Meat Lover’s Pizza Casserole
A hearty baked pasta casserole packed with ground beef, Italian sausage, pepperoni, bacon, marinara sauce, and plenty of melted cheese. This family-style dinner has all the flavors of a meat lover’s pizza in an easy, comforting casserole.
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage
- 8 oz rotini or penne cooked and drained
- 2 cups marinara or pizza sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices
- 1/2 cup cooked bacon crumbled, optional
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar or provolone cheese optional
- 1/2 cup sliced black olives optional
- 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms optional
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- salt to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Cook the ground beef and Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking the meat apart as it browns.
- Drain the fat well from the skillet.
- Stir in the pepperoni slices and cooked bacon, then cook for 1–2 minutes to warm through.
- Add the marinara or pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt.
- Simmer the meat sauce for 2–3 minutes.
- In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, meat sauce, and 1 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Stir until the pasta is evenly coated.
- Spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese, cheddar or provolone if using, and any olives or mushrooms.
- Cover loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until bubbly and lightly golden on top.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving warm.
Notes
Cook the pasta just shy of al dente so it holds its texture while baking. Add extra pepperoni on top for a more pizza-like finish.
Nutrition
Calories: 560kcal
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