The whole family is going to fall in love with this easy pizza casserole. Loaded with all your favorite pizza toppings and finished off with melted mozzarella, it will have everyone wanting seconds!
It’s quick to whip up, and you can even prep it in the morning, so it’s a perfect meal for busy weeknights. And aren’t they all busy nights when you’re a mom? 🤣
A FUN TWIST ON PIZZA NIGHT!
If your family is like mine, even the pickiest of eaters run to the table when pizza is on the menu. And I’m not going to lie, I’m a huge fan of pizza myself!
This dish has all the flavors of meat lovers pizza, but in a hearty, comforting casserole. And it’s so easy to throw together with simple ingredients.
I like to serve it with a simple side salad and some garlic bread or garlic knots. I hope you love it as much as we do!
HOW TO MAKE PIZZA CASSEROLE
- PREP – Spray a 9×13″ dish with non stick cooking spray. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
- PASTA – Cook the rotini in boiling water just until al dente. (Follow the package directions.) Drain and set aside.
- MEAT – While pasta is cooking, brown the ground beef and sausage with the diced onions in a large skillet over high or medium heat. Use a paper towel to drain off any fat. Add the garlic and saute for 30-60 seconds.
- COMBINE – To the brown meat, add the sauce, sliced pepperoni, parmesan, Italian seasoning, and drained pasta. Stir until well combined. Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the cheese over the top of the casserole.
- BAKE – Cover the pan with aluminum foil. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.
PRO TIPS:
- The pasta will absorb sauce as the dish bakes, so make sure you don’t overcook it. You want it to have a slight crunch in the middle. If you cook it completely in the boiling water, it will get mushy as it bakes.
- For the best gooey, melty cheese, grate your own mozzarella. The pre shredded cheese is coated to prevent it from sticking together, so it won’t melt as smoothly.
Storing leftovers
Another bonus to this recipe is that leftovers taste amazing the next day. Simply cover the dish with plastic wrap, or transfer it to an airtight container.
Leftovers will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. You can simply reheat individual servings in the microwave. Use this microwave food cover to prevent all those splatters!
If you want to reheat the entire dish, place a tablespoon or two of water in the bottom of the pan. Place the pan in the oven and turn it to 300 degrees. Cook until heated through, usually at least 30 minutes.
This casserole also freezes well for 3-4 months if covered tightly. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake at 350 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until hot.
Pepperoni Pizza Casserole Recipe Variations:
- I like rotini pasta because all those little curves hold onto the sauce. But you can use penne, cavatappi pasta, bowties, egg noodles, or any small pasta you have on hand.
- We like to use cooked ground beef, pepperoni, and sausage, but you can use just one or two.
- For more heat, use spicy Italian sausage in place of the pork sausage. You can also toss in some red pepper flakes.
- Store bought spaghetti sauce makes this dish extra easy, but if you have a favorite homemade pasta sauce, feel free to use it!
- Use your favorite pizza toppings. Some tasty ideas are sliced black olives, chopped green bell peppers, mushrooms, and diced yellow or red onion.
- To make the dish even more fun, arrange mini pepperoni or quartered pepperoni slices on top of the cheese.
MORE PIZZA RECIPES:
MORE EASY CASSEROLE RECIPES:
Yield: 8 servings
EASY PIZZA CASSEROLE RECIPE
Pasta, beef, sausage, pepperoni, and marinara topped with melted mozzarella. All your favorite pizza flavors in a casserole!
Prep Time
20 minutes
Cook Time
25 minutes
Total Time
45 minutes
Ingredients
- 12 ounces dry rotini pasta
- 1/2 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 pound Jimmy Dean pork sausage
- 2/3 cup diced onion (half an onion)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 24 ounces marinara sauce (or pizza sauce)
- 4 oz pepperoni
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 6 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated (2 cups)
Instructions
- Cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until it is barely al dente. Don’t overcook! Drain.
- Preheat your oven to 350°. Spray a 9×13″
- While the pasta is cooking, cook the ground beef, sausage, and onion in a large skillet over medium high heat until the meat is brown. Drain off the fat with a paper towel.
- Add the garlic and saute for 30-60 seconds, just until fragrant. Stir in the marinara sauce, pepperoni, parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and the cooked rotini noodles.
- Spread the mixture into your prepared pan. Sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese over the top.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil. (I like to spray it with cooking spray.) Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes, or until dish is bubbly and cheese is melted.
Notes
-You can use either homemade or store bought marinara sauce.
-Feel free to add any of your favorite pizza toppings!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 432Total Fat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 13gCholesterol: 85mgSodium: 1102mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 3gSugar: 7gProtein: 26g
This simple pepperoni pizza casserole recipe is sure to become a family favorite. If you give it a try, don’t forget to come back and leave a comment!