Description
Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole brings all the cheesy, savory goodness of pizza into a hearty one-dish meal that’ll have your family racing to the dinner table. Packed with pepperoni, sausage, and melted cheese, this casserole turns your pizza cravings into a comforting dinner that satisfies hungry crowds in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 lb pork sausage
- 1 cup chopped pepperoni
Cheese and Sauce:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 26-oz jar tomato basil pasta sauce
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Dough and Seasonings:
- 1 13.8-oz can refrigerated pizza crust dough
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Crank your oven to a sizzling 425ºF and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, ensuring zero sticking.
- Grab a large skillet and brown 1 lb ground beef and 1 lb pork sausage over medium-high heat. Cook until no pink remains, then drain away the excess fat completely.
- Toss 1 cup chopped pepperoni, ¼ cup flour, and 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning into the meat mixture. Stir until everything looks evenly coated.
- Pour in the entire 26-oz jar of tomato basil pasta sauce and let the mixture bubble up briefly. Take the skillet off the heat right away.
- Transfer the meaty sauce into your prepared baking dish. Sprinkle 1½ cups mozzarella cheese across the top, creating an even cheesy layer.
- Carefully unroll the 13.8-oz pizza crust dough and drape it gently over the cheese, making sure it covers the entire surface.
- Brush the exposed crust with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Scatter the remaining ½ cup mozzarella, 3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning across the top.
- Slide the dish into the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes. Watch for a gorgeous golden-brown crust that looks perfectly crisp.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 3-4 minutes after removing from the oven. This helps the layers set and makes cutting easier.
Notes
- Let the meat cool slightly before adding cheese to prevent immediate melting and uneven distribution.
- For a crispier crust, pre-bake the pizza dough for 5 minutes before adding the meat mixture.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey for a leaner protein option that keeps the dish lighter.
- Use gluten-free pizza dough and flour to make this recipe completely gluten-free without losing flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 588 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 790 mg
- Fat: 43 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg