Easy Pizza Casserole
 
Prep time
Cook time
Total time
 
A super simple dinner that even picky eaters usually love! I mean, how can you go wrong with pizza toppings and flavors in every bite?
Author:
Recipe type: Casserole
Serves: 8-10
Ingredients
  • 1 lb box of spiral pasta (or penne pasta), cooked al dente according to package directions
  • 1 26 ounce can of spaghetti sauce or 3½ cups leftover homemade spaghetti sauce
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp basil
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • pinch red pepper flakes
  • 1 lb cooked ground beef or cooked Italian Sausage (If using ground beef, be sure to salt and pepper while cooking.)
  • 6-8 ounces pepperoni slices
  • 1 15 ounce can black olives, sliced
  • Optional add-ins: Cooked bacon crumbles, diced ham, sliced cheese sticks, canned mushrooms
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray, line the bottom of it with pepperoni slices, and set aside.
  2. In a large pot or the pot you cooked the pasta in (so you don't dirty another dish), combine the cooked pasta, the spaghetti sauce, the cooked beef or sausage, the olives, the garlic powder, dried basil, salt, and red pepper flakes. Mix well. Add sliced cheese sticks at this point and mix again.
  3. Pour into the prepared pan, and then top with another layer of pepperoni (if you have enough), or you can chop up a few pieces and sprinkle them on with the cheese as I did in the pictures.
  4. Cheese is the final layer. You can choose to wait to add the cheese until the last 10-15 minutes of cooking time, if desired. If not, make sure to spray the foil with cooking spray so it won't stick to the cheese as it melts.
  5. Cover with aluminum foil and bake casserole at 350 degrees for 40-60 minutes or until casserole is heated through. If the prepared casserole has been refrigerated before cooking, it will need an additional 20 minutes of cooking time.
  6. Enjoy!
Recipe by Real Life Dinner at https://reallifedinner.com/easy-pizza-casserole/