Kid Friendly Pizza Casserole

pepperoni pizza pasta casserole in a cast iron pan.

5 from 7 votes

Kid Friendly Pizza Casserole

Alright, pizza lovers! Pizza casserole takes under 30 minutes to make; it's my kid's favorite pizza dish and is so family-loved that it's kept on rotation. Get ready to whip up a mouthwatering dish that combines the magic of pizza with the comfort of a casserole. This Pizza Pasta Bake, often referred to as Pizza Pepperoni Casserole, is bound to be your new family favorite.

Prep Time20

Cook Time10

Total Time30

Course: Casseroles, Pasta Recipes

Cuisine: Italian

Servings: people

Calories: 447kcal

Author: Trisha Haas - Salty Side Dish

Ingredients

8 oz. rotini pasta cooked and drained
1/2 lb ground Italian sausage cooked
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 green bell pepper chopped
1 cup pepperoni slices
14 oz. pizza sauce jar- any flavor
1 cup mozzarella cheese

Instructions

Preheat the Oven Like a Pro: Get things sizzling by preheating your oven to 350°F. You're setting the stage for a mouth-watering pizza casserole!
Pasta Time: Now, grab that box of rotini pasta. Cook it as the package suggests because they know their stuff. Once it's cooked to al dente perfection, drain it and set it aside. This twisty pasta is ideal for our pizza casserole as it grabs onto the sauce and toppings.
In your trusty cast iron pan (or any pan you have on hand), toss in cooked ground sausage. Let it sizzle and cook until it's gorgeously brown. If the sausage is too greasy, drain off the excess. This ensures your pizza pasta bake isn't swimming in oil.
Add in garlic, chopped onions, and green peppers. Let everything mingle and cook together for about 3-5 minutes. We want those onions and peppers to soften, soaking in all the flavors.
Now for the fun part! Stir in those delicious slices of pepperoni, cooked pasta, and tomato sauce. Mix it all up until everything's hugging each other in that pan.
Layer that mozzarella on top. Don't be shy – the cheesier, the better.
Bake that Pizza Pasta Bake: Carefully place the pan into the preheated oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes. Keep an eye on it until the cheese is melted, and everything is bubbling.
Serve: Once out of the oven, sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese for a sharp bite. Try adding black olives, cooked sliced mushrooms, or any of your top-tier pizza ingredients. Maybe some chili flakes for a kick? Customize it to your heart's content!

Notes

Can pizza Casserole be frozen?

Yes, this dish can be prepped up until the point where cheese is added (but don’t add it), covered and frozen. Prior to eating, just unfreeze overnight (fridge natural thaw works great) and bake (versus skillet) in a 350 degree oven for up to an hour.

Add cheese in the final 10 minutes of baking.

Final cooking times will vary and the baked pasta dish is ready once everything is hot and melty through the center.

Is there a substitute for pasta in this dish?

Many people like using broccoli or cauliflower to substitute as pasta in dishes for nutritional needs like keto or low carb. That is fine to do, however, it certainly won't be the same meal.

Nutrition