This pizza casserole is a baked, cheesy dinner that brings classic pizza flavors to a simple, fork-friendly casserole. It's a weeknight option when you want the taste of pizza without making dough.
A Quick Look at the Recipe
✅ Recipe Name: Pizza Casserole
🕒 Ready In: ~35 minutes
👪 Serves: ~6 servings
🍽 Calories: ~360 per serving (estimated)
🥣 Main Ingredients: Ground sausage, diced tomatoes, mozzarella, pepperoni, mushrooms, olives, green pepper
📖 Dietary Info: Gluten-free
👌 Difficulty: Easy - skillet cook, assemble, bake
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This version uses sausage for a hearty base, drained tomatoes to keep the casserole from turning watery, and a mix of pizza toppings baked under melted mozzarella. Baking at 375°F keeps the cheese bubbly while the flavors blend.
If you like easy pizza-style dinners, you might also like Pizza Soup, Cauliflower Pizza Crust, or Zucchini Pizza Boats, and Mini Pizza Quiches.
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Why You'll Love This Pizza Casserole:
Classic Pizza Flavor: Sausage, pepperoni, and mozzarella deliver a familiar pizza-style taste in casserole form.
Quick Weeknight Bake: Brown the sausage, layer the toppings, and bake until bubbly.
Customizable Toppings: Swap vegetables and meats based on what you have without changing the method.
No Watery Texture: Draining the tomatoes helps the casserole bake up thicker instead of soupy.
Leftovers Reheat Well: The flavors hold up, making it a solid make-ahead dinner option.
Key Ingredients:
- diced tomatoes. Drain well to prevent excess liquid. Crushed tomatoes can also be used for a smoother sauce.
- ground sausage. Adds rich, savory flavor as the base of the casserole. You can use Italian sausage or turkey sausage for a leaner option.
- mozzarella cheese. Melts perfectly and gives that signature cheesy pull, use freshly shredded for the best texture.
- mushrooms. Freshly sliced mushrooms add umami and moisture, sauté before baking if you prefer them softer.
- green pepper. Brings color and freshness, red or yellow peppers can be used for a sweeter flavor.
Scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this page for exact quantities.
Easy Substitutions & Variations:
- No sausage: Use ground beef, ground turkey, or crumbled cooked chicken sausage.
- More "saucy" pizza casserole: Stir in ½ to 1 cup marinara sauce with the tomatoes.
- Different cheese: Swap mozzarella for an Italian blend, provolone, or part mozzarella and part parmesan.
- Vegetable swaps: Use diced onion, zucchini, spinach, or banana peppers instead of mushrooms or green pepper.
- No olives: Leave them out or replace with diced banana peppers for a briny bite.
- Lower carb option: Keep as written and serve with a side salad; avoid adding pasta or crust.
How to Make Pizza Casserole:
- Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a baking dish.
- In a large skillet, cook the sausage with Italian seasoning over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess grease. Stir in the diced tomatoes and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top evenly with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, and green pepper.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Recipe Notes & Tips:
- Drain tomatoes well: Extra liquid is the main reason pizza casserole turns soupy, so drain thoroughly before adding.
- Brown the sausage fully: Let it cook until no pink remains so the casserole doesn't release extra moisture while baking.
- Slice toppings thin: Thin mushrooms and peppers cook through quickly and don't leave crunchy raw spots.
- Add pepperoni on top: Keeping pepperoni on the surface helps it crisp slightly instead of getting soft.
- Let it rest: A short rest helps the casserole set so it serves more cleanly.
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How to Store:
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer: Freeze baked casserole portions in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Reheating: Warm in the oven at 350°F for 15-20 minutes, or microwave individual portions until hot.
Pizza Casserole FAQs:
To keep pizza casserole from getting watery, drain the diced tomatoes thoroughly and avoid adding excess liquid ingredients. Browning and draining the sausage also helps reduce extra grease and moisture, and letting the casserole rest after baking helps it set.
Italian sausage is usually best for pizza casserole because it already has pizza-style seasonings that boost flavor quickly. Mild sausage keeps it kid-friendly, while hot sausage adds spice without needing extra chili flakes.
Yes, assemble in your slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 1½-2 hours until bubbly.
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Pizza Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
- 2 cans diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup pepperoni
- ½ cup mushrooms, sliced
- ¼ cup black olives, sliced
- ¼ cup green pepper, diced
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F and lightly grease a baking dish.
- In a large skillet, cook the sausage with Italian seasoning over medium heat until browned. Drain any excess grease. Stir in the diced tomatoes and cook for 3-4 minutes.
- Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Top evenly with mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, mushrooms, black olives, and green pepper.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.
Nutrition
Notes
- Drain tomatoes well: Extra liquid is the main reason pizza casserole turns soupy, so drain thoroughly before adding.
- Brown the sausage fully: Let it cook until no pink remains so the casserole doesn't release extra moisture while baking.
- Slice toppings thin: Thin mushrooms and peppers cook through quickly and don't leave crunchy raw spots.
- Add pepperoni on top: Keeping pepperoni on the surface helps it crisp slightly instead of getting soft.
- Let it rest: A short rest helps the casserole set so it serves more cleanly.
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