Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole – All Your Favorite Flavors Baked Into One Hearty Dish
This is the ultimate comfort meal for pizza fans—cheesy, saucy, and packed with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and ground beef, layered with pasta for a filling twist on classic pizza.
Ingredients:
3 cups cooked pasta (penne or rotini work great)
1/2 lb ground beef
1/2 lb Italian sausage
1/2 cup cooked bacon, chopped
1 cup sliced pepperoni
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 jar (about 2 cups) pizza or marinara sauce
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp chili flakes (optional)
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley or basil for garnish (optional)
structions:
Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Grease a large baking dish.
In a skillet, cook ground beef and sausage until browned. Drain the fat, then stir in garlic powder, oregano, chili flakes, and pizza sauce. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
In the baking dish, layer half of the cooked pasta, then top with half the meat sauce, half the pepperoni, and half the cheeses.
Repeat with remaining pasta, sauce, pepperoni, and cheeses. Sprinkle bacon over the top.
Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10–15 minutes until bubbly and golden on top.
Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley or basil if you like.
Tips:
- Add chopped onions, mushrooms, or green peppers if you want more veggies.
- Use pre-shredded cheese blends to save time.
- Great for meal prep—reheats beautifully the next day!
FAQs:
Q: Can I use pizza dough instead of pasta?
A: For a more traditional pizza vibe, yes—but for this casserole version, pasta makes it extra hearty.
Q: Can I freeze it?
A: Definitely. Assemble it, freeze before baking, and pop it straight in the oven when ready (add 10–15 minutes to cook time).
