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A close-up of a single serving of pizza casserole recipe on a white plate, layered with pasta, meat sauce, melted cheese, and pepperoni slices.

Pizza Casserole Recipe

Family-friendly, make-ahead Pizza Casserole Recipe with sausage, pepperoni, veggies, and plenty of cheese. Layers bake up bubbly on top, saucy in the middle, and sturdy on the bottom great hot, and even better the next day
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Casserole, Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian-American
Keyword: 4 ingredient pizza casserole, Best pizza casserole recipe, Italian pizza casserole recipe, Pizza casserole recipe with ground beef, Pizza casserole recipe with pasta, Pizza casserole recipe without pasta, Pizza casserole with crust, Simple pizza casserole recipe
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Rest Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 700kcal
Cost: $18

Equipment

  • 1 9x13 inch baking dish (Glass or ceramic preferred; buttered)
  • 1 Large pasta pot + colander (For boiling pasta)
  • 1 Heavy skillet (For browning sausage & sautéing veggies)
  • 1 Chef’s knife & cutting board
  • 1 Box grater (For mozzarella & parmesan)
  • 1 Measuring cups & spoons
  • 1 Aluminum foil (To cover during first bake)

Ingredients

  • 1 lb penne or rigatoni dry - Cook 2 minutes shy of package
  • 1 tablespoon kosher salt - For pasta water
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil - For skillet if needed
  • 1 lb Italian sausage - Casings removed
  • 1 medium yellow onion diced
  • 2 medium bell peppers diced - Any colors
  • 8 oz mushrooms sliced - Optional but recommended
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes - 1 can
  • 2 cups pizza sauce - About 16 oz
  • 2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes - To taste
  • 4 cups shredded mozzarella - ~16 oz; part-skim works
  • ½ cup grated parmesan
  • 4 oz pepperoni slices - Plus extra for topping designs
  • 1 tablespoon butter - For greasing dish
  • 1 cup reserved pasta water - Add as needed to loosen sauce
  • ¼ cup fresh basil chopped - For garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat to 375°F, butter the dish, and start salted water.
    A large pot of penne pasta boiling in salted water on the stovetop.
  • Parboil pasta two minutes less than package; reserve starchy water.
    A skillet filled with sausage, onions, peppers, and tomato sauce simmering together with a wooden spoon resting inside.
  • Brown sausage; sauté onions, peppers, mushrooms; add garlic; simmer with sauces.
    A casserole dish layered with pasta, meat sauce, and a generous topping of shredded cheese, ready to bake.
  • Layer pasta, sauce, and cheeses; repeat layers; arrange pepperoni on top.
    Freshly baked pizza casserole in a foil tray, topped with melted cheese and golden pepperoni slices.
  • Cover and bake twenty-five minutes; uncover until golden; rest ten minutes.
    A close-up of a single serving of pizza casserole recipe on a white plate, layered with pasta, meat sauce, melted cheese, and pepperoni slices.

Notes

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Nutrition

Serving: 480g | Calories: 700kcal (35%) | Carbohydrates: 53g (18%) | Protein: 30g (60%) | Fat: 35g (54%) | Saturated Fat: 16g (100%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 110mg (37%) | Sodium: 1250mg (54%) | Potassium: 850mg (24%) | Fiber: 5g (21%) | Sugar: 9g (10%) | Vitamin A: 900IU (18%) | Vitamin C: 40mg (48%) | Calcium: 500mg (50%) | Iron: 3.5mg (19%)
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