When I know that I am going to have a busy week coming up I like to try to make one or two big meals on the weekend that are guaranteed to leave enough leftovers for a second quick meal during the week and casseroles are a great way to accomplish this. One of my favourite casseroles is a pizza casserole, I mean you really cannot go wrong with an ooey gooey melted cheesy casserole with all of the flavours of a pizza! This pizza casserole is a pasta based casserole with pizza sauce or marinara sauce, a cheese mixture of mozzarella, ricotta and parmesan along with your favourite pizza toppings. I often like a nice simple pepperoni, sausage and olive topping in my pizza casserole but you could use any pizza topping combination that you can think of and don’t be afraid to change the pizza sauce up with a different kind of pizza sauce. No matter how you top it, this pizza casserole is going to be tasty!
This casserole is as easy to make as cooking the pasta and sausage, mixing everything up and baking it until it is bubbling and golden brown!
Just look at that melted cheesy pizza goodness!
Save some of the topping to top the casserole with to make it look like a pizza!
Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
A quick and easy pasta casserole with all of the flavours of a pepperoni pizza!
ingredients
- 12 ounces pasta (gluten free for gluten free)
- 1/2 pound Italian turkey sausage, casings removed
- 3 cups (24 ounces) pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives
- 4 ounces pepperoni
- 8 ounces ricotta
- 2 cups mozzarella, shredded
- 1/2 cup parmigiano reggiano (parmesan), grated
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano (optional)
directions
- Cook the pasta as directed on package but stop 3 minutes early, drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, cook the sausage in a large saucepan over medium heat, about 10 minutes.
- Mix in the sauce with the sausage and 3/4’s of the olives and pepperoni and set aside.
- Mix the ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan and set aside.
- Place half of the pasta in the bottom of a large baking dish, top with half of the sauce, followed by half of the cheese mixture and repeat with another layer of each, finally topping with the remaining olives, pepperoni and oregano.
- Bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven covered in foil until bubbling at the sides, about 20-30 minutes, remove the foil and bake until the cheese has melted and started to turn golden brown, about 10 minutes.
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Felicia Goldsmith says
Pizza-flavored baked ziti?! Count me in 🙂
Nupur says
Wow, you always have new ideas… Refreshing Casserole
Isabelle @ Crumb says
Leftovers? Of this casserole? Not at my house, that's for sure.
Between the gooey cheese and the saucy pasta, I'm pretty sure I'd inhale the entire casserole on my own if I was left alone with it for just a few minutes. 🙂
lsaloga says
Any nutritional info available? Thanks
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
This looks awesome! Comforting, and something the whole family will love. Great for using up leftovers too.
Joanne says
I love making a big casserole and knowing I"ll have dinner for days! This looks so delicious!
Judy says
Going to try this one!! Yummy! Where did you find the red casserole??
Maria says
Glad you are back in the kitchen! Great recipe!
Kevin says
Judy: I got casserole dish at a store called Home Sense and the brand is Apple Tree.
Aimee @ Simple Bites says
Welcome Back! I bet this would freeze well, too. You had me fooled. It looks like pizza!
Bev Weidner (Bev Cooks) says
WHAAAAAAAT. yes.
Jenny says
This so has my name written all over it! Welcome back 🙂
Heather Christo says
OMG Kevin! what a way to come back! Hope you are feeling great 🙂
Gaby says
totally going to serve this for my hubby's next basketball party!! he will go nuts for this! me too 🙂
marla says
Now this is comfort food at it's finest!!
A SPICY PERSPECTIVE says
Wow… that looks like a whole lot of love in a baking dish! So comforting.
Rocky Mountain Woman says
I could sure handle a piece of that right now!
Julie @ Table for Two says
oooo this looks so good! i'm drooling 🙂 welcome back!!
Arthur in the Garden. says
Cute!
Marian (Sweetopia) says
Looks aaaamazing, Kevin! Welcome back!
Carole says
Kevin, your photo and recipe have been scraped to this page: http://cookbook-recipes.org/pepperoni-pizza-casserole/
There is a link back here, but it is in mice type. They're getting credit for pins, hits, etc. Thought you should know.
Kevin says
Carole: Thanks for letting me know about this! Now to try to get it down…
Tanya Robinson VanElls says
Great recipe, I'm making this one tonight! Thanks!
JTrachta says
What is the calories?
Giselle says
awesome!
Anonymous says
Looks super yummi!!!
I've like to feature your recipe on my blog, with a proper link to yours on next week's "Favorite links" post. I really hope it's OK with you, but if not, please kindly let me know.
Alma
http://polkadotsflowers.blogspot.mx/
Anonymous says
this was FABULOUS!! thanks for my supper idea!!
NoNo Nannette says
This was great as is, but I did add saute fresh mushroom=^..^=
Cary Turner says
In the oven now…. awaiting the tastyness 🙂
Cary Turner says
Amazing, I just made this. Sooo yummy 🙂 Instead of pep sausage I used turkey… yummonzo! Thanks for this recipe!
Charlie - Baking At Home says
This looks amazing. I love pizza because there are so many possible ways get variety. Here's a new one! Thanks.
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious says
Amazing! And the leftovers – yes! They'd be so perfect for my work lunch. And I'm sure my coworkers would be so jealous.
ignacio polo orjuela says
LA PIZZA ME QUEDO DELICIOSA CON PEPPERONI Y ACEITUNAS NEGRAS, POR FAVOR HAY ALGÚN INGREDIENTE QUE SE ADAPTE AL PEPPERONI SIN QUE ESTE PIERDA SU SABOR?
kevin says
ignacio polo orjuela: The great thing about this pizza casserole is that you can use whatever your favourite pizza toppings are! If I had to replace the pepperoni I would go with another cured meat like salami or Spanish chorizo.
Anonymous says
This was absolutely scrumptious! Thank you for sharing this recipe. Instead of the turkey sausage I used hot Italian sausage. Can you say YUM!!
Anonymous says
Made this a Monday night there were no leftovers!! Love it and thanks for sharing.
richelle says
Omg just made this for dinner. Delicious!!!! My 3 year old looooves it and totally thinks its actual pizza!! Score!
Melanie Arnold Bosco says
I just made this with vegetarian sausage, and all other ingredients as stated in the recipe, minus the pepperoni. I calculated calories based on it making 6 servings, and it came out at about 600 calories per serving- definitely not diet food, but yummy!!!
Anonymous says
I made this yesterday and it was a hit with the whole family. I'm making it again tomorrow for a friend. Is it OK to assemble and freeze?
kevin says
Anonymous: Yes that will work!
Anonymous says
Thanks for answering so quickly! Just found your blueberry zucchini bread recipe and it's next on my to do list. 🙂
Robin says
Just made this on Saturday. My husband LOVED it! I wanted to bring leftovers for work, and yeah… he ate it all. LOL! Will definitely have to make again. Thanks for this recipe! =)
Grace says
Have you ever tried this with BBQ sauce? My husband had acid reflex and pizza sauce along with spaghetti sauce really irritates it. So when I make homemade pizza I use BBQ sauce
Anonymous says
what is the alternative for ricotta cheese?
kevin says
Anonymous: Cottage cheese or cream cheese would work.
Ladybug says
Please tell me if I can make this in my crockpot?
kevin says
Ladybug: I have not tried it but it should work in a crockpot. Skip step 1 and follow steps 2-5 replacing the baking pan in step 5 with your crockpot and cook on low for 4-5 hours. You will need to add more liquid, I would say that an extra cup of sauce, broth or water should do the trick.
Anonymous says
I am making this again…for the third time! I LOVE this recipe. Thanks!!!!!
Anonymous says
Are the nutrition facts per serving?
kevin says
Anonymous: Yes, and those serving are a very generous size. You could probably get 5-6 serving paired with a big salad.
Anonymous says
Nutrition Facts: Calories 843, Fat 41g (Saturated 18g, Trans 0.5g), Cholesterol 172mg, Sodium 2100mg, Carbs 66g (Fiber 3.5g, Sugars 6g), Protein 52g It is awesome you post your nutrition values but at 2100mg of sodium per meal is ridiculous.
Pow!Science! says
OH YEAH! Made this tonight. Both my girls loved it. Yes we've got leftovers for lunch 😀
kevin says
Pow!Science!: I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Silwin says
Looks great. Nice recipe too. Thanks
Unknown says
Made this last night and it was a GREAT hit!
Thanks for all your outstanding recipes.
Roshani says
Wow, really, I can’t get over that delicious taste! So simple and yet – sooo great. Thank you for this recipe – it’s a real keeper
Mike says
Welcome back boyo! Tefal caserole and a chorizo pissa type dish. Just made for each other. Thanks a lot.
Theresa Fields says
Mmmm, I’m making this, this weekend!! Supposed to cool off here in N. Florida this weekend!! Can’t wait!
Jim says
Hey, Kevin!
I need to make this the day after tomorrow. What size pan do you suggest? 9X13?
Thanks!
Jim (not a fan of pasta casseroles, but this is on!)
kevin says
A 9X13 is perfect! Enjoy!
Jim says
Thanks, Kevin!
Jim says
Finally made this! Wonderful! This turned out nicely, even with gluten-free penned!
Thank you, Kevin!
Jim says
Penne, DYAC!