Description
A hearty and comforting Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole that captures the flavors of a classic meat-lovers pizza. Made with Italian sausage, pepperoni, pasta, marinara sauce, and gooey mozzarella cheese, this easy recipe is ready in just 30 minutes perfect for busy weeknights or family dinners.
Ingredients
- Short-cut Pasta (ziti or rigatoni): 16 ounces
- Italian Sausage: 1 pound
- Pepperoni: 12 ounces
- Marinara Sauce: 48 ounces (2 jars)
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: 12 ounces
- Garlic, minced: 2 cloves
- Grated Parmesan Cheese: 1/2 cup
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large skillet, cook Italian sausage with minced garlic over medium heat for 8-10 minutes. Break up the sausage as it cooks. Drain excess fat.
- Boil a large pot of salted water and cook pasta for about 8 minutes, until al dente. Drain well.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked sausage, pasta, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, and pepperoni slices. Mix well.
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread half the pasta mixture into the dish. Top with a layer of mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
- Add the remaining pasta mixture and top with another layer of cheese.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25-30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10-15 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Broil for 2-3 minutes for a crispy top, if desired.
- Let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Customize with additional toppings like sautéed onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives.
- Perfect for meal prep; assemble ahead of time and bake before serving.
- Leftovers reheat well for another quick meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: ~430
- Sugar: ~6g
- Sodium: ~980mg
- Fat: ~22g
- Saturated Fat: ~9g
- Unsaturated Fat: ~11g
- Trans Fat: ~0.5g
- Carbohydrates: ~40g
- Fiber: ~2g
- Protein: ~20g
- Cholesterol: ~55mg