Meat Lover’s Pizza Casserole
This hearty Meat Lover’s Pizza Casserole transforms all the best parts of a classic meat-loaded pizza into a cheesy baked pasta dish. Layered with sausage, beefy marinara, ham, mozzarella, and pepperoni, it’s a warm and comforting crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or meal prepping. It also freezes beautifully, making it a great make-ahead option.
Servings: 10
Calories: 311kcal
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb bow tie pasta
- 1 lb mild pork sausage
- 2 26 oz jars spaghetti sauce
- 1 large onion diced
- 1 lb cooked ham cubed
- Sliced pepperoni as desired
- 3 8 oz bags shredded mozzarella cheese
- 6 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp dried oregano
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Rinse under cold water to stop cooking, drain, and set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook sausage with onions, garlic, and oregano until sausage is browned and onions are translucent. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread a thin layer of spaghetti sauce on the bottom.
- First layer: Add 1/3 of the pasta, 1/3 of the remaining sauce, 1 bag of mozzarella, and 2 tbsp Parmesan. Add the cooked sausage mixture evenly on top.
- Second layer: Add half of the remaining pasta, half of the remaining sauce, 1 bag of mozzarella, and 2 tbsp Parmesan. Sprinkle the cubed ham evenly over the cheese.
- Final layer: Add the remaining pasta, sauce, last bag of mozzarella, remaining Parmesan, and finish with sliced pepperoni.
- Bake uncovered for 40 minutes.
- Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Substitute sausage with ground beef or use a combination of both.
A great use for leftover ham; cooked bacon can also be used.
Store-bought or homemade spaghetti sauce both work well.
This makes a large batch—consider freezing half for a future meal.
If baking from thawed, allow extra cooking time to heat through.