Craving that delicious pizza flavor? Try this easy pepperoni pizza casserole recipe that’s perfect for a stress-free family dinner on busy weeknights.
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When it comes to quick and easy dinners, pizza and pasta rank pretty high in our home. So, I decided to combine these two meals into one delicious dish so we could enjoy our two favorite dinners together, and it was a hit with everyone in my family.
This pepperoni pizza casserole has all the delicious flavors of your favorite pizza, but served with penne pasta for a hearty casserole that is perfect for a no-fuss family dinner any day of the week. Plus, it’s great when you are craving that pizza flavor but want to save money on delivery.
Why You Will Love This Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
- Perfect for busy weeknights, because it’s a quick and easy recipe that takes minutes to make.
- Family-friendly recipe, as even picky eaters love this tasty dish.
- Budget-friendly because it’s made with simple ingredients like pasta, jarred sauce, cheese, and seasonings you probably have in your pantry.
- Customizable, as you can add your favorite pizza toppings like veggies, sausage, or different types of cheese.
- Great make-ahead freezer meal as it reheats easily and can be stored for up to 2 months in the freezer.
- It can be enjoyed for a family dinner or even a game day dish, making it perfect for parties or get-togethers with family and friends.
Looking for more family-friendly dinner ideas?
- Easy 3 Meat French Bread Pizza
- Shortcut Chicken Parmesan Bake
- Easy Layered Nacho Casserole
- Sheet Pan BBQ Chicken Nachos
Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
Ingredients for Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
This pizza casserole is frugal, delicious, and perfect for family meals. With just a few simple ingredients, you can have it on the table in about 30 minutes.
You will need:
- Penne
- Pasta Sauce
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Parmesan Cheese
- Pepperoni
- Garlic powder
- Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper
How to Make Easy Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
- Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Boil the penne pasta according to the package directions. Drain and return to the pot.
- Stir in the pasta sauce, cut the pepperoni into pieces (saving some slices for the top), and add garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Add half of the shredded mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese, and combine.
- Spread the pasta into the baking dish and sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella cheese, and arrange the leftover pepperoni slices on top.
- Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning and the rest of the Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Variations:
- Add in some veggies like chopped onions, mushrooms, or bell peppers to make a supreme pizza casserole.
- Try a mixture of different meats. Add cooked Italian sausage, ground beef, bacon, or ham.
- Prefer a white pizza version, you can use alfredo sauce instead of tomato sauce, then add some spinach, ricotta, and some grilled chicken.
- Use homemade pasta sauce instead of jarred sauce.
Helpful Tips:
- You can make this recipe healthier by using turkey pepperoni and part-skim mozzarella cheese.
- Try to use a brick of mozzarella cheese and shred it yourself instead of the packaged pre-shredded cheese, because it will melt better.
- Double the recipe and eat one and freeze one for dinner at a later time- perfect for busy nights!
- If you want your pepperoni to be crispy, you can broil it for 1-2 minutes, but watch closely because it can get too brown.
- Don’t skip the cooling time, as letting the casserole sit for 5 minutes or so allows it to set up and makes serving the dish easier.
- Serve this tasty casserole with garlic bread or breadsticks. As well as a side salad, green beans, or zucchini.
Storage and Leftovers:
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- You can also freeze this casserole. Just make sure you let it cool completely before you put it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- To reheat from the refrigerator, you can microwave or reheat in the oven to warm. Thaw overnight if it’s frozen, then bake covered at 350° for 20-30 minutes.
Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
This easy pepperoni pizza casserole combines penne pasta, sauce, mozzarella cheese, and pepperoni for a quick, family-friendly dinner idea for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
- 16 ounce- box penne pasta
- 1 jar pasta sauce your choice
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1 package sliced pepperoni (quartered) save some sliced for the top
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉ and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- Boil your penne pasta according to the package directions. Drain and return to the pot.
- Stir in the pasta sauce, cut the pepperoni into pieces (save some of the slices for the top). Add the garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
- Combine half of the shredded mozzarella cheese and half of the parmesan cheese, and add to the pasta mixture.
- Spread the pasta into the baking dish. Add the remaining mozzarella and pepperoni slices on top.
- Sprinkle with the Italian seasoning and the rest of the Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Variations:
- Add in some veggies like chopped onions, mushrooms, or bell peppers to make a supreme pizza casserole.
- Try a mixture of different meats. Add cooked Italian sausage, ground beef, bacon, or ham.
- Prefer a white pizza version, you can use alfredo sauce instead of tomato sauce, then add some spinach, ricotta, and some grilled chicken.
- Use homemade pasta sauce instead of jarred sauce.
Helpful Tips:
- You can make this recipe healthier by using turkey pepperoni and part-skim mozzarella cheese.
- Try to use a brick of mozzarella cheese and shred it yourself instead of the packaged pre-shredded cheese, because it will melt better.
- Double the recipe and eat one and freeze one for dinner at a later time- perfect for busy nights!
- If you want your pepperoni to be crispy, you can broil it for 1-2 minutes, but watch closely because it can get too brown.
- Don't skip the cooling time, as letting the casserole sit for 5 minutes or so allows it to set up and makes serving the dish easier.
- Serve this tasty casserole with garlic bread or breadsticks. As well as a side salad, green beans, or zucchini.
Storage and Leftovers
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- You can also freeze this casserole. Just make sure you let it cool completely before you put it in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- To reheat from the refrigerator, you can microwave or reheat in the oven to warm. Thaw overnight if it's frozen, then bake covered at 350° for 20-30 minutes.
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