This pizza casserole is pasta simmered in tomato sauce with pepperoni, sausage, olives and bell peppers, then topped with cheese and baked to golden brown perfection. A family friendly dinner option that always gets rave reviews!
My kids will eat anything that’s pizza flavored; some of their favorites include pizza stuffed shells, pizza muffins and this hearty pizza casserole.
You can never go wrong with pizza, it’s a classic flavor combination for good reason. This baked pizza casserole combines tender pasta with all those great pizza flavors for a unique and delicious meal.
How do you make pizza casserole?
The first step is to cook up some sausage, green bell peppers, sliced mushrooms and onions in a pot. Add pepperoni to the pot, along with black olives, marinara sauce, water and pasta. Simmer the mixture until the pasta is tender. Pour the pasta into a baking dish. Finally, add a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese and some more pepperoni, then bake until the cheese is melted and browned. Add a sprinkle of fresh parsley, then serve and enjoy.
Tips for the perfect dish
- You can use turkey or pork Italian sausage. I use mild sausage, but feel free to use hot if you like a little extra spice.
- Can’t find mini pepperoni at your store? You can use chopped regular sized pepperoni instead.
- Any short pasta shape will work. I used corkscrew pasta, but other great options include rotini, penne, rigatoni or farfalle.
- Choose your favorite brand of marinara sauce for this recipe. I typically use Newman’s Own brand which is my family’s preference.
- This dish stays fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, and can be frozen for 2 months. Reheat your baked pasta in the oven in a covered dish, or warm individual portions in the microwave.
- Skip the store bought pre-shredded cheese and grate your own. The bags of shredded cheese often contain preservatives and anti caking agents and do not melt smoothly.
- Make sure you use a large pot for this recipe, as the pasta will expand considerably as it cooks and you want to make sure you have enough room for it all!
Pizza Casserole Flavor Variations
This casserole is great as-is, but you can add other ingredients to customize it to your tastes.
- Fillings: I used toppings that’d find on a traditional supreme pizza. You can mix and match your ingredients with options such as diced chicken, salami, spinach, roasted red bell peppers, artichoke hearts and bacon.
- Sauce: While I use a traditional marinara sauce, you could use an equal amount of pizza sauce, or even a pesto or Alfredo sauce for a different flavor profile.
- Cheese: Mix things up by swapping out the mozzarella with other Italian cheese options such as provolone, fontina or asiago.
This pizza casserole has it all – it’s quick, doesn’t dirty up a ton of dishes, and has savory flavors that both kids and adults adore. Make pizza caserole for dinner tonight and watch the rave reviews come in!
More pizza inspired recipes
Pizza Casserole Video
Pizza Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage casings removed
- 1/2 cup onion finely diced
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper diced
- 1 cup mushrooms sliced
- 3/4 cup mini pepperoni divided use
- 1/2 cup black olives sliced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
- 3 1/4 cups water
- salt and pepper to taste
- 12 ounces short pasta such as corkscrew, rotini or penne
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large, deep pot over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula, until browned.
- Add the onion, green bell pepper and mushrooms to the pot. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
- Add 1/2 cup of the pepperoni, olives and the garlic, and cook for 1 minute.
- Add the marinara sauce, water, salt, pepper and pasta to the pot and bring to a simmer.
- Cover the pot and cook over low heat for 12-14 minutes or until pasta is tender.
- While the pasta is simmering, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Coat a 3 quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- After the pasta is finished cooking, pour the mixture into the baking dish.
- Sprinkle the cheese over the top and arrange the remaining 1/4 cup of pepperoni on the cheese.
- Bake for 10-15 minutes or until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Cheri says
Delicious recipe! We just loved it! Thanks
Angela says
How long would I need to cook that past for in the pot and in the oven for h to w past to come out Al Dente? Or does the pasta have to be tender this recipe? Also can I used homemade marinara sauce for this recipe?
Beth says
Oh my goodness this looks so delicious and so yummy! My family and I are going to love this recipe! I can’t wait to make this! So excited!
Betsy says
Delicious recipe! I love those tiny little pepperonis – I use them in so many different things! Nice and easy – perfect weeknight dinner!
Jessica Burgess says
This is one of my favorite recipes and it’s easy too so thank you!!
Alex says
I so wish we were having this for dinner instead of fish. Ugh. I’m bookmarking this for next week!
Erin says
This is such a fun casserole with so many great flavors! My kid would love this.
Beti says
Such an incredibly delicious casserole! My kids would love this!
katerina says
This pizza casserole looks amazing!! I can’t wait to try it! 🙂
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This pizza casserole is pasta looks incredibly delicious!
Patricia says
What a great, hearty dish for any night of the week! I love the little mini pepperoni!
Amanda says
This looks like my kind of dish! I cannot wait to make this it looks so tasty!