Pizza Pasta Casserole

Turn dinnertime into a comforting delight with this Pizza Pasta Casserole, a hearty fusion of two family favorites—pizza and pasta! Featuring tender penne or rotini coated in a rich marinara sauce, savory ground Italian sausage, and a medley of toppings like pepperoni, black olives, chopped bell peppers, and onions, this dish captures all the flavors of a supreme pizza in casserole form. Loaded with gooey mozzarella and parmesan cheese, each layer bakes to bubbly, golden perfection. With a quick prep time of just 20 minutes and a bake time of 25 minutes, this easy-to-make recipe is perfect for feeding a crowd or meal prepping for the week. Serve this cheesy, flavor-packed casserole alongside a crisp green salad or garlic bread for an irresistible dinner everyone will love.

Nutriscore Rating: 57/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:45 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz pasta (penne or rotini)
• 1 lb ground Italian sausage
• 24 oz marinara sauce
• 1 cup sliced pepperoni
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 0.5 cup shredded parmesan cheese
• 1 green bell pepper, chopped
• 0.5 cup black olives, sliced
• 1 yellow onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp salt
• 0.5 tsp black pepper

Directions

Step 1

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

Step 2

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

Step 3

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and bell pepper, cooking until softened, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 5

Add the ground Italian sausage to the skillet. Cook, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned and fully cooked through. Drain any excess grease if necessary.

Step 6

Stir in the marinara sauce, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes to combine the flavors.

Step 7

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the sausage and marinara mixture. Stir until the pasta is fully coated.

Step 8

Transfer half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Spread it out evenly, then sprinkle with half of the mozzarella cheese, half of the parmesan cheese, half of the pepperoni slices, and half of the black olives.

Step 9

Add the remaining pasta mixture on top and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, pepperoni slices, and black olives over the top.

Step 10

Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Step 11

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

Step 12

Let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving. Enjoy your Pizza Pasta Casserole!

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2323.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4568.5

Total Fat 333.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 128.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g
Cholesterol 776.9mg	0%
Sodium 13954.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 177.3g	0%
Dietary Fiber 19.7g	0%
Total Sugars 24.1g
Protein 211.6g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 2435.0mg	0%
Iron 17.3mg	0%
Potassium 2671.4mg	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: 65.9%

Protein: 18.6%

Carbs: 15.6%