Pepperoni Pizza Casserole
A cheesy, bubbly pepperoni pizza casserole layered with ground beef, egg noodles, tomato sauce, pepperoni, and plenty of mozzarella—like pizza and pasta had a cozy night in! Ridiculously easy, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for make-ahead or freezer meals.
8
servings
Ingredients
- 12 oz (340 g) egg noodles wide, uncooked
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 24 oz (680 g) tomato or pizza sauce about 3 cups
- 8 oz (225 g) sliced mushrooms drained if using canned; optional
- 6 oz (170 g) pepperoni sliced, divided
- 20 oz (570 g) mozzarella cheese shredded, divided
- 0.5 tsp (2.5 g) salt plus more for pasta water
- 0.25 tsp (1 g) black pepper
Equipment
- Large pot
- Large skillet
- Mixing bowl
- 9x13 inch Baking Dish
- Aluminum foil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
- In a large pot of well-salted boiling water, cook egg noodles about 5 minutes—just shy of al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Meanwhile, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until no longer pink. Drain excess fat. Season with salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine cooked noodles, browned beef, mushrooms (if using), about two-thirds of the pepperoni, half of the mozzarella, and all the tomato sauce. Stir well to mix.
- Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Top evenly with remaining mozzarella and arrange remaining pepperoni slices on top.
- Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes, until the cheese is golden and bubbly.
- Let casserole cool for at least 10 minutes before serving to let it set.
Notes
This recipe is endlessly customizable—swap out the ground beef for Italian sausage, turkey, chopped veggies, or meatless alternatives. Try bell peppers, olives, spinach, or a mix of cheeses for extra flair. Leftovers store well and freeze beautifully for meal prep or quick dinners.
Nutrition
Calories: 550kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 30g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 1250mg | Potassium: 500mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 500IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 350mg | Iron: 3mg