My kids will eat anything that’s pizza flavored; some of their favorites include pizza stuffed shells, pizza muffins and this hearty pizza casserole.
How Do You Make Pizza Casserole?
The first step to make this pizza casserole recipe is to place some sausage in a large pot with olive oil and cook it up. Next, add green bell pepper, sliced mushrooms and onions to the pot and cook them until tender. Add pepperoni to the pot along with black olives and garlic and cook them for a minute. Next add marinara sauce, water, pasta, salt and pepper. Simmer the everything together until the pasta gets tender. Pour the pasta into a prepared baking dish. Next add a layer of shredded mozzarella cheese and some more pepperoni. Then bake the dish until the cheese melts and browns. Finally, remove the casserole from the oven, add a sprinkle of fresh parsley and enjoy. This is one of my family’s favorite casseroles. If your friends and family love casseroles too, you should try my Dorito casserole, cheeseburger pie, million dollar spaghetti casserole and baked rigatoni pasta.
Tips For The Perfect Casserole
Can’t find mini pepperoni at your store? You can use chopped regular sized pepperoni instead. Any short pasta shape will work. I used corkscrew pasta, but other great options include rotini, penne, rigatoni or farfalle. Choose your favorite brand of marinara sauce for this pizza casserole. I typically use Newman’s Own or Rao’s brand which are my family’s preferences. The pasta cooks in marina sauce and water absorbing moisture so there is no need to drain your pasta. Skip the store bought pre-shredded cheese and grate your own cheese. The bags of shredded cheese often contain preservatives and anti caking agents and do not melt smoothly.
Pizza Casserole Flavor Variations
This pizza casserole is great as-is, but you can add other ingredients to customize it to your taste.
Fillings: I used toppings that you would find on a traditional supreme pizza. You can mix and match your favorite pizza toppings with options such as diced chicken, Canadian bacon, salami, spinach, roasted red bell peppers, artichoke hearts and bacon. Sauce: While I use a traditional marinara spaghetti sauce, you could use an equal amount of pizza sauce, or even a pesto or Alfredo sauce for a different flavor profile. Cheese: Mix things up by swapping out the mozzarella with other Italian cheese options such as provolone cheese, fontina cheese or asiago cheese. Feel free to grate some parmesan cheese over the top. Spicy: Try adding some red pepper flakes to your pasta for a little heat. Meat: You can use turkey or pork Italian sausage. I use mild sausage, but feel free to use hot if you like a little extra spice. You could also use ground beef or ground turkey if you prefer.
This pizza casserole has it all! It’s quick, doesn’t dirty up a ton of dishes, and has savory flavors that both kids and adults adore. Make pizza casserole for dinner tonight and watch the rave reviews come in!
Pizza Casserole Video
