Pizza Casserole
Pizza Casserole is a hearty, cheesy pasta bake with all the flavor of a meat lovers pizza. It feels like a weekend treat but comes together on a busy weeknight.
Sweet Italian sausage, ground beef, crispy bacon, and pepperoni, with gooey mozzarella, tangy marinara, and pasta.
I like making this on nights when I need to feed a hungry crowd without much fuss. My husband always goes back for seconds, and the leftovers turn into easy lunches the next day.
Recipe Highlights
- Feeds eight from one baking dish
- Make-ahead and freezer-friendly for busy weeks
- No pizza dough to make or roll
- A family-friendly twist on pizza night
- Easy enough for a weeknight dinner
Ingredient Notes
Please check the recipe card below for a detailed, printable ingredient list.
PASTA – Any short pasta works here. I like fusilli, but penne or cavatappi hold the sauce just as well.
SAUSAGE – I use sweet Italian sausage. Hot Italian sausage works too if you want a little more heat.
BACON – I use thick-cut bacon, but any bacon works. My family is partial to this bacon, and it’s the one we keep buying.
CHEESE – Shred your own mozzarella from a block when you can; it melts smoother than pre-shredded. No Parmesan? Use half as much Pecorino Romano, since it’s saltier.
MARINARA – Use your favorite jarred marinara as the pizza sauce. This is the one my family reaches for.
SWAPS AND ADD-INS – Swap in ground turkey or chicken for a lighter casserole. Or stir in onions, peppers, mushrooms, or olives, just like your favorite pizza toppings.
How to Make Pizza Casserole
Please check the printable recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- Cook the pasta and bacon, then dice the bacon.
- Brown the sausage and beef, season, and stir in the bacon and marinara.
- Combine the meat sauce with the pasta in a baking dish.
- Top with mozzarella, Parmesan, and pepperoni, then bake until melted.
Leftovers and Storage
STORE – Keep leftovers fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 5 days.
FREEZE – Cool the casserole completely, then freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
REHEAT – Warm individual portions in the microwave, or cover and reheat in a 350º Fahrenheit oven until hot. Frozen portions can go straight in.
MAKE AHEAD – Assemble the casserole a day ahead, cover, and refrigerate. Add a few extra minutes from cold when you bake it.
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Serving Suggestions
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).
Recipe Success Tips
A few small ‘hacks’ make this one come out great every time.
AL DENTE – Cook the pasta just to al dente so it stays firm after the bake.
EXTRA SAUCY – Like it saucier? Stir in another splash of marinara before it goes in the oven.
BROIL – For a bubbly, golden top, slide it under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes, watching for the color you want.
Expert Tip – Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving, and it scoops up neat and clean.
Commonly Asked Questions
What Makes This a Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole?
Pizza Casserole earns the meat lovers name from four kinds of meat. Sweet Italian sausage, ground beef, crispy bacon, and pepperoni all go into one dish. Together they give you that loaded pizza feel in every scoop. You can dial it back to just beef and pepperoni if you prefer.
Can I Make Pizza Casserole Ahead of Time?
Yes, this casserole is a great make-ahead dish. Assemble it fully, cover it tightly, and keep it in the fridge for up to a day. When you are ready, bake it straight from the fridge and add a few extra minutes since it starts cold. It also freezes well for up to three months.
What Pasta Works Best for Pizza Casserole?
Short, sturdy pasta shapes work best here. Fusilli, penne, and cavatappi all hold the sauce and meat well and keep their bite after baking. Cook the pasta just to al dente, since it softens a little more in the oven. Avoid long noodles like spaghetti, which are harder to scoop.
Can I Use Just Ground Beef?
Absolutely, plain ground beef makes a great hamburger pizza casserole. Use a full pound and a half of ground beef in place of the sausage and beef combination. You will still get a hearty, satisfying dish. Brown it well and drain the fat before adding your sauce and seasonings.
How Do I Make It Cheesier?
For an extra cheesy pizza casserole, add more mozzarella in the middle. Layer half the pasta and meat, scatter on a handful of cheese, then add the rest and top as usual. A blend of mozzarella and provolone also melts into a richer, gooier topping.
More Easy Dinner Recipes
Hamburger Casserole – A cheesy ground beef and pasta bake that comes together fast.
Ground Beef Stroganoff – Creamy, comforting, and on the table in about 30 minutes.
Sloppy Joe Recipe – The saucy, family-favorite sandwich made from scratch.
Spaghetti and Meatballs – A classic everyone comes running for.
Taco Spaghetti – Taco night and pasta night in one easy skillet.
Bacon Pasta – A simple, savory dinner ready in about 20 minutes.
Pizza Casserole
Ingredients
For the Casserole
- 16 ounces pasta fusilli, penne, cavatappi, or any short pasta
- 12 ounces bacon diced
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage
- ½ pound ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon chili pepper flakes
- 24 ounces Marinara sauce
For the Topping
- 16 ounces Mozzarella cheese shredded
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
- 24 slices pepperoni
Instructions
- Cook the bacon on the stovetop, or bake it at 425º Fahrenheit for 18 to 20 minutes, then pat dry and dice.
- Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package directions, then drain.
- Brown the sausage and ground beef in a large skillet, then drain the fat. Stir in the garlic powder, oregano, and chili pepper flakes. Add the diced bacon and the marinara sauce, and simmer until warm.
- Combine the meat sauce with the cooked pasta in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with the mozzarella, Parmesan, and pepperoni.
- Bake at 400º Fahrenheit for 10 to 12 minutes, until the cheese melts.
Notes
CRISPY TOP
For a bubbly, golden top, run the casserole under the broiler for 1 to 2 minutes at the end.FOOD SAFETY
Cook the ground beef and sausage to an internal temperature of 160º Fahrenheit.Nutritional Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Cheerful Cook team members are not trained nutritionists or medical professionals. Calorie information and nutritional values are estimates. If you have nutritional concerns, we recommend using a nutritional calculator.
Maike Corbett grew up in German kitchens learning to cook and bake alongside her Omas before spending over a decade running full-service restaurants in the US. She founded Cheerful Cook in 2017 to share practical, tested comfort food recipes that actually work on busy weeknights, drawing on both her American restaurant experience and her German home-cooking roots. Her work has been featured on MSN, Yahoo, the Associated Press, and other major media outlets.