We love pizza around here, so this easy to prepare casserole that incorporates all our favorite pizza flavors is a sure fire winner-winner-pizza-dinner! What I love about this easy to make casserole is how versatile it is. If you don’t like mushrooms or olives, leave them out. You can easily add any of your favorite pizza toppings to this casserole so it incorporates all your family’s favorite pizza toppings.
Topping options you can add:
- chopped onion
- ground beef
- sliced salami
- Canadian bacon
- Artichoke hearts
- cooked crumbled bacon
- diced red bell pepper
- Anchovies, if you are a fan
You are only limited by your imagination and what you have in the fridge. Customize this recipe so it incorporates your favorite pizza flavors.
Start by preheating the oven to 350°F. Spray a 13×9 inch oven safe casserole dish with cooking spray.
Cook pasta al dente, according to package instructions, drain.
Toss cooked pasta in a couple tablespoons of olive oil.
Place pasta into prepared casserole dish. Set aside while you prepare meat sauce.
In a large skillet, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Brown Italian sausage breaking it up into crumbles with a wooden spatula as it cooks .
Add sliced mushrooms and diced green bell pepper when sausage is just slightly pink. Continue to cook until mushrooms and bell peppers are soft and sausage is cooked through.
Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Pour marinara sauce into the pan and add ½ of the sliced pepperoni to the pan. Stir to combine.
Add salt, pepper, dried oregano, dried basil, and Italian seasoning.
Cook meat sauce over low heat for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to combine and heat through. Stirring occasionally.
Sprinkle pasta in the casserole dish with ½ of the of shredded mozzarella cheese.
Add the sauce and stir together with the cheese and pasta.
Spread mixture out nice and even with the back of the wooden spatula.
Sprinkle with red pepper flakes if desired.
Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and reserved pepperoni slices.
Sprinkle with an even layer of grated Parmesan cheese.
Top with sliced olives.
Cover with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes or until cheese is bubbly and melted.
Remove foil and switch oven setting to broil and cook until mozzarella cheese browns along the edges, about 3-4 minutes. Watch this carefully so it doesn’t burn.
Allow casserole to rest for 10 minutes to allow it to set up before serving.
Garnish with freshly chopped parsley to serve.
Serve with a crisp green salad and freshly baked garlic bread to round out the meal.
This pizza bake is delicious served with a crisp Caesar salad. Sure, you could just open a bagged salad from the market but you can easily make the world’s best Rich & Creamy Caesar Salad With Crisp, Garlicky Toasted Croutons. There are no processed chemicals and it’s oh so easy to make. I guarantee it’s the best Caesar salad you will ever eat!
If you are craving some more carbs consider making these delectable bread sticks to serve along with this meal. Let’s face it, have you ever enjoyed a good Italian meal with out garlic bread?
Slather French bread with this Best Ever Garlic Butter to make some of the best garlic bread you will ever enjoy! It makes anything you slather it on…mouthwateringly delicious! Veggies, pasta, old sneakers…LOL!
Pop the bread in the oven when you take the pizza pasta casserole out. Toss a salad while the garlic bread bakes and you have all the makings needed for a truly scrumptious Italian inspired meal. All easy to make and all mouthwateringly delicious!
We LOVE this tasty pizza casserole! I love how darn easy it is to make! Oh…the leftovers reheated the next day? Let me tell you, they are even better than the freshly baked meal from the night before! Everyone at work will be asking you what you are eating for lunch when you reheat this in the microwave. Be sure to give this easy to make meal a try, I think you will love it as much as we do!
Meat Lovers Pizza Pasta Bake
Equipment
- 13×9 inch oven safe casserole dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb penne pasta, cooked according to package directions
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage
- 8 oz button mushrooms, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 jar marinara sauce
- 3 oz sliced pepperoni sausage
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp pepper,
- salt, to taste
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shedded
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2.25 oz sliced black olives, drained
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Spray a 13×9 inch oven safe casserole dish with cooking spray.
- Cook pasta al dente, according to package instructions, drain. Toss cooked pasta in a couple tablespoons of olive oil, and pour into prepared casserole dish.
- In a large skillet, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium het. Brown Italian sausage breaking it up into crumbles with a wooden spatula as it cooks .
- Add sliced mushrooms and diced green bell pepper when sausage is just slightly pink. Continue to cook until mushrooms and bell peppers are soft and sausage is cooked through.
- Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
- Pour marinara sauce into the pan and add ½ of the sliced pepperoni to the pan. Stir to combine.
- Add pepper, dried oregano, dried basil, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes if desired.
- Cook meat sauce over low heat for 5-10 minutes to allow flavors to combine and heat through. Stirring occasionally.
- Taste and season with salt if needed.
- Sprinkle pasta in the casserole dish with ½ of the of shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Add the sauce and stir together with the cheese and pasta. Spread mixture out evenly with the back of the wooden spatula.
- Sprinkle with chopped parsley.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese, reserved pepperoni slices and sliced olives.
- Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Cover with foil and bake for 35-45 minutes or until heated through and cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Remove foil and switch oven setting to broil. Cook until mozzarella cheese browns along the edges, about 3-4 minutes. Watch this carefully so it doesn’t burn.
- Remove from oven and allow casserole to rest for 10 minutes to let it set up before serving.
- Garnish with additional freshly chopped parsley to serve.
- Serve with a crisp green salad and freshly baked garlic bread to round out the meal.
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