Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole
This Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole is the ultimate comfort food for pizza lovers, combining all your favorite meaty toppings into a delicious, cheesy, oven-baked dish. Perfect for busy weeknights, family dinners, or meal prepping, this casserole captures the hearty flavors of pizza without the hassle of making dough.
INGREDIENTS:
1 lb ground beef
1/2 lb Italian sausage
1 package pepperoni slices
1 cup diced ham
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 jar 24 oz marinara sauce
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
1/2 cup diced onion
3 cups cooked pasta penne or rotini recommended
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil for garnish (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
Cook the pasta according to package instructions, drain, and set aside.
In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and Italian sausage over medium-high heat until fully cooked. Drain the fat.
Add the diced onions and green bell pepper to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
Stir in the marinara sauce, garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for 5 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, meat sauce, half of the pepperoni, ham, and half of both cheeses. Mix well.
Transfer the mixture to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
Top with the remaining pepperoni slices and sprinkle the rest of the mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the top.
Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
Allow the casserole to rest for about 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.