Pizza Casserole
Pizza night gets a make-over with this pizza casserole recipe. This crowd-pleasing casserole is made with pasta, marinara, pepperoni, bell peppers and lots of cheese. It's kid-friendly and freezer-friendly, too!
Ingredients
- 4 cups penne pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb pork sausage
- 6 oz pepperoni
- 1/2 bell pepper, chopped any color
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 can sliced black olives optional
- 1 can sliced mushrooms optional
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Brown ground beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. Remove grease.
- Cook penne pasta to al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- Add cooked meat to a large mixing bowl. Add noodles, sauce, pepperoni, bell pepper, onion, parmesan cheese, oregano, garlic, mushroom and olives. Mix to combine
- Pour mixture into a greased 9x13'' pan. Sprinkle 1-2 cups mozzarella cheese on top, depending on how much cheese you prefer.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes and then serve.
Notes
To make ahead: Assemble the pizza casserole up until baking and store covered in the refrigerator for several hours. Remove from oven and bake as directed.
To freeze: Assemble casserole up until baking, adding it to a freezer safe casserole dish. Cover well with plastic wrap and tinfoil and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake as directed. Some of the sauce will be soaked up by the noodles when frozen, so I typically add extra sauce when serving.