Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
Turn your favorite pizza night into a hearty, crowd-pleasing dish with this Pepperoni Pizza Casserole! Perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings, this recipe combines tender pasta, zesty marinara sauce, and layers of gooey melted mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Loaded with savory pepperoni, optional Italian sausage, and aromatic herbs like Italian seasoning and garlic powder, each bite delivers the classic flavors of pizza in an easy, oven-baked casserole. Quick to prepare in under an hour, this dish is ideal for feeding a hungry crowd with minimal effort. Top it off with fresh basil for a touch of elegance, and watch as everyone comes back for seconds. Family-friendly, cheesy, and irresistibly comforting, this pepperoni pizza casserole is guaranteed to satisfy!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 ounces short pasta (penne, rotini, or macaroni)
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 6 ounces pepperoni slices
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 0.5 cups parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 8 ounces ground Italian sausage (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray or a light coat of olive oil.
Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until softened.
If using, add the ground Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook for 5-7 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned and fully cooked. Drain any excess grease.
Stir the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and half of the pepperoni slices into the skillet with the onions and sausage. Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the sauce mixture. Toss until the pasta is fully coated.
Spread half of the pasta mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese over the pasta layer.
Add the remaining pasta mixture on top of the cheese layer and spread evenly. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese over the top.
Arrange the remaining pepperoni slices over the cheese layer, spacing them evenly.
Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Remove the casserole from the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
544 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 37.7 g | 48% | |
| Saturated Fat | 15.8 g | 79% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 78 mg | 26% | |
| Sodium | 1319 mg | 57% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 26.9 g | 10% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.5 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 4.0 g | ||
| Protein | 27.5 g | 55% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 381 mg | 29% | |
| Iron | 1.9 mg | 10% | |
| Potassium | 218 mg | 5% | |
*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.
