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.

Nutriscore Rating: 55/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 6

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

Directions

Step 1

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or olive oil.

Step 2

Cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

Step 3

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.

Step 4

Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the sausage. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and fragrant.

Step 5

Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Step 6

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.

Step 7

Add a layer of half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses. Repeat the layers with the remaining pasta, sauce, toppings, and cheeses.

Step 8

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes.

Step 9

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.

Step 10

Let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving. Optionally, garnish with fresh basil or parsley for added color and flavor.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2493.3g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	6150.4

Total Fat 408.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 152.4g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 25.1g
Cholesterol 1000.2mg	0%
Sodium 15446.9mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 327.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 25.8g	0%
Total Sugars 30.9g
Protein 289.5g	0%

Vitamin D 181.4IU	0%
Calcium 2773.8mg	0%
Iron 30.6mg	0%
Potassium 3762.1mg	0%

*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.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.8%

Protein: 18.9%

Carbs: 21.3%