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
Scale
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 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 1 ½ tsp 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
