Easy Pepperoni Pizza Casserole (6-Ingredient Recipe)

If you’re in need of a quick weeknight dinner, you’ll love this pepperoni pizza casserole. 

It combines melty cheese, spicy pepperoni, and tomato sauce with tender noodles in a convenient one-pan meal.

And the best part? It’s just as easy as popping a frozen pizza in the oven!

It’s perfect to feed a big group, and you likely have everything you need in your pantry right now. 

Pepperoni Pizza Casserole 

This pizza casserole recipe is part pizza, part lasagna, and comes together in a flash. 

It’s a great way to use leftover pasta noodles from the night before in new and exciting ways. 

With ground beef, salty pepperoni, mushrooms, and cheese, it’ll be a big hit around the dinner table. 

You can customize this recipe however you like. It’s also a great way to use all those veggies in the fridge before they go bad. 

This dish is guaranteed to be met with smiles!

Ingredients 

You only need six ingredients to make this delectable casserole:

• Ground beef – A package of ground beef makes this casserole so incredibly filling. It provides a little something extra with those tender noodles and veggies. 

• Egg noodles – Add a rich, meaty bite and help absorb all that pasta sauce. Use whatever noodles you have on hand, but shorter noodles, like bow ties or penne, work best. 

• Tomato sauce – Use your favorite red sauce, be it marinara or pizza sauce. 

• Mushrooms. They’re a fan-favorite pizza topping for a good reason. They add texture and earthy flavors that pair well with acidic pizza sauce. 

• Pepperoni – Who can resist a pepperoni pizza? Chopped pepperoni adds a salty, mouthwatering kick of spicy flavors to this casserole. 

• Mozzarella cheese. It’s not pizza without mozzarella cheese! Mozzarella melts like a dream and transforms it into a pizza casserole. `

How to Make Pepperoni Pizza Casserole 

Wait until you see how easy this casserole is to whip together!

1. PREHEAT the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. 

2. BROWN the ground beef in a skillet, drain the excess grease and set aside. 

3. BOIL the egg noodles according to the package. Drain and set aside. 

4. COMBINE the ground beef, noodles, sauce, mushrooms, pepperoni, and half of the mozzarella in a mixing bowl. 

5. BAKE in a 9×13 casserole dish with the remaining mozzarella on top for 30-45 minutes. 

6. COOL for 5-10 minutes, then serve and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Pizza Casserole 

Here are some quick tips to ensure that your pizza casserole is the picture of perfection. 

• Pay attention to the pasta! Cook it until just shy of al dente – about 2-3 minutes less than the package suggests. It will keep cooking in the oven. 

• Let it cool. Straight out of the oven, it’ll be a little watery. So, let it sit, and the pasta will absorb the excess moisture.

• Fresh is the way to go. Skip the pre-shredded cheese and use a block of mozzarella for perfectly melted cheese. 

Variations

This recipe is just the jumping-off point. There are many ways to tinker with it to capture what your family craves. 

• The more cheese, the better. There’s no such thing as too much cheese. Try smoked gouda, cheddar, Parmesan, or ricotta.  

• Go crazy with veggies. Adding veggies to this pizza casserole is a great way to sneak in some extra nutrition. I like green peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, onions, garlic, and spinach. 

• Make it a meat-lovers pizza. Want to make it exceptionally meaty? Don’t stop with ground beef and pepperoni! Add pizza toppings like sausage, chorizo (for a spicy bite), or bacon. 

How to Store & Reheat 

One of the great things about leftover pizza casserole is it’s even better the next day!

To Store: Cover the casserole dish in plastic wrap and keep it in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. 

To Reheat: When reheating, place individual portions in the microwave to heat through. (It should take 2-3 minutes). To reheat the entire pan, preheat the oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and reheat it for 20 minutes.