🍕 Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
A fun, hearty twist on pizza — all the flavors of a pepperoni pizza baked in a cheesy pasta casserole.
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 12 oz (340g) pasta (penne, rotini, or elbow macaroni)
- 1 lb (450g) ground beef or Italian sausage
- 1 cup pizza sauce (store-bought or homemade)
- 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup sliced pepperoni
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Optional: chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives
👩🍳 Instructions
1️⃣ Cook Pasta
- Boil pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2️⃣ Cook Meat & Veggies
- In a skillet, sauté onion and garlic until softened.
- Add ground beef or sausage; cook until browned and fully cooked.
- Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Stir in pizza sauce and remove from heat.
3️⃣ Assemble Casserole
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large bowl, mix cooked pasta, meat sauce, ½ of the mozzarella, and half of the pepperoni.
- Transfer mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Top with remaining mozzarella, Parmesan, and pepperoni slices.
4️⃣ Bake
- Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
5️⃣ Serve
- Let sit 5 minutes before serving.
- Optional: garnish with fresh basil or red pepper flakes.
🔥 Tips & Variations
- Extra cheesy: Stir in cream cheese or ricotta into the pasta mixture before baking.
- Veggie boost: Add chopped zucchini, mushrooms, or spinach to the sauce.
- Spicy twist: Use pepperoni slices with added red pepper or sprinkle crushed red pepper over the top.
- Make-ahead: Assemble the casserole, cover, and refrigerate; bake 30–40 minutes before serving.
If you want, I can provide a quick one-pan skillet version of pepperoni pizza casserole that cooks the pasta directly in the sauce for faster cleanup and extra flavor.
Do you want me to do that?
