This Easy Pizza Casserole delivers all the delicious flavors of pizza in a comforting, family-friendly casserole. Pasta tossed with pizza and marinara sauces, plenty of gooey mozzarella, pepperoni, and mild Italian sausage bake together to make an easy, satisfying meal both kids and adults will enjoy.
For a fun change from takeout, try this Pizza Bake on pizza night. It’s simple to prepare, feeds a crowd, and lets you customize toppings to suit your family’s favorites.
Why You’ll Love this Pizza Bake
- This dish appeals to everyone, from picky toddlers to teenagers and adults—leftovers often disappear fast.
- It’s quick and flexible: swap or add toppings to match your favorite pizza combinations.
- Makes a full 9 x 13-inch casserole, perfect for feeding a family or a small crowd.
How to Make
- Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the pasta in well-salted water to al dente according to package directions, then drain and spread it in the bottom of the baking dish.
- Brown the sausage, breaking it into small pieces; drain off excess grease and spread the sausage over the pasta.
- Wipe the pan to remove excess fat, then lightly crisp the pepperoni in the same skillet.
- Pour both sauces over the sausage and pasta.
- Arrange half the pepperoni over the sauce.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan and shredded mozzarella, then top with the remaining pepperoni.
- Bake covered, then uncover toward the end so the cheese melts and lightly browns.
Expert Tips
These practical tips help ensure the best texture and flavor for your casserole.
- Cook pasta al dente so it holds up during baking; it will continue to soften in the oven and absorb sauce without becoming mushy.
- Salt the pasta cooking water generously—well-seasoned pasta enhances the final dish.
- Use short shapes like rotini, fusilli, or penne to trap sauce and cheese; even bow ties or broken spaghetti can work in a pinch.
- Substitute cooked ground beef for sausage if desired, or add vegetables such as sautéed mushrooms or black olives for more variety.
- If using ground meat, brown and drain it before adding; season ground beef lightly while cooking, as sausage typically has plenty of seasoning already.
- Choose good-quality pizza and marinara sauces for the best flavor.
- The freshly baked casserole is easier to serve in scoops; if you want neat squares, chill overnight and slice cold.
Frequently Asked Questions
A typical casserole combines five components: protein, starch, vegetables, sauce, and cheese. In this recipe the protein comes from pepperoni and sausage, the starch is pasta, the sauces are marinara and pizza sauce, and the cheese is mozzarella. Vegetables are optional additions.
Yes. Assemble the casserole, cover tightly, and refrigerate for 1–2 days before baking. When baking from chilled, add about 10 extra minutes to the cooking time to allow the center to heat through.
Yes. You can freeze a fully cooked casserole or an unbaked one (with meat already cooked). Wrap it airtight and freeze up to 2–3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and increase the baking time as needed since the dish will be cold.
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- Homemade Sausage Mushroom Pizza
- Homemade Pizza Dough
- King Ranch Casserole
- Homemade Tuna Noodle Casserole
- More Best Main Dish Recipes
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Easy Pizza Casserole Recipe
20 minutes
1 hour
1 hour 20 minutes
6 servings
A family-friendly pizza casserole filled with all your favorite pizza toppings and flavors!
Ingredients
- 12 ounces uncooked totini or fusilli pasta
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage
- 30+ pepperoni slices
- 24 ounce jar of marinara or pomodoro sauce
- 16 ounce jar of pizza sauce
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 8+ ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish and set it aside. Preheat the oven to 350°.
- Cook the pasta in well-salted water according to package directions for al dente, then drain and add to the baking dish.
- Brown the sausage, breaking it into small pieces, then drain off excess grease. Spread the sausage over the pasta.
- Wipe the pan to remove excess grease, then cook the pepperoni until slightly crisp.
- Pour the sauces over the sausage and pasta.
- Top the sauce with half the pepperoni.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan and mozzarella, then arrange the remaining pepperoni on top.
- Bake covered for 30 minutes, remove the foil, and bake 10 more minutes until the cheese is melted and starting to brown.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Southern Living. Customize with your favorite pizza toppings such as hamburger, sautéed mushrooms, or black olives.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6
Serving Size:
1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 538
Total Fat: 27g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 19g
Cholesterol: 53mg
Sodium: 1640mg
Carbohydrates: 47g
Fiber: 6g
Sugar: 13g
Protein: 25g
Nutritional information is an estimate provided for convenience and may vary with ingredient brands and portion sizes. For precise values, calculate based on the exact ingredients you use.