Meat Lover’s Pizza Casserole

 

Meat Lover’s Pizza Casserole

This hearty baked pasta casserole brings together all the bold, savory flavors of a meat lover’s pizza in one easy, crowd-pleasing dish. Packed with ground beef, Italian sausage, pepperoni, crispy bacon, rich marinara sauce, and a generous blanket of melted cheese, it's the ultimate comfort food for family dinners, game days, or potlucks. Serve it with a simple green salad and garlic bread for a complete meal that everyone will love.
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Course: Casserole, Comfort Food, Family Dinner, Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8
Calories: 407 kcal per serving

Ingredients

• ½ lb ground beef

• ½ lb Italian sausage (casings removed if needed)

• 8 oz rotini or penne pasta, cooked and drained

• 2 cups marinara or pizza sauce

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided

• ½ cup pepperoni slices

• ½ cup cooked bacon, crumbled (optional)

• ½ cup shredded cheddar or provolone cheese (optional)

• ½ cup sliced black olives (optional)

• ½ cup sliced mushrooms (optional)

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

• ½ tsp garlic powder

• ¼ tsp black pepper

• Salt, to taste
  

  Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare the baking dish: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or a little oil.

  2. Cook the meats: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon as it browns. Continue cooking until no longer pink.

  3. Drain and add pepperoni: Drain the excess fat from the skillet thoroughly. Stir in the pepperoni slices and crumbled bacon (if using), and cook for 1–2 minutes, just until heated through.

  4. Build the sauce: Stir in the marinara or pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt to taste. Let the sauce simmer gently for 2–3 minutes to blend the flavors.

  5. Combine pasta and sauce: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, the meat sauce, and 1 cup of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Stir well until every piece of pasta is evenly coated in the saucy mixture.

  6. Assemble the casserole: Transfer the pasta mixture to your prepared baking dish and spread it into an even layer.

  7. Top with cheese and extras: Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. If using, add the cheddar or provolone, along with the sliced olives and mushrooms.

  8. Bake (covered): Cover the dish loosely with foil and bake for 15 minutes.

  9. Bake (uncovered) and finish: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10–15 minutes, until the casserole is bubbly around the edges and the cheese on top is melted and lightly golden.

  10. Rest and serve: Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This allows the layers to set and makes it easier to portion out.
      

      Notes

      • Pasta tip: Cook the pasta just shy of al dente (about 1–2 minutes less than the package directions) so it holds its texture and doesn't become mushy during baking.

      • For a pizza-like finish: Scatter a few extra pepperoni slices over the cheese before the final bake—they'll crisp up slightly and look just like a pizza topping.

      • Make it ahead: You can assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance, cover, and refrigerate. When ready to bake, you may need to add 5–10 extra minutes to the cooking time since it will be going into the oven cold.
        

        Nutrition (per serving)

        • Calories: 407 kcal

        • Carbohydrates: 15g

        • Protein: 22.9g

        • Fat: 27.4g

        • Saturated Fat: 11.8g

        • Trans Fat: 0.1g

        • Cholesterol: 76mg

        • Sodium: 525mg

        • Fiber: 1.3g

        • Sugar: 3.1g