Kid Friendly Pizza Casserole

pepperoni pizza pasta casserole in a cast iron pan.

5 from 2 votes

Pizza casserole takes under 30 minutes to make, It's my kids favorite pizza dish and is so family loved that its kept on rotation. This quick and easy pizza meal will have everyone saying YUM and MORE PLEASE. Pepperoni pizza casserole is a main dish pasta meal that is family friendly and feeds a crowd. Combining penne or rotini pasta, pepperoni, pasta sauce and cheese makes for a perfect weeknight meal that will please the whole family. Absolutely perfect as a family friendly meal, you can make this dish your own by adding or subtracting peppers, onions or topping with even more cheese. Practically dump and bake, pizza casserole also makes a great freeze ahead recipe as well as flavorful left overs.

Prep Time20 mins

Cook Time10 mins

Total Time30 mins

Course: Pasta

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: kid friendly, main dish, pasta side dish, pizza casserole, pizza hot dish, side dish

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 oven to 350.
Cook pasta according to package directions, Drain and set aside.
In a skillet, add sausage and heat until brown. Drain excess grease if necessary.
Stir in garlic, diced up onion and chopped green pepper.
Cook an additional 3-5 minutes to allow for ingredients to soften.
Stir in pepperoni, cooked and drained pasta and tomato sauce. Mix well.
Top with mozzarella cheese.
Place cast iron skillet into oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until cheese is melted and it's heated through.
Top pizza casserole with a little extra Parmesan cheese or your favorite pizza toppings.

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