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
March 3, 2013 at 7:08 pmPizza-flavored baked ziti?! Count me in 🙂
Nupur says
March 3, 2013 at 8:10 pmWow, you always have new ideas… Refreshing Casserole
Isabelle @ Crumb says
March 3, 2013 at 11:34 pmLeftovers? 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
March 4, 2013 at 1:22 amAny nutritional info available? Thanks
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts says
March 4, 2013 at 2:27 amThis looks awesome! Comforting, and something the whole family will love. Great for using up leftovers too.
Joanne says
March 4, 2013 at 11:24 amI love making a big casserole and knowing I"ll have dinner for days! This looks so delicious!
Judy says
March 4, 2013 at 1:36 pmGoing to try this one!! Yummy! Where did you find the red casserole??
Maria says
March 4, 2013 at 1:40 pmGlad you are back in the kitchen! Great recipe!
Kevin says
March 4, 2013 at 1:42 pmJudy: I got casserole dish at a store called Home Sense and the brand is Apple Tree.
Aimee @ Simple Bites says
March 4, 2013 at 1:57 pmWelcome Back! I bet this would freeze well, too. You had me fooled. It looks like pizza!
Bev Weidner (Bev Cooks) says
March 4, 2013 at 2:38 pmWHAAAAAAAT. yes.
Jenny says
March 4, 2013 at 2:58 pmThis so has my name written all over it! Welcome back 🙂
Heather Christo says
March 4, 2013 at 3:33 pmOMG Kevin! what a way to come back! Hope you are feeling great 🙂
Gaby says
March 4, 2013 at 5:53 pmtotally going to serve this for my hubby's next basketball party!! he will go nuts for this! me too 🙂
marla says
March 4, 2013 at 6:48 pmNow this is comfort food at it's finest!!
A SPICY PERSPECTIVE says
March 4, 2013 at 7:17 pmWow… that looks like a whole lot of love in a baking dish! So comforting.
Rocky Mountain Woman says
March 4, 2013 at 9:04 pmI could sure handle a piece of that right now!
Julie @ Table for Two says
March 5, 2013 at 12:06 amoooo this looks so good! i'm drooling 🙂 welcome back!!
Arthur in the Garden. says
March 5, 2013 at 12:45 amCute!
Marian (Sweetopia) says
March 5, 2013 at 4:39 pmLooks aaaamazing, Kevin! Welcome back!
Carole says
March 5, 2013 at 9:28 pmKevin, 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
March 6, 2013 at 11:42 amCarole: Thanks for letting me know about this! Now to try to get it down…
Tanya Robinson VanElls says
March 7, 2013 at 4:04 pmGreat recipe, I'm making this one tonight! Thanks!
JTrachta says
March 14, 2013 at 11:11 pmWhat is the calories?
Giselle says
March 20, 2013 at 10:03 pmawesome!
Anonymous says
March 21, 2013 at 6:05 pmLooks 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
March 27, 2013 at 12:07 amthis was FABULOUS!! thanks for my supper idea!!
NoNo Nannette says
April 16, 2013 at 1:38 pmThis was great as is, but I did add saute fresh mushroom=^..^=
Cary Turner says
April 20, 2013 at 12:31 amIn the oven now…. awaiting the tastyness 🙂
Cary Turner says
April 20, 2013 at 1:48 amAmazing, I just made this. Sooo yummy 🙂 Instead of pep sausage I used turkey… yummonzo! Thanks for this recipe!
Charlie - Baking At Home says
April 27, 2013 at 12:28 amThis 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
May 31, 2013 at 7:26 pmAmazing! 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
June 25, 2013 at 6:50 pmLA 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
June 25, 2013 at 6:58 pmignacio 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
July 9, 2013 at 3:52 amThis 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
July 17, 2013 at 5:20 pmMade this a Monday night there were no leftovers!! Love it and thanks for sharing.
richelle says
July 31, 2013 at 12:25 amOmg just made this for dinner. Delicious!!!! My 3 year old looooves it and totally thinks its actual pizza!! Score!
Melanie Arnold Bosco says
August 7, 2013 at 10:10 pmI 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
September 12, 2013 at 11:21 pmI 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
September 13, 2013 at 2:56 pmAnonymous: Yes that will work!
Anonymous says
September 19, 2013 at 10:09 pmThanks for answering so quickly! Just found your blueberry zucchini bread recipe and it's next on my to do list. 🙂
Robin says
October 8, 2013 at 2:19 pmJust 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
October 20, 2013 at 8:13 pmHave 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
November 25, 2013 at 12:52 pmwhat is the alternative for ricotta cheese?
kevin says
November 25, 2013 at 3:47 pmAnonymous: Cottage cheese or cream cheese would work.
Ladybug says
December 2, 2013 at 6:25 pmPlease tell me if I can make this in my crockpot?
kevin says
December 3, 2013 at 2:39 pmLadybug: 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
February 2, 2014 at 3:41 pmI am making this again…for the third time! I LOVE this recipe. Thanks!!!!!
Anonymous says
February 3, 2014 at 7:57 pmAre the nutrition facts per serving?
kevin says
February 9, 2014 at 9:20 pmAnonymous: Yes, and those serving are a very generous size. You could probably get 5-6 serving paired with a big salad.
Anonymous says
April 21, 2014 at 11:51 pmNutrition 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
June 13, 2014 at 12:11 amOH YEAH! Made this tonight. Both my girls loved it. Yes we've got leftovers for lunch 😀
kevin says
June 25, 2014 at 10:26 amPow!Science!: I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Silwin says
March 30, 2015 at 9:54 amLooks great. Nice recipe too. Thanks
Roshani says
January 13, 2017 at 11:19 amWow, 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
January 19, 2017 at 10:15 pmWelcome back boyo! Tefal caserole and a chorizo pissa type dish. Just made for each other. Thanks a lot.
Theresa Fields says
November 7, 2018 at 5:33 pmMmmm, I’m making this, this weekend!! Supposed to cool off here in N. Florida this weekend!! Can’t wait!
Jim says
November 7, 2018 at 10:21 pmHey, 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
November 8, 2018 at 10:06 amA 9X13 is perfect! Enjoy!
Jim says
November 8, 2018 at 11:32 pmThanks, Kevin!
Jim says
November 18, 2018 at 9:35 pmFinally made this! Wonderful! This turned out nicely, even with gluten-free penned!
Thank you, Kevin!
Jim says
November 18, 2018 at 9:37 pmPenne, DYAC!