Pizza Casserole

Pizza Casserole has all the deliciousness of a pizza combined with the comfort of a hearty casserole. It’s a blend of meat, cheese, and pasta.

We’ve added an extra twist and turned it into a Meatlover’s Pizza Casserole, combining sweet Italian sausage, beef, bacon, and pepperoni with gooey cheese and tender pasta.

PASTA – Use whatever short pasta you like. I prefer fusilli, but you can use penne pasta, cavatappi pasta, or similar pasta.

SAUSAGE – I use sweet Italian sausage, but you can because it ties all the other flavors together. But you can also use Hot Italian sausage instead.

BACON – As you can see from the pictures, I use thick-cut bacon. You can use whatever bacon you like, but my family has become partial to this bacon (the Amazon price does not reflect what I pay at the local grocery store). This bacon is so hearty, smoky, and satisfying; it’s ruined all other bacon for us. 😉

CHEESE – We’ll use both Mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese for this recipe. You can use whole or part-skim Mozzarella cheese. I prefer to buy a block of cheese and shred it myself. If you are using pre-shredded cheese, use about four cups of Mozzarella cheese.

I had this question come up in another recipe. If you only have Pecorino Romano, you can use that instead of Parmesan cheese. Yes, you can, but use half as much because the Pecorino is quite a bit saltier.

MARINARA SAUCE – Use your favorite tomato sauce as your pizza sauce. I have linked to my family’s favorite sauce here and in the recipe card.

SPICES – We’ll use a combination of oregano, garlic powder, and chili pepper flakes. This will add mild spice but not be overwhelmingly spicy.

OPTIONAL – I like garnishing the casserole with a few fresh basil leaves.

Variations

While I went for a true Meatlover’s Pizza Casserole with limited ingredients, here are some other ingredients inspired by everybody’s favorite pizza topping that you can mix, match, and experiment with.

ONIONS and GARLIC– Adding sautéed onions or raw onions, as well as fresh garlic, can add another flavor that is quite delicious.

PEPPERS – Red or Green bell pepper is another option of things you can add to this casserole-pizza combination.

MUSHROOMS and OLIVES – If we think about more popular pizza toppings, mushrooms and olives, individually or together, are another delicious option.

CHICKEN or TURKEY – If you aren’t a meat lover, you can also use ground turkey or ground chicken.

1. Cook pasta al dente according to package directions. Cook the bacon on the stove or oven [bake at 425º F for 18-20 minutes].
2. Brown Italian sausage and ground beef in a large skillet. Add oregano, garlic powder, and chili pepper flakes. Stir in marinara sauce and simmer until warm.
3. Combine pasta and meat sauce and pour into a 9×13″ casserole dish.
4. Sprinkle the pasta with Mozzarella and Parmesan. Top with pepperoni slices.
5. Bake at 400º Fahrenheit for 10-12 minutes or until the cheese has melted.

Recipe Success Tips

This recipe is really easy and highly customizable. I’m partial to the version I offer you, and it’s one of my family’s favorite dishes. But here are some tips that’ll help you succeed.

• Ideally, use blocks of cheese instead of pre-shredded cheese. Yes, it’s a bit more work shredding it, but it’s cheaper, and you don’t have the preservatives you’ll get when you buy bags of pre-shredded cheese. That being said, if you’re stressed or in a rush, do what you must; a bag of pre-shredded cheese won’t kill anyone. ;-).
• Make sure to cook the pasta al dente or even slightly under-cook the pasta. This will prevent the pasta from becoming too soft during baking.

Serving Ideas

SIDE SALAD – Pair the Pizza Casserole with a crisp green salad for a light, refreshing side, such as our famous Oma’s German Cucumber Salad or chopped Tomato Salad.

GARLIC BREAD – Serve with warm garlic bread slices to scoop up any extra sauce.

VEGETABLES – For a balanced meal, offer a side of steamed or roasted vegetables (Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower).