Name: Pizza Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6 people
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 8 oz. rotini pasta (cooked and drained); 1/2 lb ground Italian sausage (cooked); 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1/4 cup chopped onion; 1 green bell pepper (chopped); 1 cup pepperoni slices; 14 oz. pizza sauce (jar- any flavor); 1 cup mozzarella cheese

Pizza Casserole

Alright, pizza lovers! Pizza casserole takes under 30 minutes to make; it's my kid's favorite pizza dish and is so family-loved that it's kept on rotation. Get ready to whip up a mouthwatering dish that combines the magic of pizza with the comfort of a casserole. This Pizza Pasta Bake, often referred to as Pizza Pepperoni Casserole, is bound to be your new family favorite.

Prep

20 min

Cook

10 min

Total

30 min

Serves

6 people

Calories

447

Pizza casserole takes under 30 minutes to make, including boiling your pasta. It’s my kid’s favorite pizza dish and is so family-loved that it’s kept on rotation.

This quick and easy pizza meal will have everyone saying YUM and MORE, PLEASE. Kid-approved pizza casserole combines the beloved taste of a slice of pizza with flavorful and filling pasta. Inexpensive to make, cheesy, and makes excellent leftovers – the perfect dinner combination!

Why you will love this Kid Friendly Casserole!

Perfect for picky eaters, kids will adore the pasta combined with pepperoni and pasta sauce for a slice-free meal. Easy, cheesy, and done in 30 minutes, this dinner dish also makes great leftovers, which means tomorrow’s dinner will be made too!

Ingredients

For this pizza casserole recipe, you’ll need 8 ounces of cooked and drained rotini pasta, along with 1/2 pound of cooked ground Italian sausage. Add a tablespoon of minced garlic, 1/4 cup of chopped onion, and 1 chopped green bell pepper for extra flavor. You’ll also want a cup of pepperoni slices, a 14-ounce jar of your favorite pizza sauce, and a generous cup of shredded mozzarella cheese to top it all off.

How to make Pizza Casserole

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Cook the rotini pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then drain and set aside. (Tip: Add a splash of olive oil to prevent sticking.)

In a cast-iron pan over medium-high heat, brown the Italian sausage. Drain any excess grease. Add the minced garlic, chopped onion, and diced green bell pepper to the sausage. Cook for 3-5 minutes until the vegetables soften.

cooking beef, onions, and bell pepper in a cast iron pan.

Stir in the pepperoni slices, cooked pasta, and pizza sauce, mixing everything until well combined. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese, then bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

After baking, customize with extra toppings like Parmesan cheese, sliced black olives, mushrooms, or chili flakes, if desired. Let the casserole rest for a few minutes, then serve with a side salad, green beans, or garlic bread for a complete meal. Enjoy!

pizza casserole in a cast iron pan with lots of extra cheese.

Expert Tips for a Perfect Casserole Dinner

Are you trying to make a mouthwatering casserole but don’t have an ovenproof skillet like a cast-iron pan? Don’t fret!

No Cast Iron Pan? No Problem! If you lack an ovenproof skillet, transfer your mix to a greased casserole or baking dish and pop it in the oven. It’s that simple!
Greasy Meat? Drain It! If you’re using greasy ground sausage or other proteins, don’t forget to drain any excess grease. It’s the secret to a perfect balance of flavors.
Go Meaty or Vegetarian: Whether you love Italian sausage, ground beef, or diced ham, this casserole is versatile. Just substitute to suit your taste. Love meat? Go for it! If you like this type of dish, you may also love lasagna hamburger helper – a family favorite!

Variations for Kid-Friendly Pizza Casserole

Trying to create a casserole that both kids and adults will adore? Here’s the secret: customization! From pasta choices to additional toppings, here’s how you can make this pizza casserole your own:

Start with the pasta. Different shapes bring their own vibe: bowtie pasta is both kid-approved and adds a touch of flair, penne is perfect for scooping up sauce and meat, and macaroni shells are great for cheese lovers, as the sauce fills every bite. Personally, I love using rotini since it grabs all those tasty ingredients for the perfect bite every time.

If you’re looking to sneak some veggies into this casserole, there are a few great options that blend right in and add extra flavor! I love adding mushrooms because they have that “meaty” texture kids barely notice. Olives bring a nice touch and have a little color, and spinach just wilts right into the sauce without anyone realizing it’s there.

Zucchini or yellow squash work well, too—they’re mild and soak up all the pizza flavors. These veggies mix in perfectly with the sausage, cheese, and sauce, so the kids will hardly notice but still get the goodness!

If sausage isn’t your thing, you can easily swap it out for ground chicken, beef, turkey, or even a meat substitute. And if you’re a cheese lover, feel free to mix in your favorites like mozzarella, cheddar, or Parmesan. The extra cheese really makes this dish irresistible!

plate of cheesy pizza casserole in a cast iron pan.

How to store leftover pizza casserole.

Cool It Down: Allow the leftover casserole to cool to room temperature. Leaving it out too long can create a breeding ground for bacteria, so aim to cool it within two hours.
Choose Proper Containers: Use airtight containers or heavy-duty aluminum foil to wrap the casserole. This helps in preserving the flavor and preventing any contamination.

More Delicious Pizza-Style Recipes

If you’ve got an appetite for pizza flavors, don’t stop at just one. Explore some of my all-time favorite recipes.

Pizza, by its very nature, is a kid-friendly dish, but there is more than one way to enjoy pizza flavors without an actual pizza. From pepperoni pizza dip, pizza rolls, pull-apart pizza bread, or even big mac pizza, there is no shortage of ways to enjoy.

Steps

Preheat the Oven Like a Pro: Get things sizzling by preheating your oven to 350°F. You're setting the stage for a mouth-watering pizza casserole!

Pasta Time: Now, grab that box of rotini pasta. Cook it as the package suggests because they know their stuff. Once it's cooked to al dente perfection, drain it and set it aside. This twisty pasta is ideal for our pizza casserole as it grabs onto the sauce and toppings.

In your trusty cast iron pan (or any pan you have on hand), toss in cooked ground sausage. Let it sizzle and cook until it's gorgeously brown. If the sausage is too greasy, drain off the excess. This ensures your pizza pasta bake isn't swimming in oil.

Add in garlic, chopped onions, and green peppers. Let everything mingle and cook together for about 3-5 minutes. We want those onions and peppers to soften, soaking in all the flavors.

Now for the fun part! Stir in those delicious slices of pepperoni, cooked pasta, and tomato sauce. Mix it all up until everything's hugging each other in that pan.

Layer that mozzarella on top. Don't be shy – the cheesier, the better.

Bake that Pizza Pasta Bake: Carefully place the pan into the preheated oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it until the cheese is melted, and everything is bubbling.

Serve: Once out of the oven, sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese for a sharp bite. Try adding black olives, cooked sliced mushrooms, or any of your top-tier pizza ingredients. Maybe some chili flakes for a kick? Customize it to your heart's content!