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A close-up of a bubbling Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole in a glass baking dish, topped with melted cheese, pepperoni, and ground meat.
Reda

Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole

All the classic flavors of a meat lover's pizza packed into a cheesy, satisfying casserole. This easy-to-make dish is perfect for a crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 710
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Casserole Base
  • 1 tbsp Olive oil
  • 1 lb Ground Italian sausage mild or hot
  • 1 medium Yellow onion chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 16 oz Rotini pasta or other short pasta like penne or ziti
  • 24 oz Pizza sauce or marinara sauce
  • 1 cup Whole milk ricotta cheese
  • 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp Red pepper flakes optional, adjust to taste
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
For the Toppings
  • 3 cups Shredded low-moisture mozzarella cheese divided
  • 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan cheese
  • 4 oz Sliced pepperoni divided
  • 6 slices Bacon cooked and crumbled, divided

Equipment

  • 9x13 Inch Casserole Dish
  • Large Pot
  • Large skillet
  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Colander

Method
 

Prepare Pasta and Oven
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish.
  2. Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions until al dente. Drain well using a colander and set aside.
Cook the Meats
  1. While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground Italian sausage and chopped onion. Cook, breaking up the sausage with a spoon, for 8-10 minutes until the sausage is browned and the onion has softened.
  2. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant. Drain any excess grease from the skillet.
Assemble the Casserole
  1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, the sausage and onion mixture, pizza sauce, ricotta cheese, 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese, the Parmesan cheese, half of the pepperoni slices, half of the crumbled bacon, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes (if using).
  2. Stir everything together until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish and spread it into an even layer.
  4. Sprinkle the remaining 2 cups of mozzarella cheese evenly over the top. Arrange the remaining pepperoni slices and crumbled bacon over the cheese.
Bake and Serve
  1. Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes.
  2. Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned on top.
  3. Let the casserole rest for at least 10 minutes before cutting and serving. This allows it to set up and makes serving easier.

Notes

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
Make-Ahead: You can assemble the casserole up to 24 hours in advance. Cover and refrigerate, then add 10-15 minutes to the initial covered baking time when ready to cook.
Variations: Feel free to add other pizza toppings like cooked ground beef, mushrooms, or black olives along with the pasta mixture.