Christmas Eve Pizza Casserole
Bring comfort and joy to your holiday table with this festive Christmas Eve Pizza Casserole! Combining the hearty flavors of a classic pizza with the cozy appeal of a baked pasta dish, this casserole layers tender penne, savory Italian sausage, and a rich marinara sauce with colorful toppings like pepperoni, black olives, and green bell peppers. Finished with a bubbling blanket of mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses, each bite is a cheesy, flavorful celebration. With just 20 minutes of prep time and a warm, golden bake, this crowd-pleaser serves six and is the perfect way to gather your loved ones around the table. Whether you're looking for an easy holiday dinner idea or a make-ahead dish for a cozy night in, this pizza-inspired casserole will be your new Christmas tradition.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Penne pasta
- 2 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage
- 1 Yellow onion, diced
- 3 Garlic cloves, minced
- 24 oz Marinara sauce
- 1.5 cup Pepperoni slices
- 0.5 cup Black olives, sliced
- 1 Green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tsp Dried Italian seasoning
- 0.5 tsp Salt
- 0.25 tsp Ground black pepper
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.
Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up into crumbles with a wooden spoon. Drain excess fat if needed.
Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the sausage. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.
Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
In the greased baking dish, layer half of the cooked pasta, followed by half of the sausage-sauce mixture. Sprinkle with half of the pepperoni slices, black olives, and diced green bell pepper.
Add a layer of half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, sauce, toppings, and cheeses.
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.
Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.
Let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving. Optionally, garnish with fresh basil or parsley for added color and flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
893 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 68.1 g | 87% | |
| Saturated Fat | 26.8 g | 134% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 3.7 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 147 mg | 49% | |
| Sodium | 2532 mg | 110% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 30.1 g | 11% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.9 g | 10% | |
| Total Sugars | 4.9 g | ||
| Protein | 43.7 g | 87% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.8 mcg | 4% | |
| Calcium | 475 mg | 37% | |
| Iron | 3.3 mg | 18% | |
| Potassium | 480 mg | 10% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
