Ultimate Family Favorite: Pizza Pasta Extravaganza
Elevate your weeknight dinners with this straightforward pizza casserole, a dish that’s sure to be a hit with both kids and adults. This freezer-friendly pizza pasta casserole simplifies meal preparation, allowing you to enjoy a delicious, home-cooked meal even on your busiest days.
Why This Casserole Is a Must-Try
- Universal Appeal: This recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser, delivering the familiar flavors of pizza in a comforting casserole format.
- Freezer-Friendly Flexibility: Prepare a double batch and freeze one for a future easy meal, saving time and effort.
- Enhanced Pizza Experience: Enjoy the essence of pizza with a slightly elevated twist, perfect for those seeking a step above the ordinary.
- Flavorful Simplicity: The combination of simple ingredients yields surprisingly rich and satisfying flavors.
Essential Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 6 oz pepperoni
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes (or homemade pizza sauce)
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 16 oz penne pasta
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Step-by-Step Preparation
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Brown ground beef, drain excess grease.
- Sauce Creation: Add crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt to the beef. Stir to combine.
- Pasta Preparation: Cook penne pasta al dente, drain.
- Layering: Layer half the pasta in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Top with half the meat mixture, half the mozzarella, and half the pepperoni.
- Repeat Layers: Layer the remaining pasta, meat sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni.
- Finishing Touch: Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Baking: Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until bubbly and browned.
- Rest and Serve: Allow to cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Side Dish Suggestions
- Ramen Noodle Salad
- Creamy Broccoli Salad
- Microwave Steamed Broccoli
- Parmesan Roasted Zucchini
- Oven Roasted Parmesan Asparagus.
Freezing Instructions
- Assemble: Prepare the casserole in a foil pan as directed, but do not bake.
- Cooling: Cover with foil and allow to cool completely.
- Freezing: Freeze the cooled casserole.
- Reheating: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour covered, then 15 minutes uncovered.
Ingredient Variations
- Meat: Substitute ground beef with Italian sausage, ground turkey, or a combination.
- Sauce: Use jarred pizza sauce, marinara sauce, or spaghetti sauce.
- Pasta: Choose bowtie pasta or rigatoni as alternatives.
- Cheese: Incorporate Parmesan or an Italian blend cheese.
- Vegetables: Add sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, and onions.
Helpful Cooking Tips
- Pasta: Cook pasta al dente to prevent overcooking in the oven.
- Ground Beef: Drain excess grease before mixing with other ingredients.
- Baking Dish: Spray the dish with cooking spray for easy cleanup.
- Foil Covering: Cover the casserole with foil to lock in flavor and prevent burning, removing it for the final 15 minutes to brown the cheese.
Storage and Reheating
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a microwave-safe dish or in the oven at 325 degrees F for 10 minutes.
Easy Pizza Casserole Recipe
This easy pizza casserole is a family favorite. It’s simple to make and also works as a great freezer meal.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Cooling Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 6
Cuisine: Italian
Course: Main Course, Casserole
Calories: 841
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or Italian sausage
- 6 oz pepperoni
- 3 cups mozzarella cheese
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes (or two 15 oz cans)
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 16 oz penne pasta
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Brown the ground beef and drain any excess grease.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and garlic salt to the beef. Stir to combine.
- Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain.
- Spread half of the cooked pasta in a 9×13 baking dish.
- Spoon half of the meat mixture over the pasta.
- Top with half of the mozzarella cheese.
- Layer half of the pepperoni slices on top.
- Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, meat sauce, cheese, and pepperoni.
- Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over the top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 15 minutes until bubbly and golden.
- Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
This casserole freezes well, making it a great make-ahead meal. Prepare an extra batch and freeze for later.