Description
A hearty and delicious Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole packed with ground beef, Italian sausage, and plenty of cheese, perfect for pizza lovers.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (16-ounce) package penne pasta
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup sliced pepperoni
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage until browned. Drain excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet, cooking until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the penne pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta with the meat sauce, half of the mozzarella cheese, and half of the pepperoni. Mix well.
- Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese, pepperoni, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Let the casserole cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired.
Notes
- For a spicier kick, add crushed red pepper flakes to the meat sauce.
- Substitute the ground beef and sausage with turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the casserole
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 80mg