Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole. It’s a hearty and cheesy pasta bake loaded with all your favorite pizza toppings, perfect for a cozy family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces pasta (rotini, penne, or rigatoni)
Meat Mixture:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced pepperoni (plus more for topping)
- 1/2 cup diced ham or Canadian bacon
- 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara or pizza sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Cheese Topping:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- fresh parsley or basil for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven and prepare baking dish: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta: Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- Prepare meat mixture: In a skillet, heat olive oil, cook sausage and ground beef until browned. Add marinara/pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, pepperoni, and ham. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Combine pasta and meat mixture: Add cooked pasta to the skillet, stir to coat, and transfer to baking dish.
- Add cheese topping: Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Top with extra pepperoni if desired.
- Bake: Bake for 20–25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Add sautéed onions, mushrooms, or bell peppers for extra flavor and veggies.
- You can assemble this casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it until ready to bake.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American, Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 13g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
