Pizza Casserole Recipe - Comfort food has never tasted so good! Ground beef, pizza sauce, pasta, veggies, and cheese come together for a Pizza Casserole the whole family will love!
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This recipe was made in partnership with the Boise Co-op. The Boise Co-op has been providing fresh, local and organic products since 1973. Learn more about the Boise Co-op here.
It’s the perfect combination of pizza and pasta and is a true crowd-pleaser. Skip the takeout on your next pizza night and whip up this cheesy, gooey casserole for a mouthwatering meal that will be devoured by all.
This pizza pasta casserole is loaded with flavor from your typical pizza toppings like bell peppers, mushrooms, and pepperoni but feel free to change it up based on what you’ve got on hand or what your family likes to eat. Fancy it up with some sundried tomatoes and olives or keep it simple.
Ideal to make ahead during your meal prep session this casserole will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days or freezer for 3 months. Leftovers are great for lunch the next day too!
Serve this pizza casserole with a salad like this Best Caesar Salad Recipe or this Avocado Salad Recipe with a side of Grilled Broccoli Recipe With Anchovy Rosemary Dressing for a balanced and nourishing meal.
Ingredients For This Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
- Pasta: Any type of short pasta, uncooked, will work in this casserole.
- Ground beef: Choose lean ground beef or if you prefer use ground chicken or turkey.
- Onion: Any kind of chopped onion can work. I usually keep yellow onions on hand, but white onions or even shallots will work.
- Red bell pepper: A red bell pepper, diced, adds some color and crunch to this pizza casserole. If you are out of red peppers, orange or yellow are good options. Green also can be used, but remember it’s got a more savory flavor than the others.
- Pizza sauce: Use store-bought pizza sauce or marinara sauce for an easy shortcut.
- Italian spice: Italian seasoning blend or any of your favorite spices will taste great.
- Bella mushrooms: Bella mushrooms, sliced, add some meatiness to the pizza casserole.
- Cheddar cheese: Choose a sharp cheddar, grated from a block, for the best taste and easy melting.
- Mozzarella cheese: Mozzarella cheese, grated, adds more cheesy goodness.
- Pepperoni: The ultimate pizza ingredient, sliced pepperoni!
How to Make Pizza Casserole
Step 1: Cook the pasta according to the package instructions though make sure it is al dente so it holds up in the casserole.
Step 2: In a skillet add beef, onion, and bell pepper. Saute for about 10 minutes over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink and the veggies are soft. Drain the excess fat from the ground beef (it’s why I like lean ground beef, so there’s not too much of it).
Step 3: Add the pizza sauce, Italian spice, and mushrooms to the skillet and heat through allowing the mushrooms to soften. Have a little taste and, if needed, season with salt and pepper.
Step 4: Grease a casserole dish with butter or spray with cooking spray. Add half of the pasta followed by half of the meat and pizza sauce mixture, and sprinkle half of the cheese and half of the pepperoni. Repeat with the second layer.
Step 5: Cover and bake at 350F for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. If the cheese isn’t nice and bubbly, turn on the broiler for a few minutes so that it browns nicely.
Tips/Substitutions
- Change up the pasta shape. Play around with different pasta shapes like macaroni, fusilli, shells, farfalle, or any other short pasta you have on hand. Gluten-free pasta also works.
- Add some spice. Top the pizza casserole with some red chili flakes or drizzle with chili oil.
- Switch up the veggies. Peppers and mushrooms are basic pizza ingredients but feel free to use your favorite veggies or whatever you have on hand. Fresh, chopped, or frozen vegetables both work. No need to defrost if you are using frozen.
- Try different cheeses. Any kind of cheese will work to make this pizza casserole so go ahead and use whatever you have in the fridge or try a combination of your favorite cheese.
- Don’t have any pizza sauce? If you’ve run out of pizza sauce and you don’t have any marinara sauce on hand you can use canned tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes. You can add some dried spices like oregano and basil to the tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes to add some flavor.
FAQs
A pizza casserole takes all your favorite pizza ingredients and bakes them up in a casserole dish.
Yes, you can make this pizza pasta casserole and store it in the fridge to reheat a few days later. You can also assemble the casserole and store it in the fridge for 2 days unbaked and then bake it when you want to serve it.
Yes, absolutely! You can omit the pepperoni or use a plant-based pepperoni and use a vegetarian version of the ground beef.
Other Dinner Recipes
Pizza Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta uncooked
- 2 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 red bell pepper diced
- 16 oz pizza sauce jar
- 1 teaspoon Montreal Steak Spice or to taste
- 1 teaspoon Italian spice or to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
- 8 oz bella mushrooms sliced
- 1 cup cheddar cheese grated
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
- 4 oz pepperoni
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the package.
- In the skillet add beef, onion, and bell pepper. Saute over medium heat until meat is no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Drain.
- After, add pizza sauce, spices and mushrooms, heat thru. If needed season with salt and pepper.
- Grease casserole dish with butter. Add half of the pasta follow by half of the meat and pizza sauce mixture, sprinkle half of the cheeses and half of pepperoni. Repeat with the second layer.
- Cover and bake at 350F for 20-30 minutes, or until heated thru.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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