Pizza Casserole Recipe by Jen
This Pizza Casserole Recipe has all the comforting flavors of your favorite pie, combining penne pasta, gooey mozzarella, pepperoni, and savory ground beef with a rich pizza sauce. Feel free to add toppings or swap ingredients to suit what you have. It’s a feel-good feast that everyone will love!
All the Goodness of Pizza in a Bubbling Casserole
I found this recipe thanks to my friend Jen, a sweet and dedicated mother I connected with through Southern Plate. I first started talking to her while writing my book, and we ended up having one of the most fun phone calls! She shared this pizza casserole with me, and my family has been hooked ever since.
You get all the cheesy, saucy goodness of pizza in a hearty, bubbling casserole, with hardly any fuss at all. Jen’s recipe also includes double meat – anytime there’s double meat in a recipe, I’m all over it. Just boil up your pasta, toss everything together in a baking dish, and let that oven do the work for you.
This is also one of those recipes you can truly make your own: swap in your favorite fixin’s, use whatever meat you have on hand, or load it up with veggies. The whole family can dig in, and I promise you, there will be nothing but happy faces around the table!
For another delicious take on pizza casserole, take a peek at my Easy Pizza Pasta Casserole with Pepperoni!
Pizza Casserole Recipe Ingredients
- Penne Pasta
- Pepperoni
- Two jars of pizza sauce (I used a generic brand to keep things budget-friendly)
- Ground Beef (make sure this is already cooked & ready to go!)
- Mozzarella
Switch It Up!
- Go supreme: Add diced bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and black olives.
- BBQ chicken: Use BBQ sauce instead of pizza sauce, shredded chicken instead of beef, and top with red onion.
- White pizza: Ditch the red sauce for an Alfredo base. It’s great with chicken and spinach.
- Veggie overload: Skip the meat and pile on the mushrooms, spinach, roasted red peppers, and olives.
- Hawaiian style: Swap the beef for ham and toss in some pineapple chunks.
How to Make A Pizza Casserole Recipe Step by Step
1. Cook the Pasta
Start by cooking your pasta according to package directions.
When it is done, drain off the water and just leave it in the pot. We can mix it all up in there without dirtying up another dish.
2. Add the Pepperoni & Pizza Sauce
Next, add in your pepperoni and pizza sauce.
Note: In this step, you can also add in the seasonings Jen uses at this point (see recipe below), but I was pressed for time and left them out. But it was still wonderful!
3. Add the Ground Beef
Now add in your ground beef. Give that a big old stir until it’s all good and mixed up, and spray a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray.
Note: If you’re like me, at this point you are thinking “There is no way all of this is going to fit into a 9×13 pan….“ But it does. That’ll teach us to have faith in Sister Jen!
4. Top with Cheese & Bake
Finally, top that with your cheese, then bake at 350°F for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbly.
Dig in!
Thanks again, Jen!
Top Tips for This Pizza Casserole Recipe
- Don’t overcook your pasta! Since it’s going back in the oven, it will continue to cook, and you don’t want it to get mushy. Just cook it to al dente.
- Salt your pasta water really well for extra flavor.
- Let it sit for about 5 minutes after you pull it out of the oven. This helps it set up and makes it easier to serve.
Storage Directions
You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. If you want to keep it longer, pop it in the freezer, where it will last for up to 3 months.
You May Also Like These Pizza Recipes:
- Quick Homemade Pizza Sauce
- Taco Pizza Fast, Fresh, Delicious!
- Pizza Rolls! Who wants the weekend off from cooking??
- Deep Dish Pizza
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef browned and drained
- 1 Box of Penne pasta
- 2 Jars of pizza sauce
- ½ Onion or more if you like onion
- 1 tsp. garlic powder*
- 2 tsp. season salt* more or less to taste
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese or more if you love cheese
- 1 Pack of sliced pepperoni
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉.
- Prepare pasta according to directions, drain water and set aside.
- Mix pasta, sauces, hamburger and 1 cup of the pepperoni together and put into a lightly greased 9 x 13 baking pan.
- Put more pepperoni on top if you want to do it like Jen does, or overlook this step like I did and just stir it all up in there.
- Cover with cheese (as much as you like) and bake for 20 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbling.
Notes
Nutrition
Made this tonight and it was very yummy. Hubby really liked it.
Made it tonight for company and got rave reviews! I usually use tried/true recipes when we have guests over but I’ve learned to trust Christy’s taste…and it was a success!! We’re sending leftovers home with them and we’ll still have some left for us–thank you, Jen!
I wonder if this would work in the crock pot? It looks amazing! 🙂 Cindy
Jen, I made this last night. It was delicious!!! Although I used Bow Tie instead of Penne pasta. I thought I had some Penne but I was out. And I only used 1 pound of hamburger meat and 1 large spaghetti sauce cause that’s what I had on hand. It needed more sauce, but it was delicious anyway!!! Oh, is the 2 tbsp. of seasoned salt correct? I only used 1 since I didn’t use as much meat and sauce. Thanks again. It’s definitely a keeper!!!! 🙂
I really don’t use measurements! I just do it to taste. I think it depends on how much meat is in the recipe and how much sauce you use too. Use your own judgement when it comes to seasonings.
Wish I would have seen this earlier today when I was frettin over what was for supper! Now I know what’s for tomorrow!
Okay! Dinner for tomorrow night has been decided!!!!! YUM!
Made this tonight and it as a huge hit. I split the recipe between 2 square pans as I have a familywho likes different things in/on pizza. Definately a keeper! Thanks Christy and Jen!
I am so glad that you and your family enjoyed it, Carol!