If you’re always looking for tasty new flavors to introduce to your dinner table, this is a recipe you absolutely should make. Think of it as a cozy and comforting casserole dish with pizza components in it, so it’s a fusion recipe with lots of tasty Italian inspired ingredients!
This is something the whole family will love, especially the younger ones, because it’s almost like ordering a pizza except it has pasta instead of a pizza crust.
Something else that’s great about this is you can customize it, perhaps using another kind of meat or cheese, or even adding some vegetables too, such as mushrooms, bell peppers or anything else you fancy. Perhaps you have different pasta shapes. You’ll find anything goes!
Why You’ll Love the Recipe
This is such a simple dish to make and you can make all kinds of tweaks, adding your favorite pizza components if you like. It makes a delicious dinner and the leftovers are great too.
How to Serve It
Enjoy this pizza casserole hot, perhaps with some veggies or a salad on the side.
Can You Make It Ahead?
You can prepare and assemble it ahead if you like, and then bake it later.
Storage Instructions
Leftovers will keep for up to 4 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze portions of this for up to 3 months. Reheat leftovers in the microwave.
Variations and Substitutions
Use any kind of pasta, any types of cheese, and anything else you want to add. You’ll find this dish is really versatile and it’s fun to make your own variations.
Ingredients:
- Ground turkey or beef
- Pepperoni slices
- Onion
- Tomato sauce
- Fire-roasted tomatoes (drained)
- Rotini pasta
- Shredded mozzarella
- Shredded cheddar
- Italian seasoning
- Minced garlic cloves
- Olive oil
How to make Pepperoni Pizza Casserole:
Step 1. Follow the instructions on the package to cook the pasta, then drain.
Step 2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
Step 3. Saute the ground meat, onion and garlic in the olive oil in a skillet until the meat is browned.
Step 4. Drain off the excess grease (optional).
Step 5. Turn the heat down, then stir in the Italian seasoning, fire-roasted tomatoes and tomato sauce.
Step 6. Stir in half the mozzarella and half the cheddar, as well as half the pepperoni (about 15 slices).
Step 7. Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Step 8. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and add the rest of the pepperoni.
Step 9. Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Step 10. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes, then serve hot.
This is a family-friendly meal which is also a delicious idea if you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing dish for a buffet or party.
PrintPepperoni Pizza Casserole
This is a family-friendly meal which is also a delicious idea if you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing dish for a buffet or party.
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 12 1x
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground turkey or beef
- Small package of pepperoni slices
- 1 chopped small onion
- 16 ounces tomato sauce
- 16 ounces fire-roasted tomatoes (drained)
- 12 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Follow the instructions on the package to cook the pasta, then drain.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
- Saute the ground meat, onion and garlic in the olive oil in a skillet until the meat is browned.
- Drain off the excess grease (optional).
- Turn the heat down, then stir in the Italian seasoning, fire-roasted tomatoes and tomato sauce.
- Stir in half the mozzarella and half the cheddar, as well as half the pepperoni (about 15 slices).
- Transfer the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top and add the rest of the pepperoni.
- Cover the baking dish loosely with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 10 minutes, then serve hot.
- Cook Time: 1 hour
Marie Rayner is a retired Chef, freelance writer, recipe developer, food blogger, and Cookbook author. She makes her home in Chester, UK, where she lives with her husband, Todd, and their much beloved English Cocker, Mitzie. Her motto is “Life is far too short to eat bad food,” and her goal is to share delicious and easy recipes which anyone can enjoy and cook in the comfort of their own home.