Here’s a cheesy, crowd-pleasing Pepperoni Pizza Casserole — all the flavors of pizza in an easy baked dish 🍕
🍕 Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
Ingredients (Serves 6)
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or ziti)
- 1 lb Italian sausage (optional but recommended)
- 2 cups marinara or pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1–1½ cups sliced pepperoni
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish.
- Cook pasta
Boil pasta in salted water until just al dente (it will finish cooking in the oven). Drain and set aside. - Cook meat mixture
In a large skillet, cook sausage and onion over medium heat until browned.
Add garlic and cook 30 seconds. Drain excess grease. - Add sauce & seasoning
Stir in marinara, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer 3–4 minutes. - Combine
Toss cooked pasta with the meat sauce. Stir in 1 cup mozzarella and half the Parmesan. - Assemble
Spread mixture into baking dish.
Top with remaining mozzarella, Parmesan, and pepperoni slices. - Bake
Bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly and cheese is melted and slightly golden.
Broil 1–2 minutes for extra browning if desired. - Rest & serve
Let sit 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs.
Customization Ideas
- Add mushrooms, bell peppers, or black olives.
- Swap sausage for ground beef or keep it meatless.
- Use turkey pepperoni for a lighter version.
- Mix in ricotta for a lasagna-style texture.
If you’d like, I can also give you a low-carb (no pasta) version or a make-ahead freezer version.
