Pizza Casserole

Name: Pizza Casserole
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: Salt for pasta cooking water; Cooking spray for greasing; 16 ounces dry penne pasta; 8 ounces Italian sausage links; 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped; 1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped; 1/2 small red onion, chopped; 4 ounces baby bella mushrooms, trimmed and sliced; 1/4 cup black olives, sliced; 24 ounces marinara sauce; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; 1 teaspoon dried basil; 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese; 4 ounces pepperoni slices

Recipe GLPR2fe531bc394646

Italian

Main Course

50 min

Oven

Stovetop

A hearty, comforting baked pasta dish that brings together the beloved flavors of pizza in casserole form. Tender penne is tossed with seasoned marinara sauce, Italian sausage, fresh vegetables, and pepperoni, then topped with melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for feeding a crowd and great for meal prep.

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Ingredients

Salt for pasta cooking water

Cooking spray for greasing

16 ounces dry penne pasta

8 ounces Italian sausage links

1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1/2 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

1/2 small red onion, chopped

4 ounces baby bella mushrooms, trimmed and sliced

1/4 cup black olives, sliced

24 ounces marinara sauce

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon dried basil

1 teaspoon dried oregano

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

4 ounces pepperoni slices

Directions

Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly coat a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray and set aside.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the dry penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain well and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, brown the Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks, until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F for ground sausage or is heated through if using pre-cooked links (approximately 8-10 minutes). Drain excess fat if needed.
In the same skillet, add the chopped red and green bell peppers, red onion, and sliced mushrooms. Sauté over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and the mushrooms release their moisture.
Stir in the marinara sauce, black olives, garlic powder, dried basil, and dried oregano. Mix well and simmer for 2-3 minutes to combine flavors.
In a large bowl, combine the cooked penne pasta with the sausage and vegetable mixture. Add half of the pepperoni slices and stir gently to distribute evenly throughout.
Pour the pasta mixture into the prepared casserole dish and spread it into an even layer. Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
Distribute the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the Parmesan layer. Top with the remaining pepperoni slices.
Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden on top.
Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Divide among 8 servings and enjoy.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff4

This hits the sweet spot for a busy weeknight in Charlotte: all ingredients are standard at any major chain, with penne, sausage, bell peppers, mushrooms, and both cheeses readily available at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Kroger, or Walmart. At roughly $1.20 to $1.50 per serving, it's driven by the dual cheeses and pepperoni, which is reasonable for a hearty casserole that feeds four to six. The stated 50 minutes ignores browning the sausage and chopping vegetables, so expect closer to 65 minutes total, though most of that is passive oven time. It reheats well and is genuinely set-it-and-forget-it during the bake, making it ideal for families with schedules—no constant stirring or attention required, though it does demand an oven.