Cozy Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole

Love pizza night but want a cozy, hearty alternative? This meat lovers pizza casserole is the perfect solution. After making it dozens of times, I’ve discovered the trick to keeping the pasta from getting soggy. Keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Creamy Spicy Bang Bang Chicken and Ultimate Pulled Pork Nachos Recipe.

What You'll Need for Cozy Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole

Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup pepperoni slices
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 8 oz uncooked pasta (like penne or rigatoni)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• dried oregano
• dried basil
• salt
• black pepper
• garlic powder (optional)
• red pepper flakes (optional)
• Optional: mushrooms
• Optional: bell peppers
• Optional: olives
• Optional: spinach
• Optional: artichoke hearts
• Optional: fresh basil, chopped

How to Make Cozy Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole

1. Cook the ground beef: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
2. Add onion and garlic: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until the onion is translucent.
3. Add tomatoes and seasonings: Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Cook the pasta: While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
5. Assemble the casserole: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, meat sauce, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese and pepperoni slices.
6. Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the edges are lightly golden.

Storing & Reheating Cozy Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole

Short-Term Storage

Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Make-ahead tip: You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Just add 5-10 minutes to the baking time.

Freezing Cozy Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole

Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

How to Reheat Without Drying It Out

Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Add a little water or milk to prevent the cheese from drying out.

Recipe Notes

• Chef tip: For an extra layer of flavor, brown the ground beef with a little olive oil before adding the onion and garlic.
• Best substitution: If you don't have tomato sauce, you can use marinara sauce instead. Just add a little water to thin it out if needed.
• Make-ahead: You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Just add 5-10 minutes to the baking time.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the casserole is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminum foil. If it's not heating through, bake it for a few more minutes or tent it with foil to prevent burning.

Cozy Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole

⏱

Prep

20 mins

🍳

Cook

30 mins

⏳

Total

50 mins

🍽

Serves

6 servings

🥗

Diet

Gluten-free, Low-carb

Ingredients

Main Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1 cup pepperoni slices
• 1 onion, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 8 oz uncooked pasta (like penne or rigatoni)
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

Seasonings

• dried oregano
• dried basil
• salt
• black pepper
• garlic powder (optional)
• red pepper flakes (optional)

Optional Toppings

• mushrooms
• bell peppers
• olives
• spinach
• artichoke hearts
• fresh basil, chopped

Instructions

1. Cook the ground beef: In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned. Drain excess fat.
2. Add onion and garlic: Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet. Cook until the onion is translucent.
3. Add tomatoes and seasonings: Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper. Simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Cook the pasta: While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
5. Assemble the casserole: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta, meat sauce, and 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with the remaining cheese and pepperoni slices.
6. Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the edges are lightly golden.

Notes

• Chef tip: For an extra layer of flavor, brown the ground beef with a little olive oil before adding the onion and garlic.
• Best substitution: If you don't have tomato sauce, you can use marinara sauce instead. Just add a little water to thin it out if needed.
• Make-ahead: You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Just add 5-10 minutes to the baking time.
• Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
• Troubleshooting: If the casserole is browning too quickly, cover it loosely with aluminum foil. If it's not heating through, bake it for a few more minutes or tent it with foil to prevent burning.

Storage

• Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
• Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through.
• Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, or until heated through. Add a little water or milk to prevent the cheese from drying out.
• Make ahead: You can assemble the casserole ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours. Just add 5-10 minutes to the baking time.

Nutrition Per Serving

• Calories: 470
• Protein: 30g
• Fat: 22g
• Carbs: 38g
• Fiber: 2g
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Cholesterol: 95mg
• Sat. Fat: 11g

Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.

Cozy Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole FAQs

A Warm Final Note

I can’t wait for you to try Cozy Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!