We love a good casserole for dinner. Some of our other favorites are Baked Spaghetti Casserole, White Chicken Spinach Lasagna, and Cheesy Chicken Broccoli Rice Casserole.
Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
Our family loves having pizza for dinner, especially when I make homemade pizza dough and they can top their own pizzas any way they like. But it’s always fun to change things up and this pizza-fied casserole is a great way to give everybody the flavors they love in a new and exciting package. Plus, pasta bakes feed a crowd and are easy to make. I can assemble this pizza casserole the night before or in the morning, then pop it in the oven to heat for dinner. And honestly, the leftovers are even better the next day.
Why You’ll Love Pizza Casserole
So easy! Using your favorite pasta shape and store bought sauce (Rao’s is the best!) make this semi-homemade dinner one that is simple and stress-free. Customizable. You can easily change out the topping ingredients to make it more like your favorite pizza, whether you like supreme, Hawaiian, or vegetarian. Freezer-friendly. Sometimes I will double the recipe and assemble one to stick in the freezer for an easy dinner that just needs to go in the oven and heat through. It’s also a great idea for taking a meal to a family in need.
I love Freaky Fridays when my blogging friends and I swap blogs secretly to make each other’s recipes. Michaela from An Affair from the Heart hosts it and this time around I was assigned Julie from Hostess At Heart. I’ve been excited to share one of Julie’s recipes for a while now because she has so many to choose from! Julie has some amazing bread recipes like cinnamon raisin bread and applesauce oatmeal bread that look so good. And her salmon salad with balsamic blueberry sauce sounds incredible. But it was her pizza casserole that really caught my eye since my family loves pasta.
Pizza Bake Ingredients
This is a quick overview of some of the important ingredients you’ll need for this pizza casserole recipe. Specific measurements and full recipe instructions are in the printable recipe card below.
Meat: A combination of ground beef and mild Italian sausage are used in this casserole. We prefer a lean ground beef like 85/15 and sweet Italian sausage, but try spicy if you like the heat! You can omit or use a plant-based meat substitute for a vegetarian version. Sauce: To keep things simple, a jar of our favorite marinara sauce and pizza sauce are used for the sauce (we like Rao’s). But if you prefer, you can make homemade marinara sauce and pizza sauce instead. Cheese: A combination of freshly grated mozzarella and parmesan cheese gives that gooey stretch that you get from a nice cheesy pizza. You could also use a pizza or Italian cheese blend. Toppings: We opted for some of our pizza favorites like mushrooms, pepperoni, and bell pepper this time around. But you could try Canadian bacon and pineapple, or roasted red peppers, olives, and artichokes instead. Use whatever toppings you like to get when you order pizza!
How to Make Pizza Casserole
Pizza Casserole Recipe Tips & Tricks
Don’t overcook the pasta. The penne noodles will continue to cook in the sauce while the casserole bakes in the oven so you want to cook them just until barely al dente. Make cleanup easy. Spraying the baking dish with cooking spray to make it easy to clean up afterwards.
Pepperoni Casserole Storage
How to store: Store leftover casserole in an airtight container for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. How to freeze: Once cooled, freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 months. If freezing unbaked, you can cover with aluminum foil and freeze for up to 3 months. How to reheat: Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave or covered with foil in a 325°F oven for 10-15 minutes until warm. To bake from frozen, bake at 350°F for 60 minutes, then remove the foil and bake another 30 minutes until heated through.
More Casserole Recipes
Poppy Seed Chicken Casserole Tuna Noodle Casserole Chicken Spaghetti Casserole One-Pan Chicken, Green Bean, & Potato Dinner
Take a look at all of our 2022 Freaky Friday Winter Edition Recipes:
Let me know what you thought with a comment and rating below. You can also take a picture and tag me on Instagram @houseofnasheats or share it on the Pinterest pin so I can see.
