Quick Pizza Casserole
Experience the ultimate comfort food mashup with this Quick Pizza Casserole, a mouthwatering combination of classic pizza flavors and hearty pasta goodness. Perfect for busy weeknights, this family-friendly recipe comes together in just 40 minutes and delivers layers of tender rotini pasta, savory Italian sausage, rich marinara sauce, gooey melted mozzarella, and a topping of crispy pepperoni. Enhanced with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and a sprinkle of Parmesan, each bite bursts with bold, cheesy, pizza-inspired flavors. Baked to golden, bubbling perfection and optionally garnished with fresh basil, this easy casserole is the ideal way to satisfy pizza cravings without the hassle. Make it your go-to one-dish dinner for a crowd-pleasing meal that’s as simple as it is satisfying!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 12 oz Rotini pasta (or any short pasta)
- 1 lb Ground Italian sausage (or ground beef)
- 24 oz Marinara or pizza sauce
- 2 cups Shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup Sliced pepperoni
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 0.5 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
- 1 tsp Salt
- 0.5 tsp Black pepper
- 2 tbsp Chopped fresh basil (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon, about 5-7 minutes.
Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper into the skillet with the cooked sausage. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta and the sausage sauce mixture. Mix until evenly coated.
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil or non-stick spray. Spread half of the pasta mixture evenly into the dish.
Sprinkle 1 cup of mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of Parmesan cheese over the pasta layer.
Layer half of the pepperoni slices over the cheese.
Add the remaining pasta mixture on top, then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.
Arrange the remaining pepperoni slices on top of the casserole.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Remove from the oven and let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Garnish with freshly chopped basil, if desired, and enjoy!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
4635 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 319.2 g | 409% | |
| Saturated Fat | 131.4 g | 657% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.3 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 812 mg | 271% | |
| Sodium | 15928 mg | 693% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 200.6 g | 73% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 23.3 g | 83% | |
| Total Sugars | 52.8 g | ||
| Protein | 234.7 g | 469% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 2790 mg | 215% | |
| Iron | 21.9 mg | 122% | |
| Potassium | 4137 mg | 88% | |
*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.
