This easy, hearty, delicious pizza casserole is a simple family favorite everyone loves. Made with pasta, spaghetti sauce, hamburger, cheese, and pepperoni baked in a casserole dish, this fun spin on classic Italian cuisine is sure to please.
Serve with our simple homemade Caeser salad and cheesy pull-apart bread for a wonderful meal.
MORE ITALIAN CASSEROLES
Million Dollar Spaghetti | Easy Lasagna Casserole | Baked Ziti
Ingredients for pizza casserole
You’ll need…
- 1 pound ground beef
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
- 16 ounces Rotini or Penne pasta, uncooked
- 24-ounce spaghetti or marinara sauce
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup pepperoni
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Fresh shredded parmesan for garnish, optional
INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS
SAUCE: You can use our homemade pasta sauce for this recipe.
MEAT: You could use ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork, or Italian sausage in this recipe as well. You could also mix and match the proteins. The possibilities are endless!
CHEESE: Use an Italian cheese blend or extra Parmesan
VEGGIES: Just like your favorite pizza, you can add all sorts of yummy vegetables to this casserole. Our top picks include mushrooms, banana peppers, green peppers, onions, and olives.
SEASONING: If you don’t have Italian seasoning, you can blend rosemary, oregano, and basil together in extra parts instead. You can also add fresh chopped basil when serving if you’d like. Want a little kick to your dish? Add some crushed red pepper flakes to add some heat.
how to make pizza casserole
START: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray.
STEP ONE: Cook pasta according to directions on package for al dente, drain and set aside.
STEP TWO: In a LARGE skillet add the olive oil and cook the ground beef, onions, and garlic, all seasoned with salt and pepper, until no pink remains in the meat. Drain any extra grease.
STEP THREE: Add the spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning to the ground beef and stir to heat. Remove from heat.
STEP FOUR: Add the cooked pasta and 1 cup of cheese to the meat and stir to mix. Pour into the prepared 9×13 pan and spread evenly in the pan.
STEP FIVE: Top with remaining 1 cup of cheese. Lay the slices of pepperoni on top of the cheese. Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning.
STEP SIX: Bake for 25-30 minutes, uncovered.
in the slow cooker
If you’d like to make this in your crockpot, you can! You’ll prepare according to the directions above, but instead of baking in a casserole dish, you’ll spray the inside of your crockpot with non-stick spray and pour the mixture inside.
Top with lots of cheese and put on low until the cheese is melted. It’s also a great way to have dinner ready on a busy night!
How to keep leftovers
FRIDGE: This will last in an airtight container in the fridge for three to four days. You can heat up individual portions in the microwave or pop in the oven to warm through.
FREEZER: You can keep leftovers wrapped in an airtight container for up to three months in the freezer. You could also assemble in a throwaway casserole tin to store for a future meal or to give away.
Quick and easy, this delicious homemade pizza casserole is a hearty dinner option for busy weeknights. Loaded with pasta, cheese, meat, and pepperoni, everyone loves this simple favorite.
MORE CASSEROLE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE:
Chicken Alfredo Bake | Baked Ziti with Chicken | Spaghetti Pie
Pizza Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 16 ounces Rotini or Penne pasta uncooked
- 24 ounce spaghetti or marinara sauce
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup pepperoni
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Fresh shredded parmesan for garnish optional
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 pan with nonstick spray.
-
Cook pasta according to directions on package for al dente, drain and set aside.
-
In a LARGE skillet add the olive oil and cook the ground beef, onions and garlic, all seasoned with salt and pepper, until no pink remains in the meat. Drain any extra grease.
-
Add the spaghetti sauce and Italian seasoning to the ground beef and stir to heat. Remove from heat.
-
Add the cooked pasta and 1 cup of cheese to the meat and stir to mix.
-
Pour into the prepared 9×13 pan and spread evenly in the pan.
-
Top with remaining 1 cup of cheese.
-
Lay the slices of pepperoni on top of the cheese.
-
Sprinkle with ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning.
-
Bake for 25-30 minutes, uncovered.
Nutrition
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