Print

Hearty Pizza Pasta Casserole for Family Dinner

A close-up of a thick slice of pizza casserole featuring rotini pasta, seasoned ground meat, and a bubbly, browned mozzarella cheese topping.
Print Recipe
Save Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Make this easy pizza pasta casserole for a comforting, cheesy dinner. This recipe layers pasta, ground meat, sauce, and cheese for a satisfying meal baked in one pan.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese
  • 1 large egg, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 (16 ounce) package dried rotini or penne pasta
  • 1 (24 ounce) jar pizza sauce
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1/2 cup mini pepperoni slices (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
  2. Cook the ground meat in a large skillet over medium heat until browned. Drain off any excess fat. Stir in the Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Remove from heat.
  3. In a medium bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and Parmesan cheese. Mix well.
  4. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Drain the pasta well.
  5. In a large bowl, combine the drained pasta, cooked meat mixture, pizza sauce, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Stir gently to coat everything evenly.
  6. Spread half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish. Dollop the ricotta mixture evenly over the pasta layer. Sprinkle with pepperoni, if using.
  7. Top with the remaining pasta mixture. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese over the top layer.
  8. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the casserole is heated through. Let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

  • For a meat lover’s pizza casserole, add cooked crumbled bacon or diced ham to the meat mixture.
  • You can prepare this entire casserole ahead of time. Cover it tightly and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking. Add 10 minutes to the bake time if baking directly from the refrigerator.
  • Use your favorite pizza toppings, such as sliced mushrooms, green peppers, or black olives, mixed in with the pasta layer.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingzenith.com/pizza-casserole-recipe-easy-family-dinner/