Description
Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole is a cheesy, meaty pasta bake packed with ground beef, sausage, pepperoni, and pizza sauce, layered with gooey cheese for the ultimate comfort food that’s perfect for feeding a hungry crowd.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pasta (penne, rotini, or ziti)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 cup pepperoni slices
- 3 cups pizza or marinara sauce
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Italian blend cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional: 1/2 cup bacon bits or diced ham, 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook pasta in salted water until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a skillet, heat olive oil and sauté onion and garlic until soft and fragrant.
- Add ground beef and sausage, cook until browned. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Stir in pizza sauce and simmer for 5 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked pasta and meat sauce.
- Layer half the pasta mixture into baking dish, top with half the cheeses and half the pepperoni. Repeat layers with remaining pasta, cheese, and pepperoni.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, until bubbly and golden on top.
- Let rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Add bacon or ham for extra meatiness.
- Use hot sausage or red pepper flakes for added spice.
- Add veggies like bell peppers or mushrooms for balance.
- Swap pasta for cauliflower for a low-carb version.
- Freeze assembled casserole for up to 2 months; thaw overnight before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 880mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
