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.

Why This Easy Pizza Casserole Recipe Works

SIMPLICITY - The recipe is straightforward, making it suitable for both experienced cooks and beginners.

VERSATILITY - You can easily adjust the ingredients to fit your taste, adding more vegetables or changing the types of meat. Think about onions, bell peppers, or pepperonis.

GREAT FOR LEFTOVERS - The casserole reheats well so that you can enjoy any leftovers the next day.

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 I think 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 is not reflective of what I pay at the local grocery store). This bacon is so hearty, smoky, and satisfying; it's really 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 or any other 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 - If I have them on hand, I like garnering 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 layer of 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 9x13" 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).

Leftovers

STORE - Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container to keep them fresh. The casserole will typically stay fresh for about 3 to 5 days. I like to divide them into individual portions. Some for the refrigerator and some for the freezer.

FREEZE - First, let leftovers cool, then place them in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.

REHEAT FROM FROZEN - You can reheat the frozen casserole in the oven when ready to eat. If it's in a freezer-to-oven safe container, you can put it directly in the oven.
If it's not, transfer it to a baking dish first. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 350°F until heated through. You might want to remove the foil for the last 10 minutes of baking to let the top get crispy.

More Recipes You Should Try

LAZY LAZAGNA - Ground beef, red sauce, mozzarella, and cheese ravioli are the four simple ingredients to this clever and 'Lazy Lasagna' recipe.

KRAUTFLECKERL - This German classic has comfort food written all over it.

TACO CASSEROLE - A fun, flavorful dish that combines all your favorite taco ingredients into one easy-to-serve, cheesy dish.

HAM & NOODLE CASSEROLE - Comforting, hearty dish is filled with savory ham, creamy sauce, and tender noodles, making it a delicious and filling family dinner.

GROUND BEEF STROGANOFF - This 5-ingredient recipe is perfect for super busy weeknights when you have little time and still want to make a delicious dinner the entire family is going to love.

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