Easy & Cheesy Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza Casserole: The Ultimate Family Dinner Bake
Imagine your favorite pizza, but in a comforting, bubbly baked pasta dish that’s perfect for a weeknight. This easy sausage and pepperoni pizza casserole delivers exactly that! Loaded with savory Italian sausage, zesty pepperoni, rich marinara sauce, and layers of gooey melted cheese, it’s a hearty and satisfying meal that the whole family will adore. Best of all, it’s incredibly versatile – feel free to mix and match your preferred pizza toppings to make it uniquely yours, catering to everyone’s tastes and dietary preferences.
Why This Pizza Casserole Will Become Your New Family Favorite
This delightful sausage and pepperoni pizza casserole is a brilliant fusion of comfort food classics, combining the vibrant, savory flavors of your favorite pizza with the satisfying, hearty texture of a classic baked pasta dish. It’s truly the best of both culinary worlds! Envision a rich, cheesy base generously packed with perfectly seasoned Italian sausage, thinly sliced pepperoni, and perfectly al dente spiral pasta, all baked together until it’s gloriously bubbly, golden, and utterly irresistible in a single casserole dish. This recipe offers a delightful and incredibly fun way to switch up your usual pasta night, bringing excitement and a unique culinary experience to your dinner table without any added fuss.
One of the primary reasons this recipe is an absolute winner, especially for busy households, is its remarkable simplicity and straightforward preparation. I promise you, creating this flavorful casserole requires hardly any more effort than preparing a standard pasta dish with marinara sauce. The key extra steps involve simply browning the sausage in a skillet and then transferring the assembled casserole into the oven to bake. Most of the active cooking is efficiently handled on the stovetop, leaving the oven to perform its magic: melting the cheeses into a luscious, gooey topping and bubbling the rich sauce to perfection, infusing all the ingredients with deep, comforting flavors.
Furthermore, this casserole is a dream for customization, making it an ideal choice for households with varying tastes. While the combination of sausage and pepperoni provides a robust and satisfying foundation that mimics classic pizza, you can effortlessly substitute or add a wide array of your preferred pizza toppings. Craving some garden-fresh goodness? Easily incorporate chopped mushrooms, vibrant bell peppers, diced onions, or even sliced black or green olives. For fresh vegetables, a quick sauté in the skillet for a few minutes before mixing them with the other ingredients is highly recommended. This ensures they are tender and flavorful in the final casserole, rather than remaining too firm. Casseroles are inherently forgiving and flexible in the kitchen, making them perfect for experimenting and adapting to whatever ingredients you have on hand or whatever your family specifically loves!
Gather Your Ingredients for This Delicious Pizza Casserole
To embark on creating this comforting pizza casserole, you’ll need a selection of readily available and fresh ingredients. These components come together to form a rich, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying dish that tastes just like your favorite pizza. Below is a glimpse of the essential items you’ll need. For all the precise measurements, quantities, and a complete set of detailed instructions, please refer to the printable recipe card located at the very end of this post.
Ingredient Spotlight: Tips & Tasty Substitutions
Let’s dive a little deeper into the role of each ingredient and explore some fantastic ways to tailor this casserole to your personal taste, dietary needs, or what you simply have on hand:
PASTA – For this recipe, I’ve found that rotini pasta works exceptionally well. Its unique spiral shape is absolutely perfect for “grabbing” and holding onto all that delicious marinara sauce and savory bits of sausage and pepperoni, ensuring every single bite is packed with maximum flavor. However, don’t feel limited to rotini! If it’s not available, or if you simply prefer other shapes, ziti is another excellent choice, offering a similar tubular structure that holds sauce beautifully. Mostaccioli, with its penne-like cut, would also be a fantastic option. Even broader shapes like penne or rigatoni would work well; the key is choosing a sturdy pasta shape that can effectively capture and carry the rich sauce and all the delightful ingredients without becoming mushy during baking. Cook it al dente as it will continue to soften in the oven.
SAUSAGE – The sausage is truly a star in this casserole, infusing the entire dish with a profound depth of savory flavor. I highly recommend using a good quality Italian sausage – you can choose mild for a gentler flavor or hot for an exciting spicy kick, depending on your preference for heat. If you’re feeling a bit adventurous and want to elevate the flavor even further, consider making your own homemade pizza sausage! For those who aren’t avid sausage fans, or if you’re looking for a leaner alternative, feel free to omit it entirely or substitute it with lean ground beef, ground turkey, or even a plant-based ground meat alternative. Just be sure to season any substitute meat well with Italian herbs, garlic, and onion powder to compensate for the robust flavor that Italian sausage naturally brings to the dish.
SAUCE – A high-quality marinara sauce forms the flavorful backbone of any great Italian-inspired dish, and this casserole is certainly no exception. Your favorite jarred marinara sauce is absolutely perfect for this recipe and serves as a wonderful time-saver, allowing you to get dinner on the table faster. There are many excellent, high-quality jarred options available that will deliver fantastic flavor. However, if you have a little extra time and want to elevate the dish even further with homemade goodness, I highly suggest trying my homemade marinara sauce! It’s bursting with fresh, vibrant flavors and will undoubtedly make this casserole truly unforgettable. Alternatively, you could use a tomato-based pasta sauce or even a slightly thicker pizza sauce if you prefer, though marinara generally provides the ideal consistency and flavor profile.
CHEESE – For the ultimate cheesy experience, we use a combination of both Parmesan and mozzarella. Parmesan cheese adds a sharp, salty depth and a wonderfully nutty aroma throughout the casserole. Mozzarella cheese, on the other hand, provides that classic, irresistible gooey stretch and creamy texture that everyone loves in a pizza. Feel free to experiment with other cheeses like provolone, sharp cheddar, or a pre-shredded Italian blend (which often contains a mix of mozzarella, provolone, and parmesan) for different flavor profiles and melting characteristics. For the best melt and flavor, freshly grated cheese is always superior to pre-shredded, but both will certainly work to create a delicious dish.
PEPPERONI – The quintessential pizza topping, pepperoni adds a wonderful salty, slightly spicy, and deeply savory kick to this casserole. Layering it both within the pasta mixture and on top ensures you get delicious pepperoni flavor in every single bite, with the top layer crisping up beautifully in the oven. You can use standard sliced pepperoni, mini pepperoni for a fun variation, or even slice up larger deli-style pepperoni. If you’re not a fan of pepperoni, or just want to try something different, consider cooked and crumbled bacon, diced ham, or even sliced hot dogs (for a super kid-friendly twist!) as tasty alternatives.
How to Make This Irresistible Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
Crafting this incredible pizza casserole is a straightforward and enjoyable process, combining a few simple cooking steps on the stovetop with a quick bake in the oven. The beauty of this recipe lies in its ease, making it a perfect meal for both experienced cooks and beginners. Follow these clear, visual, step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through each part of the recipe, ensuring a delicious outcome every time. For a convenient printable version, complete with all precise measurements and detailed instructions, simply Jump to Recipe at the bottom of this page.
These step-by-step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.
- Before you begin assembling, preheat your oven to 350 F (175 C). This crucial step ensures the oven is at the perfect temperature when you’re ready to bake, leading to perfectly melted cheese and a gloriously bubbly casserole that’s cooked evenly throughout.
- In a large pot, cook the rotini pasta according to the package directions until it reaches an al dente consistency. It’s important not to overcook it at this stage, as the pasta will continue to cook and absorb flavors in the oven. Once cooked, drain the pasta thoroughly and return it to the empty pot.
- Meanwhile, while your pasta is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage (or your chosen substitute) to the skillet and cook, breaking it up with a spoon as it browns, until it’s fully cooked through and no pink remains. Once cooked, make sure to drain any excess grease from the skillet to prevent the casserole from becoming oily or greasy.
- To the pot containing the cooked pasta, add the drained, browned sausage and the marinara sauce. Stir everything together thoroughly until the pasta is evenly coated with the rich sauce and savory sausage. Next, stir in the shredded Parmesan cheese, which will add a lovely salty, nutty depth, and half of the sliced pepperoni. This step ensures that delicious pockets of pepperoni and cheese are distributed throughout the casserole, making every bite flavorful.
- Spread the combined pasta mixture evenly into a lightly greased 9×13-inch casserole dish. Take care to ensure an even layer across the entire dish for consistent baking and heating throughout the casserole.
- Evenly sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top of the pasta mixture. Finally, artfully arrange the remaining half of the pepperoni slices on top of the mozzarella. This top layer of pepperoni will crisp up slightly and become beautifully charred in the oven, adding a fantastic texture, intensified flavor, and appealing visual presentation to the finished casserole.
- Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until the cheese is beautifully melted, bubbly around the edges, and lightly golden brown. This indicates it’s piping hot, perfectly cooked, and ready to be served! Allow it to rest for a few minutes before serving to let the cheese and sauce settle.
Frequently Asked Questions & Expert Tips for Success
Absolutely! This casserole is incredibly versatile and truly shines with a variety of additions, allowing you to tailor it to your family’s preferences. You can easily incorporate your favorite chopped vegetables such as vibrant bell peppers (red, green, or yellow), sweet diced onions, earthy sautéed mushrooms, or tangy sliced black or green olives directly into the pasta mixture. For an extra layer of savory flavor, crumbled cooked bacon or even some cooked, seasoned ground beef are fantastic options. If you choose to use fresh vegetables like onions or bell peppers, I highly recommend giving them a quick sauté in a separate skillet for a few minutes until they are slightly tender before combining them with the other ingredients. This ensures they are perfectly cooked and integrate beautifully into the casserole, providing a delightful texture rather than being too firm after baking.
Yes, this pizza casserole is an excellent candidate for making ahead, which dramatically streamlines weeknight dinners! You have a couple of convenient options: Firstly, you can prepare the entire casserole completely (cook the pasta and sausage, mix with sauce, Parmesan, and half the pepperoni; spread into the dish; then top with mozzarella and the remaining pepperoni) in the morning or even the day before. Let it cool completely, then cover it tightly with a layer of plastic wrap and then aluminum foil, and store it in the refrigerator. When you’re ready for dinner, simply remove the plastic wrap, keep it covered with foil, and bake as directed, adding an extra 10-15 minutes to the baking time if cooking straight from the fridge to ensure it’s heated through to the center. Secondly, a simpler option for partial prep is to cook both the sausage and pasta a day in advance and store them separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. This significantly cuts down on active prep time when you’re ready to assemble and bake the casserole. If pre-cooking pasta, I would strongly suggest cooking it for about half the time recommended on the box (aim for very al dente) and tossing it with a small amount of olive oil to prevent it from sticking together. This way, it won’t become mushy when it bakes in the casserole.
Storing leftovers from this delicious pizza casserole is simple and ensures you can enjoy it for days to come. First, allow the casserole to cool completely to room temperature before transferring it to an airtight container. It can then be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When it’s time to reheat, you have the flexibility to use either the microwave or the oven. For microwave reheating, place a single serving on a microwave-safe plate and heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring occasionally, until it’s thoroughly warmed through. If using the oven, cover individual portions or the entire leftover dish with aluminum foil and reheat at 300-325 F (150-160 C) until it’s hot in the center. A highly recommended tip for remoistening and preventing the pasta from drying out is to add a small splash of water or a tiny dollop of extra marinara sauce over the top before reheating, especially when using the oven. This helps maintain a deliciously tender and saucy texture.
Yes, this hearty casserole freezes beautifully, making it an excellent option for future meal planning! To freeze, prepare the casserole completely (following all steps up to the point of baking), but do not bake it. Once assembled in the baking dish, cover it tightly first with a layer of plastic wrap, then with a layer of heavy-duty aluminum foil. Label it clearly with the date and freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator. Once thawed, remove the plastic wrap, keep it covered with foil, and bake in a preheated oven at 350 F (175 C) for approximately 30-40 minutes. Then, uncover it for the last 10-15 minutes or until it’s bubbly, heated through, and the cheese is golden. You can also bake it directly from frozen, but this will require a significantly longer baking time (around 60-90 minutes covered, then uncover and bake until bubbly), always ensuring it is cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (74°C).
A standard 9×13-inch baking dish is the ideal size for this recipe, perfectly accommodating all the ingredients and ensuring even cooking and bubbling. Glass, ceramic, or metal baking dishes will all work effectively. Before adding your pasta mixture, it’s always a good practice to lightly grease the dish with cooking spray or a little olive oil. This simple step helps prevent sticking and makes for a much easier cleanup after you’ve enjoyed your delicious meal.
Perfect Pairings: What to Serve with Pizza Casserole
This hearty sausage and pepperoni pizza casserole is undoubtedly a complete and satisfying meal all on its own, offering a wonderful combination of protein, carbohydrates, and cheesy goodness. However, it pairs beautifully with a variety of simple side dishes to create an even more well-rounded and delightful dinner experience. For a touch of freshness that contrasts wonderfully with the rich, savory flavors of the casserole, consider serving it alongside a crisp green dinner salad, perhaps dressed with a light, tangy vinaigrette. To truly round out the Italian-American comfort food vibe, warm, crusty baked bread, or even better, cheesy garlic bread, are absolute must-haves for soaking up any extra delicious sauce. We highly recommend trying our gooey garlic cheese rolls or our classic garlic knots – they’re perfect for the job and will elevate your meal. Enjoy every comforting bite!
More Irresistible Pizza-Inspired Recipes to Try
If you’re a devoted fan of the incredible flavors of pizza, but constantly find yourself looking for new and exciting ways to enjoy them beyond the traditional slice, then you’re absolutely in luck! Our kitchen is always brimming with creative takes on everyone’s favorite Italian-American classic. Once you’ve savored this comforting pizza casserole, be sure to explore some of these other fantastic pizza-inspired dishes that are perfect for everything from lively parties and casual appetizers to another fun and easy weeknight meal:
- Pizza Dip: A warm, irresistibly cheesy, and utterly dippable appetizer that captures all the classic tastes of pizza in a shareable format.
- Pizza Sliders: These miniature sandwiches are packed with vibrant pizza flavor, making them ideal for gatherings, game days, or a quick, satisfying bite.
- Pizza Poppers: Delightful, bite-sized, and cheesy treats that are guaranteed to be a hit with both kids and adults alike.
- Pizza Pinwheels: Flaky pastry rolled with all your favorite pizza toppings, creating a visually appealing and delicious option perfect for appetizers or lunchboxes.
I absolutely adore spending my time in the kitchen, experimenting with new flavors, and perfecting delicious recipes to share with all of you! Remembering to come back each day to check for new culinary inspiration can sometimes be tough in a busy schedule, which is precisely why I offer a convenient newsletter. Every time a new recipe posts, you’ll be among the first to know! Simply subscribe to our newsletter today and start receiving your free daily recipes straight to your inbox. It’s the best and easiest way to keep your meal plans fresh, exciting, and full of flavor!
Sausage and Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions and detailed Expert Tips within the main blog post that you may find incredibly helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
Print It
Pin It
Rate It
Save ItSaved!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini pasta (about 3 cups, or similar short pasta like ziti or mostaccioli)
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or hot, or homemade pizza sausage)
- 4 cups marinara sauce (your favorite jarred or homemade)
- 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 3 ounces sliced pepperoni (divided)
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
Things You’ll Need
-
Large skillet
-
13×9 baking dish
Recipe Notes & Quick Tips for Perfect Results
- The sausage adds incredible flavor. For alternatives, use ground beef, ground turkey, or a plant-based ground meat, seasoned well to taste.
- Rotini pasta is ideal for holding sauce, but ziti, mostaccioli, penne, or rigatoni are great substitutes. Ensure pasta is cooked al dente.
- Use your favorite jarred marinara for convenience, or try a rich homemade sauce for extra flavor.
- Feel free to customize with other pizza toppings like bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, or olives. Sauté fresh veggies briefly before adding.
- If making ahead, cook pasta very al dente and toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
Instructions
-
Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C).
-
Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente; drain and return to pot.8 ounces rotini pasta
-
Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook and crumble the Italian sausage until browned; drain excess grease.1 pound Italian sausage
-
Add cooked sausage and marinara sauce to the pasta in the pot; stir well to combine. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and half of the sliced pepperoni.4 cups marinara sauce, 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese, 3 ounces sliced pepperoni
-
Spread the pasta mixture evenly into a lightly greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with the shredded mozzarella cheese. Arrange the remaining half of pepperoni slices over the mozzarella.8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
-
Bake for 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden. Serve hot and enjoy!
Additional Expert Tips
- Store leftover pizza casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven, adding a splash of water or extra sauce to help maintain moisture if needed.
- For a spicier kick, use hot Italian sausage and a pinch of red pepper flakes in the sauce.
- Make sure your pasta is cooked al dente, as it will continue to cook and absorb moisture in the oven.
- For easy cleanup, lightly grease your baking dish before adding the pasta mixture.
- Experiment with different cheese blends! Provolone, Monterey Jack, or an Italian blend can all add unique flavors and melty goodness.
Nutrition Information
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.
This post originally appeared here on July 23, 2013, and has since been updated with new photos, expanded expert tips, and enhanced content to provide the best possible experience and valuable insights for our cherished readers.