Nothing says comfort quite like a bubbling, cheesy, saucy dish fresh from the oven. This Cheesy Sausage Pizza Casserole Recipe is exactly that—layer upon layer of all your favorite pizza flavors, tossed with tender pasta and baked to golden perfection. I promise, it’s a total crowd-pleaser that feels cozy and indulgent all at once.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve been making this casserole for years now, and it never gets old because it brings together the best of two worlds—pizza and pasta. The way the sausage, melted cheese, and tomato sauce combine with fusilli makes it downright irresistible.
- Ultimate comfort food: It blends hearty Italian sausage and gooey mozzarella with pasta, creating a filling meal perfect for family dinners.
- Easy to make: One dish, simple steps, and ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- Flexible and customizable: You can easily swap veggies or meats to suit your taste or what’s in your fridge.
- Feeds a crowd: This casserole serves about 8, making it perfect for weeknight family meals or meal prep lunches.

Ingredients & Why They Work
Each ingredient plays its part perfectly here—rich sausage brings savory depth, the veggies add freshness and texture, and the three-cheese blend guarantees gooey, melty goodness. Here’s a quick rundown on why these ingredients shine together.

- Fusilli pasta: Its spiral shape grabs onto sauce and cheese like a champ, making every bite flavorful.
- Bulk Italian sausage: The star protein, whether sweet or spicy, delivers bold flavor and a meaty bite.
- Onion: Adds natural sweetness and softens to complement the sausage.
- Garlic: A fragrant essential that adds warmth and depth.
- Green bell pepper: Gives a fresh crunch and mild sweetness, brightening the dish.
- Cremini mushrooms: Bring earthiness and a tender bite, adding umami complexity.
- Kosher salt: Enhances all the flavors without overpowering.
- Red pepper flakes: For that little kick, adjustable to how spicy you like it.
- Dried basil and oregano: The classic pizza herbs that tie everything together.
- Strained tomatoes (or tomato sauce): A rich, smooth base that’s perfect for baking into the pasta.
- Mozzarella cheese: That stretchy, melty topping that makes the whole thing heavenly.
- Pepperoni slices: Adds a pop of salty, spicy pizzazz on top and inside.
Make It Your Way
This casserole is a fantastic base to get creative with. I often tweak it depending on the season or what’s in the fridge, and you should too! Don’t hesitate to swap in your favorites.
- Variation: I sometimes toss in some sliced black olives or chopped spinach for extra veggie power. It’s a great way to sneak in greens without losing any of that pizza vibe.
- Meat swap: Try ground turkey or chicken sausage if you want a lighter option—it still tastes amazing!
- Cheese mix-up: Adding a little parmesan or provolone with the mozzarella amps up the flavor beautifully.
- Spicy twist: Crank up the red pepper flakes or add a dash of hot sauce for those who like a little fire.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Cheesy Sausage Pizza Casserole Recipe
Step 1: Cook Your Fusilli to Al Dente
I start by boiling the pasta in plenty of salted water. You want it just al dente because it’ll cook a bit more in the oven. Overcooked noodles can turn mushy after baking, so keep a close eye and taste early. Drain and set it aside while we get the sauce going.
Step 2: Brown the Sausage and Sauté the Veggies
While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat and crumble in the Italian sausage. Cook it until nicely browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Then add diced onion, garlic, bell pepper, and mushrooms. Let these soften—your kitchen will smell incredible by this point! After about 4-6 minutes, the veggies should be tender and your base is ready for seasoning.
Step 3: Season and Simmer the Sauce
Sprinkle in the salt, red pepper flakes, dried basil, and oregano. Stir everything together and pour in the strained tomatoes to create that classic pizza sauce flavor. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes to let those herbs bloom and meld with the sausage and veggies. Then remove from heat—this sauce smells heavenly!
Step 4: Toss It All Together
Mix the sauce with the cooked fusilli and half of the pepperoni slices. Pour half the noodle mixture into your greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish, then scatter half the mozzarella on top. Layer the remaining noodles, cheese, and finish off with the rest of the pepperoni for that golden, crispy pizza topping vibe.
Step 5: Bake to Perfection
Cover your casserole and bake at 350°F for 25 minutes to meld all those flavors. Then uncover and bake for another 15-20 minutes until the cheese bubbles and turns beautifully golden brown. Let it rest a bit before serving—that’s when it sets up nicely and is easiest to slice.
Top Tip
I’ve made this casserole dozens of times, and a few tweaks can really up your game. Here’s what I’ve learned to make sure your Cheesy Sausage Pizza Casserole Recipe shines every single time.
- Don’t overcook pasta: Cooking to al dente is key. Mushy noodles can ruin the texture after baking.
- Drain excess fat: After browning the sausage, drain off any extra grease so the casserole doesn’t get oily.
- Layering matters: Distributing cheese and pepperoni evenly ensures every bite gets that pizza feeling.
- Let it rest: Allow the casserole to cool 5-10 minutes post-bake so it holds together better when serving.
How to Serve Cheesy Sausage Pizza Casserole Recipe

Garnishes
I love sprinkling fresh basil or oregano leaves on top for a bright, herbal touch. A tiny drizzle of chili oil or crushed red pepper flakes on the side lets spice-lovers customize their slices. And never underestimate the power of a little Parmesan on top for added savoriness.
Side Dishes
This casserole pairs wonderfully with a crisp side salad—something simple like arugula with lemon vinaigrette cuts through the richness. Garlic bread or roasted veggies round out the meal perfectly for a balanced plate.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I assemble this casserole in individual ramekins to serve personalized portions that look charming. Another fun idea is to layer it in a clear glass dish so you can see all those cheesy, saucy layers—great for family-style dinners or potlucks.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. I find the flavors actually deepen overnight, making the next-day meal just as tasty—if not better. Just pop it covered in the oven or microwave before serving.
Freezing
This casserole freezes beautifully. Just assemble as usual, but don’t bake it. Wrap tightly with foil and chill or freeze. When you’re ready, bake covered at 350°F until warmed through, then uncover to brown the cheese. It’s a lifesaver for busy weeks.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers in the oven at 350°F covered to keep the moisture. Removing the cover in the last 5-10 minutes lets the cheese crisp back up nicely. I avoid microwaving if I want to keep that crispy top layer intact.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Absolutely! While fusilli is great because it catches the sauce in its coils, you can use penne, rigatoni, or even rotini. Just be sure to cook the pasta al dente to avoid mushiness.
Both work wonderfully—you can adjust based on how spicy you want it. Sweet Italian sausage gives a milder, more traditional flavor, while hot adds a nice kick. Sometimes I mix both for a balanced taste.
Yes! You can assemble the casserole completely, cover it tightly, and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if you’re baking it straight from the fridge.
Definitely. This casserole freezes well before baking. Just wrap it tightly and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as directed for a comforting meal anytime.
Final Thoughts
This Cheesy Sausage Pizza Casserole Recipe is hands-down one of those dishes I keep coming back to when I want a no-fuss crowd-pleaser. It feels like a warm hug from your favorite pizza place but homemade and way cozier. I hope you enjoy making it as much as I do — it always fills my kitchen with laughter, great flavors, and happy tummies.
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Cheesy Sausage Pizza Casserole Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Description
This comforting Pizza Casserole combines al dente fusilli pasta, flavorful Italian sausage, sautéed vegetables, and a rich tomato sauce layered with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni, baked to bubbly perfection. A delicious twist on classic pizza flavors in a hearty casserole form, perfect for family dinners and easy meal prep.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 oz fusilli pasta
Meat
- 1 lb bulk Italian sausage (sweet or hot)
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 green bell pepper, seeded and diced
- 8 oz cremini mushrooms, quartered
Seasonings & Sauce
- 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 3 15-oz cans strained tomatoes (or tomato sauce)
Toppings
- 3 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup (about 4 oz) sliced pepperoni
Instructions
- Prepare the pasta: Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the fusilli pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Cook the sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the bulk Italian sausage, breaking it into small bite-sized pieces with a spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes until browned and cooked through.
- Cook the vegetables: To the skillet with the sausage, add diced onion, minced garlic, diced green bell pepper, and quartered cremini mushrooms. Sauté for 4-6 minutes until the onion softens. Season with kosher salt, red pepper flakes, dried basil, and dried oregano. Stir to combine, then pour in the strained tomatoes. Bring the mixture to a simmer for 3-4 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Assemble the casserole: In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta and meat sauce, mixing well. Add half of the sliced pepperoni and stir. Pour half of the pasta mixture into the prepared baking dish, sprinkle with half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Add the remaining pasta mixture, then top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and the remaining pepperoni slices.
- Bake: Cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 15-20 minutes until the casserole is bubbling and the cheese is golden brown.
Notes
- Use spicy Italian sausage for a kick or sweet Italian sausage for milder flavor.
- Strained tomatoes can be substituted with tomato sauce if preferred.
- For extra flavor, add a teaspoon of garlic powder or Italian seasoning.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes after baking for easier serving.
- Options to add extra vegetables include black olives or sliced mushrooms for more texture and flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg



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