperoni slices
1 green pepper, washed and diced
1 red onion, washed and diced
1 Tbs. Minced Garlic
1 8oz pkg whole mushrooms, washed and sliced
1 tsp Oregano
1 tsp basil
Drizzle of Olive Oil
1/2 – 1 tsp red pepper flakes (*optional)

Mozzarella Cheese (optional)

Dump both cans of tomatoes into the crockpot, set aside nearby.

Heat oil over medium heat in a large skillet, saute onion and green pepper for a few minutes until onions are nearly translucent. Add garlic, oregano and basil, saute for another second to incorporate. Dump into the tomatoes that are in the crockpot.
Brown the ground beef (or turkey) over medium heat until no longer pink inside. Drain any excess grease/oil from the meat and then dump the browned meat into the crockpot as well. Add the entire package of sliced pepperoni (this is equal to about a cup or so of pepperoni if you happen to be slicing your own), sliced mushrooms, and red pepper flakes if using them, put the top on the crock pot and let it cook all together for about an hour.

Just prior to serving, sprinkle lightly with mozzarella cheese if desired and serve with garlic breadsticks made out of pizza dough. (as you can see from the picture, biscuits will do in a pinch too!)

Enjoy!