Description
Savory meat lovers pizza casserole blends Italian-inspired comfort with hearty layers of pepperoni, sausage, and melted cheese. Rich flavors meld together, creating a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 pound Italian sausage
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon, crumbled
Cheese and Sauce
- 2 cups pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Pasta and Seasonings
- 12 ounces (340 grams) pasta (penne or rotini)
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 cup black olives (optional)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare pasta by boiling in salted water until perfectly tender, approximately 8-10 minutes. Thoroughly drain and set aside.
- In a robust skillet, combine ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking meat into small crumbles until completely browned and no pink remains. Eliminate excess fat.
- Enhance meat mixture with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, and pizza sauce. Stir thoroughly to integrate flavors and create a rich, aromatic base.
- Warm oven to 375°F. Coat a 9×13-inch baking vessel with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Create first layer by spreading half the cooked pasta across bottom of dish. Distribute half the seasoned meat mixture evenly.
- Strategically arrange pepperoni slices and crispy bacon fragments across meat layer. Sprinkle generously with mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
- Repeat layering process with remaining pasta, meat, pepperoni, bacon, and cheese. Ensure top layer is completely covered with melting cheese.
- Transfer casserole to preheated oven. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes until cheese transforms into golden, bubbling perfection.
- Optional: Garnish with sliced black olives and red pepper flakes for enhanced visual appeal and additional flavor complexity.
- Allow casserole to rest 5 minutes before serving to enable cheese to set and flavors to meld.
Notes
- Customize the meat blend by experimenting with different ground meats like turkey, chicken, or a spicy sausage for varied flavor profiles.
- Reduce fat content by using lean ground beef, turkey bacon, and part-skim mozzarella cheese without compromising taste.
- Enhance vegetable intake by incorporating hidden veggies like diced bell peppers, zucchini, or spinach into the meat mixture for added nutrition.
- Make it gluten-free by substituting regular pasta with gluten-free pasta options and ensuring pizza sauce is gluten-free certified.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 663
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 1020 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 43 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg