If you are looking for a creative way to feed your pizza cravings, you'll love this amazing Pizza Pasta Casserole! With some simple ingredients, you can have a fantastic meal that the whole family will love, especially the kiddos!
Pizza pasta casserole is the perfect blend of two classic dishes. It's like a pizza, but with pasta instead of bread dough. The combination of cheese, sausage, and pepperoni give it a great flavor, and the tomato paste and crushed tomatoes make it nice and hearty. This dish is perfect for any evening when you want something comforting and delicious.
This pizza pasta casserole is a great dish to make for dinner tonight! It's easy to follow, and you can customize it with your favorite toppings. The leftovers are also freezer-friendly, so you can save them for later. This recipe is also a major kid pleaser because what kid doesn't love pizza or pasta?
What is in a pepperoni pizza casserole?
A typical pepperoni pizza pasta casserole will have pasta, sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni. Some recipes, like this one, also include sausage and other toppings.
This dish is also a great way to use up any leftover pizza toppings you might have, like olives, peppers, and more. Just add them to the casserole, and you'll have a delicious meal.
What You'll Need
Scroll down to the recipe card below this post for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
- Rotini pasta
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1lb ground Italian sausage
- Pepperoni
- Tomato paste
- Canned crushed tomatoes
- Minced garlic
- Olive oil
- Oregano
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Crushed red pepper
You will need the following supplies:
- Stockpot/Saucepans
- 9x13 casserole dish
- Spoon/Spatula for mixing ingredients
- Colander (for draining pasta)
How to Make Pizza Pasta Casserole
Cook. Heat the olive oil in a medium to large saucepan or stockpot. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Add the ground Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking the pieces up into bite sized chunks (like you would make for ground beef tacos).
Stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and all of the spices. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
While the marinara is simmering, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, cook the rotini pasta according to package directions and drain.
Assemble. Mix the cooked pasta with the marinara sauce along with about 4 ounces of the pepperoni, stirring to combine. Place the pasta mixture into a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish.
Finish. Top with the mozzarella cheese and remaining pepperoni. Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and has started to brown. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Tips for Success
Here's how to make sure your easy pizza pasta casserole turns out perfect!
- Cook pasta al dente. You do not want mushy pasta in your casserole, so make sure to cook it just until it is tender.
- Do not overcook the sausage. Sausage should be cooked until it is no longer pink, but you do not want to overcook it, or it will be dry.
- Broil for a couple of minutes. If you want the melted cheese on top to be brown and bubbly, you can place the casserole under the broiler for a minute or two. Just keep an eye on it, so it does not burn!
- Make ahead of time. You can make this casserole ahead of time and either refrigerate it or freeze it. Just make sure to let it thaw completely before baking.
Easy Sides for Pairing with Pizza Pasta Casserole
If you want to keep things super simple, pair your pepperoni pizza pasta bake with garlic bread or a side salad. If you're up for putting in a little more effort, here are some easy side dish ideas that will go well with the flavors in this recipe:
- Caesar salad
- Italian green beans
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Parmesan cheese
- Garlic Parmesan Roasted Broccoli
- Crusty bread with dipping oil
- Fruit salad
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Leftover pizza pasta casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, place the desired amount of casserole onto a baking sheet and bake in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave.
Can I Freeze This Recipe?
Yes! This pizza casserole recipe can be frozen, either baked or unbaked. To freeze the unbaked casserole, follow all of the instructions through assembling the casserole. Then, cover tightly with aluminum foil and place in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to bake, remove the frozen casserole from the freezer and let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat the oven and bake according to directions.
To freeze the baked casserole, allow it to cool completely after baking, then cover it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months.
When ready to eat, remove from the freezer and let thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or place the entire dish in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven until warmed through.
Can I add anything to the pizza pasta casserole?
Of course! This recipe is easily customizable. You can try using ground beef or turkey/chicken instead of Italian sausage. You can also try an Italian blend of cheeses or even some ricotta instead of the mozzarella. Feel free to experiment with the herbs as well!
Some ideas for extra toppings and mix-in include:
- crispy bacon
- ground chicken
- fresh mushrooms
- Canadian bacon
- spinach
- chopped onion
- sliced black olives
- jalapeños
- diced tomatoes
- green bell peppers
Recipe FAQ's
Yes, you can make pasta with pizza sauce! This dish uses tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and seasonings to make a homemade pizza pasta sauce.
I dislike categorizing anything as healthy or unhealthy because I believe you can eat pretty much anything in moderation as part of a balanced diet. That said, you can use lean meat or turkey pepperoni, whole wheat or protein pasta, and reduced-fat cheese to decrease the calorie count. Also, considering adding some vegetables that are common pizza toppings to the casserole, such as mushrooms, bell peppers, olives, or onions. It's like a supreme pizza pasta!
Pasta is a type of noodle that is made from flour, water, and sometimes eggs. It is commonly used in Italian cuisine and can be made in different shapes and sizes. Pizza is a flatbread that is typically topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and various toppings. It is believed to have originated in Italy.
More Casserole Recipes
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Pizza Pasta Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 (16-ounce) box rotini pasta
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage, casings removed
- 6 ounes pepperoni, cut into quarters
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes (we like the kind with basil added, if available)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a medium to large saucepan or stockpot. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Add the ground Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking the pieces up into bite sized chunks (like you would make for ground beef tacos).
- Stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, and all of the spices. Simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the marinara is simmering, preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Then, cook the rotini pasta according to package directions and drain.
- Mix the cooked pasta with the marinara sauce along with about 4 ounces of the pepperoni, stirring to combine.
- Place the pasta mixture into a lightly greased 9x13 baking dish.
- Top with the mozzarella cheese and remaining pepperoni.
- Bake for about 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and has started to brown.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- Storage: Leftover pizza pasta casserole can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, place the desired amount of casserole onto a baking sheet and bake in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven until heated through. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave.
- Freezer Meal: To freeze the unbaked casserole, follow all of the instructions through assembling the casserole. Then, cover tightly with aluminum foil and place in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, remove the frozen casserole from the freezer and let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Preheat the oven and bake according to directions
- Freezing a baked casserole: To freeze the baked casserole, allow it to cool completely after baking, then cover it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, remove from the freezer and let thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or place the entire dish in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven until warmed through.
- Extra topping ideas: Crispy bacon, ground chicken, fresh mushrooms, Canadian bacon, spinach, chopped onion, sliced black olives, jalapeños, diced tomatoes, or green bell peppers.
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