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–+ servings
a slice of cheesy pizza casserole being lifted out of a pan with a spatula. It's topped with pepperoni and fresh herbs
5 from 3 votes

Pizza Casserole

Easy to make Pizza Casserole is a delicious baked pasta dish packed with all of the flavors of a loaded supreme pizza with everything on it.
Author Diana
Servings 8 servings
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Equipment

Ingredients

  • cooking oil spray
  • 1 pound pasta any shape, short shapes work best
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ pound ground beef or bulk italian sausage
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano or italian seasoning
  • 1 small yellow onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ cup sliced fresh mushrooms
  • ½ cup diced green bell pepper
  • 2 14 ounce cans (or 3½ cups) pizza sauce
  • ¼ cup sliced black olives
  • 1 cup pepperoni slices divided (save 12 or so slices for the topping)
  • 2 cups shredded low moisture mozzarella cheese
  • chopped fresh parsley to garnish

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 350°F/180°C. Spray a 9x13 inch casserole dish with non stick spray/ cooking oil and set aside.
  • Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to the package directions.
  • While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil over medium high heat in a skillet. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it apart. Season with oregano, salt, and pepper.
  • When the meat is almost browned and fully cooked, add the onion and garlic and sauté for one minute. Then add the mushrooms and green peppers, and cook for a few minutes until the vegetables are tender.
  • Stir in the pizza sauce and cook for 1 minute to warm through.
  • Remove the sauce from the heat and stir in the olives and pepperoni slices, saving 12-15 slices of the pepperoni for the topping. Add the cooked and drained pasta and stir well.
  • Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish, top with shredded mozzarella and reserved pepperoni. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the casserole is bubbly.
  • Serve, garnished with fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

  • Kids love this recipe! You can leave out the mushrooms, olives, or green peppers if you think yours won't enjoy them. Otherwise, the mix of veggies gives this casserole a "supreme" pizza flavor. 
  • Bulk Italian sausage (or buy links and remove the sausage from the casing) can be used in place of ground beef to add a bit of spice and even more flavor to the dish. 
  • Don't overcook the pasta. You want the pasta to be cooked correctly. Not too soft, and not too hard. It will cook a bit more during baking. 
  • You can add additional toppings to the casserole if you like! Save some sliced veggies to include with the pepperoni slices. 
  • Homemade Italian Seasoning is delicious in this recipe
  • To Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They reheat well using the microwave. 
  • Make Ahead: You can make this dish ahead in two different ways:
    • If you have baked the casserole, wrap it well and store it in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat, covered with foil for 30 minutes in a 350°F/180°C oven. 
    • Assembled but not baked, pizza casserole can be covered and stored in the fridge for up to 2 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Bake the cold casserole as directed here, adding 10 minutes to the cooking time. If frozen, allow it to thaw in the fridge overnight first. 

Nutrition

Calories: 468kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 511mg | Potassium: 333mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 228IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 227mg | Iron: 2mg
Find it online: https://littlesunnykitchen.com/pizza-casserole/