Deluxe Pizza Casserole

If you love the flavor of pizza but want something that’s easier to share, less messy and perfect for a comforting dinner, then this Deluxe Pizza Casserole is your kind of dish. It’s all the best parts of a pizza—pepperoni, sausage, bell peppers, olives, creamy sauce and gooey cheese—transformed into a hearty bake that you can serve straight from the oven.

Behind the Recipe

One night I was craving pizza but didn’t want to wait on delivery or deal with individual pies. I remembered a pasta‑bake version I’d seen, and I assembled this version with all my favorite pizza toppings plus a creamy sauce and pasta instead of crust. The result? A one‑dish meal that hits all the pizza notes—cheese pull, toppings, sauce—without the fuss of crust. It quickly became a weeknight favourite.

Recipe Origin or Trivia

This casserole is essentially a pizza‑inspired pasta bake: combining pizza toppings with baked pasta and cheese. According to one version from the editors at Southern Living, it’s an homage to “everyone’s favourite pie” packaged into a casserole. Southern Living Such recipes have become popular as comfort food for families who want the taste of pizza but in a form that serves more easily and reheats well.

Why You’ll Love Deluxe Pizza Casserole

• Pizza flavour, simpler prep: All the familiar toppings and cheese, but easier to share.
• Feeds a crowd: Great for families or dinner with friends.
• One‑dish ease: Minimal cleanup compared with making many individual pizzas.
• Highly customisable: Swap toppings, adjust spice level, add veggies.
• Leftover friendly: Reheats well or can even be made ahead.

Chef’s Pro Tips for Perfect Results

• Brown your sausage (or meat) and sauté veggies first—this builds real flavour.
• Use pasta shapes with tubes or twists (like rigatoni or fusilli) so sauce and cheese cling well. (See Southern Living tip: rigatoni works nicely.) Southern Living
• Don’t overload with sauce—enough to coat, but not swim the pasta.
• Use a blend of cheeses if you can: fresh mozzarella, shredded mozzarella, Parmesan for depth.
• Let the casserole rest 5 minutes after baking before serving so it sets slightly—cheese will pull perfectly and slices will hold.
• If you’re prepping ahead, assemble and refrigerate, then bake when needed. Many sources indicate make‑ahead is fine. Tastes Better From Scratch+1

Kitchen Tools You’ll Need

• Large skillet for browning meats & sautéing vegetables
• Large pot for cooking pasta
• 9 × 13‑inch baking dish (or equivalent)
• Mixing bowl for combining pasta, sauce and toppings
• Ovenproof dish and oven pre‑heated to bake

Ingredients in Deluxe Pizza Casserole

Here’s a full list of what you’ll need:

• Pasta: 12 oz to 16 oz (rigatoni, penne, fusilli)
• Italian sausage: 1 lb (ground or removed from casings)
• Ground beef or alternate meat: optional, ½‑1 lb
• Pepperoni slices: ½ to 1 cup (chopped if desired)
• Bell peppers: 1 red + 1 green, chopped
• Onion: ½ medium, chopped
• Mushrooms: ~8 oz baby portobello or regular, sliced
• Black olives: ~1 cup sliced
• Marinara or pizza sauce: ~26 to 30 oz jar (or homemade equivalent)
• Cheese sauce base (optional): butter, flour, half‑and‑half or milk (if you’re doing a richer version)
• Mozzarella cheese: 2 cups shredded + 8 oz fresh, shredded or torn
• Parmesan cheese: ½ cup grated
• Italian seasoning / dried oregano / basil / red pepper flakes: to taste
• Salt & pepper: to taste
• Olive oil: for sautéing

Ingredient Substitutions

• Use ground turkey or chicken instead of sausage for a leaner version.
• Swap in gluten‑free pasta if needed.
• Use vegetarian sausage or skip the meat entirely for a veggie version.
• Use jarred pizza sauce or simple marinara—both work.
• Add extra veggies: zucchini, spinach, broccoli—just lightly sauté first so it doesn’t water down the casserole.

Instructions for Making Deluxe Pizza Casserole

1. Preheat: Set oven to 350 °F (175 °C) and grease your 9×13‑inch dish.
2. Cook pasta: Boil pasta until just al dente, drain and set aside.
3. Brown meat & veggies: In a large skillet, heat olive oil and cook sausage (and/or beef) until browned. Add onion, bell peppers, mushrooms, olives and sauté until softened. Add pepperoni if using.
4. Add sauce & seasoning: Stir in marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Let simmer a few minutes.
5. Combine pasta & sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta and the meat‑veggie‑sauce mixture. Mix well.
6. Layer in baking dish: Pour half the pasta mixture into the greased dish, sprinkle half the shredded mozzarella, then add remaining pasta mixture. Top with remaining mozzarella, fresh mozzarella, Parmesan and final pepperoni slices.
7. Bake: Bake uncovered for ~25‑30 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbling. If you like extra browning, broil the last 2‑3 minutes.
8. Rest & serve: Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Serve warm, perhaps with a simple green salad or garlic bread.

Texture & Flavor Secrets

The creamy sauce coating the pasta, the savory sausage, the snap of bell peppers, the salty pepperoni, the richness of melted mozzarella, all come together to mimic the experience of eating a pizza slice—but in scoopable casserole form. The cheese pull, the crispy pepperoni edges, the hearty pasta beneath—it’s all the pleasure of pizza with better practicality.

Cooking Tips & Tricks

• If you’re making ahead: assemble the casserole, cover tightly and refrigerate up to 24 hours before baking. Add 10‑15 minutes extra bake time if cold. Tastes Better From Scratch+1
• For freezing: Once cooled, cover and freeze for up to 2‑3 months. Thaw overnight in fridge before baking.
• To sneak veggies in: sauté finely chopped zucchini or spinach with the onion for extra nutrition without altering the “pizza” feel.
• Use tube‑shaped pasta (rigatoni, penne) so sauce clings well and it holds up baked.
• For crisp pepperoni edges: add some pepperoni slices only on top right before baking.

What to Avoid

• Don’t overcook pasta; it will become mushy after baking.
• Avoid skipping the sautéing of veggies and meat—it adds real flavour depth.
• Don’t assemble too far in advance without storing chilled—it may release too much liquid.
• Don’t bake at too high a temperature; cheese will burn before everything is warmed through.

Nutrition Facts (approximate)

Servings: 8
Calories per serving: ~550‑650 (varies with cheeses and toppings) Tastes Better From Scratch+1
Note: This is a treat dish—rich, comforting, and arguably indulgent.

Preparation Time

Prep Time: ~20 minutes
Cook Time: ~25‑30 minutes (plus pasta & sauté time)
Total Time: ~50‑60 minutes

Make‑Ahead and Storage Tips

Leftovers store well. Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 3‑4 days. Reheat in oven at 350 °F until warmed through. For freezing: store in freezer‑safe dish, thaw overnight in fridge, then bake.

How to Serve Deluxe Pizza Casserole

Serve warm, family‑style, straight from the baking dish. Pair with a crisp mixed green salad dressed in vinaigrette to cut through richness. Garlic bread or a simple herb‑buttered bread on the side works well.

Creative Leftover Transformations

• Use cooled leftovers as filling for stuffed bell peppers, adding extra sauce and baking.
• Turn into pasta salad by mixing with light vinaigrette, fresh basil and cherry tomatoes for a cold twist.
• Serve as a lunch‑box portion and reheat at work for a pizza‑style treat.

Variations to Try

• Meat‑Lovers Deluxe: Add ground beef, Italian sausage, bacon bits, extra pepperoni.
• Veggie Deluxe: Skip meats, add mushrooms, olives, roasted peppers, zucchini, spinach.
• Spicy Deluxe: Use hot Italian sausage, add jalapeños or red pepper flakes.
• White Sauce Pizza Casserole: Use Alfredo or béchamel instead of marinara for a rich white pizza style.
• Gluten‑Free Version: Use gluten‑free pasta and check sausage/pepperoni labels for gluten.

FAQ’s

Q1: Can I skip pasta and use something else?
A1: Yes. Use cauliflower rice for low‑carb, or skip pasta and bake the toppings in a crust‑less form.
Q2: Can I make it vegetarian?
A2: Absolutely. Use vegetarian sausage or skip meat and load with veggies.
Q3: Can this be frozen?
A3: Yes—assemble or even bake, then freeze. Thaw before baking or reheating. Tastes Better From Scratch
Q4: Can I use homemade pizza dough instead?
A4: You could adapt it, but then it becomes more like a pizza bake than casserole. The beauty of this is pasta + toppings.
Q5: What size dish should I use?
A5: A 9×13‑inch (or equivalent ~3‑quart) baking dish works well to serve 8.

Conclusion

Deluxe Pizza Casserole is comfort food at its finest: all the bold, familiar flavours of pizza—sausage, pepperoni, melted cheese, veggies, sauce—combined in a hearty, easy‑to‑serve bake. Whether for weeknight dinners, potlucks or casual gatherings, this dish brings warmth, flavour and satisfaction to the table. So preheat your oven, gather those pizza toppings you love, and get ready to dish up something everyone will go back for seconds.

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