The recipe prices will vary based on fluctuating grocery costs. Please use what is posted as a guide.
This Pizza Casserole recipe is loaded with rotini pasta, pizza toppings, and plenty of melted mozzarella cheese. It’s a family favorite that’s easy to make and feeds a crowd!
Our Pizza Casserole costs $14.10 to make eight servings. That works out to be just $1.76 per serving.
Serve this casserole alongside our Caesar Salad for a complete meal. Or try our Cheeseburger French Fry Casserole for another delicious casserole option.
Pizza night is a favorite at our houses. Whether we make our Pizza Grilled Cheese Sandwich recipe, our 1 Hour Pepperoni Pizza, or our Pepperoni Pizza Rolls, we love it all!
Today we’re sharing one more pizza dish to add to your rotation. This Pepperoni Pizza Casserole tastes like your favorite loaded pizza but in yummy pasta casserole form!
This is a simple meal that is packed full of flavor that’s kid-tested and kid-approved! Your family will be requesting this casserole often. We love that it takes just ten minutes of prep time to make this casserole.
Table of Contents
Ingredients and Cost
RECIPE COST: $14.10
PRICE PER SERVING: $1.76
- 1 pound pasta – $0.82
- 1 pound ground beef – $3.01
- 1/2 cup yellow onion – $0.31
- 2 large garlic cloves – $0.06
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning – $0.39
- 24-ounce jar marinara sauce – $1.28
- 1 cup pepperoni – $2.38
- 1/2 cup parmesan – $0.99
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese – $2.10
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper – $0.29
- 4-ounce can sliced mushrooms – $1.08
- 2.25-ounce can sliced black olives – $1.39
To find out more about how we price our recipes, check out Budget Recipes Explained.
Instructions
- First, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Then spray a 13×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set it aside.
- Next, cook the pasta and drain. Then cook the meat, onion, and pepper.
- Add the garlic and Italian seasoning and cook for an additional minute.
- Assemble the casserole and bake for 25-30 minutes.
- Finally, let the casserole sit for five minutes before serving.
Recipe Variations and Substitutions
- You can substitute Italian sausage for the ground beef.
- Add in extra veggies such as zucchini or onions.
- Feel free to use any type of pasta that you’d like ziti, shells, even gluten-free pasta.
Storage Tips
Serve: As with most recipes with dairy products in them, you shouldn’t leave this casserole out for longer than 2 hours.
Store: Cover and store the casserole in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
Freeze: Once the casserole is cooled, cover with two layers of plastic wrap and foil. Freeze for 3 months.
Reheat: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or at room temperature for 4-5 hours. Place the casserole in a 350-degree oven for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
Cook’s Tools
- 13×9-inch baking dish
- measuring cups
- medium pot
- large skillet
- cutting board
- chef’s knife
- large mixing bowl
- colander
Get Kids Involved
Ages 2-3: Have your child help you layer the ingredients for the casserole in the baking dish.
Ages 4-5: Your child can help you stir together the pasta sauce, meat, pasta, mushrooms, and olives. Also, start to show them how to open tin cans.
Ages 6-8: Teach your child how to use a meat masher to brown the meat in a skillet. It might be a good idea to have them wear an oven mitt just in case some grease flies from the pan.
Ages 9-11: Supervise them while they prepare the entire recipe. Remember to have them read it twice before beginning the recipe.
Ages 12+: Let them prepare the entire recipe, unsupervised, while you do the happy dance in the corner!
Budget Tips
We like to buy our meat in bulk at Costco and then freeze it in sections to use as needed in various recipes like this one.
More $15 recipes:
- American Goulash
- Cheesy Baked Spaghetti
- Cindy’s Easy Sausage Gumbo
- Dorito Taco Salad
- Easy Baked Pork Chops with Apples
- Tater Tot Casserole
- Green Chile Enchilada Casserole
- Homemade Chicken Fingers
- Mexican Lasagna
- One Pan Cheesy Broccoli Chicken Rice
Pizza Casserole
Equipment
- 13×9-inch baking dish
- measuring cups
- medium pot
- large skillet
- cutting board
- chef's knife
- large mixing bowl
- Colander
Ingredients
- 1 pound rotini pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage or ground beef
- ½ cup yellow onion finely diced
- 2 large cloves garlic minced
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 24 ounce jar marinara sauce
- 1 cup pepperoni mini or regular size, divided
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese divided
- ½ cup chopped green bell pepper
- 4 ounce can sliced mushrooms drained
- 2.25 ounce can sliced black olives drained
FOR SERVING:
- fresh chopped parsley
- fresh chopped basil
Instructions
PREP OVEN AND PAN:
- Move the oven rack to the middle position and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray a 13×9 baking dish with cooking spray.
COOK PASTA, MEAT, AND VEGGIES:
- Cook the pasta according to the box directions, drain.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook Italian sausage over medium heat.
- Just before the sausage is completely cooked, add onion and cook for about 3-4 minutes.
- If you are adding green pepper, add in with the onion and cook until softened.
- Add garlic and Italian seasoning and continue cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Remove from heat and drain grease off if necessary.
ASSEMBLE CASSEROLE:
- Add meat to a large bowl.
- Pour in pasta sauce and ¾ cup of pepperoni.
- Add in mushroom and olives, if using.
- Stir to combine well.
- Add drained pasta and stir to combine.
- Add about ½ of the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle ½ of the Parmesan cheese and ½ of the mozzarella cheese to the top.
- Repeat with the remaining pasta and cheese.
- Add the remaining pepperoni to the top.
BAKE:
- Bake for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly and the cheese is melted.
COOL AND SERVE:
- Remove the casserole from the oven and let it sit for about 5 minutes before serving.
- Serve with additional parsley and basil if desired.
Nellie Tracy says
Fantastic casserole. My kids love it! Makes for a great weeknight dinner!
Raquel says
This came out wonderfully and was a great budget meal idea!
Betty Perez says
Sounds easy and good that’s what I look for