Pizza Pasta Casserole, loaded with pepperoni and sausage, then topped with gooey cheese, is a new twist on pizza night! Now, you don’t have to choose between pizza and pasta with this one-pan dish. This is a great recipe when you want to get supper on the table fast, plus it is freezer-friendly.
Serve with Puffed Pastry Cheese Straws and Tomato Cucumber Avocado Salad for an easy meal that comes together in about 30 minutes.
In This Post
Why You’ll Love This Easy To Make Pasta Bake
If your family shares the same passion as mine, pizza and pasta are likely favorites. With this pasta casserole recipe, I’ve merged the best of both worlds into a delectable pizza pasta casserole. It boasts the rich taste of Italian sausage and pepperoni, slowly cooked in a luscious homemade marinara sauce.
As if that’s not enticing enough, it’s garnished with cheese and an extra layer of pepperoni, then baked until it’s hot and bubbly. The cherry on top? This delicious, wholesome dish is ready in just 30 minutes!
What You’ll Need To Make This Pizza Casserole Recipe
- Rotini Pasta – bowtie pasta, or penne pasta works great for this recipe.
- Italian Sausage
- Sliced Pepperoni
- Crushed Tomatoes – spaghetti sauce is a good substitute.
- Italian Seasoning – dried oregano and dried basil can also be used.
- Garlic
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
Favorite Pizza Toppings To Add
Make this recipe your own by adding some of your favorite pizza toppings! Here are some ideas:
- Spicy sausage, ham, ground beef, bacon.
- Cheddar cheese, Jack Cheese.
- Spinach, pineapple, green or red peppers, sliced onions, mushrooms, black olives.
How To Make The Best Pizza Pasta Dish
- Heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cook pasta according to box directions, minus 2 minutes. Drain.
- Add olive oil to a large skillet. Cook Italian sausage until no longer pink. Drain. Remove any additional grease in the skillet and add sausage back in, along with minced garlic.
- Carefully pour crushed tomatoes into pan, and stir to incorporate. Add in chopped pepperoni and simmer meat sauce for 5 to 8 minutes. Add in cooked pasta and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle Mozzarella cheese over the marinara meat mixture and layer on pepperoni slices. Place in oven and bake for 8 – 10 minutes until cheese is melted and golden brown.
- Remove from oven. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.
What To Serve With Pizza Casserole With Pasta
- Starters or Appetizers: Antipasto Skewers, Easy Stuffed Mushrooms.
- Salads: Everyday Green Salad, Caprese Salad.
- Bread: Garlic Parmesan Skillet Rolls, Easy Garlic Knots
Helpful Tips
For this pizza casserole recipe, feel free to use any pasta variety you prefer or already have in your pantry.
- Flavor Enhancements: Crave a spicier kick? Mix regular Italian sausage with hot sausage or sprinkle in some red pepper flakes for that extra zing.
- Sauce Selection: While I love using crushed tomatoes for my homemade pizza sauce, jarred sauce is a convenient alternative.
- Leftovers: store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: This dish is perfect for freezing. After covering it with plastic wrap or foil the casserole can be frozen for up to 3 months. Remember to let it thaw in the fridge before you preheat the oven. Transfer it to a baking dish sprayed lightly with cooking spray, then bake until it’s thoroughly heated.
More Comfort Food Recipes You’ll Love!
Ingredients
- 1 16 ounce box Rotini pasta
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 2 cloves garlic – minced
- 1 24 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ cup chopped pepperoni slices
- ¾ cup Mozzarella cheese – shredded
- 8 – 10 pieces sliced pepperoni
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese – grated
Instructions
- Heat oven to 375 degrees.
- Cook pasta according to box directions minus 2 minutes. Drain.
- Add olive oil to a large skillet. Cook Italian sausage until no longer pink. Drain. Remove any additional grease in skillet and add sausage back in along with minced garlic. Carefully pour crushed tomatoes into pan and stir to incorporate. Add in chopped pepperoni and simmer meat sauce for 5 to 8 minutes. Add in cooked pasta and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle Mozzarella cheese over marinara meat mixture and layer on pepperoni slices. Place in oven and bake for 8 – 10 minutes until cheese is melted and golden brown.
- Remove from oven. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve.
Video
Notes
- Leftovers: store any leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freezing: This dish is perfect for freezing. After covering it with plastic wrap or foil, it can be frozen for up to 3 months. Remember to let it thaw in the fridge before you preheat the oven. Transfer it to a baking dish sprayed lightly with cooking spray, then bake until it’s thoroughly heated.
Nutrition
Donya's Top Ten Summer Recipes!
Steal my favorites for a done-for-you menu that packs in the flavor
Made this tonite. It was a hit! My husband who is a critic on my cooking loved it! My son had seconds. Yum! Thank you for your recipes.
Kathy, you are so welcome!
~Donya
Delicious and easy recipe! Just like a wonderful pasta dish I used to get at a local restaurant that closed years ago, and now I can make it anytime myself. Thanks and I look forward to trying the other great recipes on your site!
Awesome! Thanks so much.
~Donya
Is there something you might recommend in place of the Italian sausage? I’ve been looking for it at my grocery for another recipe and they are just not getting it in. Thank you!
Hey there Jennie!
Thanks for your interest in this recipe, that’s a great question! If you can’t find any Italian Sausage, you can really use any kind of ground sausage you have available. I think using chorizo would give the dish good flavor and heat, or you could use a ground breakfast sausage with compatible flavors. Another option would be to just not include any sausage at all, since you’re putting pepperoni in already you don’t necessarily need to add another protein. I hope you enjoy this recipe, let me know what you think if you end up trying it! Thank you for your support!
~Donya
Hi Donya,
This looks like amazing comfort food. And I love a screened in porch. I’ve never been able to have one but maybe someday! I hope you will really enjoy yours. Thanks for all the hard work you do running a southern soul I love the recipes and the pictures and how they give me inspiration to cook.
Oh, my goodness, Jane. You’ve made my heart sing.
Your kind words are just the balm I need to get working on some new recipes.
Have a wonderful weekend,
~Donya