Description

This Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole is a hearty, comforting dish combining savory Italian sausage, pepperoni, rigatoni pasta, and rich mozzarella cheese baked to perfection. With layers of marinara sauce and melted cheese, it’s a perfect family-friendly meal that delivers all the flavor of classic pizza in an easy-to-make casserole form.

Ingredients

Scale

Sauce and Meat

2 jars (24 ounces each) traditional pasta sauce
1 pound Italian sausage
2 teaspoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil

Pasta and Cheese

1 box (16 ounces) rigatoni pasta
1 bag (12 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese
1 bag pepperoni (quantity not specified, approximate 3–4 ounces)

Instructions

Preheat and Boil: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and bring a large pot of water to a boil to cook the pasta.
Cook the Sausage and Sauce: Drizzle olive oil into a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up into small pieces. Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute until fragrant. Pour in the two jars of marinara sauce, stir to combine, and let it simmer for about 5 minutes.
Cook the Pasta: While the sauce simmers, boil the rigatoni pasta for about 8 minutes, ensuring it is al dente and slightly undercooked for baking later. Drain the pasta and return it to the large pot.
Prepare the Pepperoni: Count out 18 whole pepperoni slices and set them aside. Chop the remaining pepperoni into smaller chunks.
Combine Pasta with Sauce and Cheese: Add the meat sauce, chopped pepperoni, and a handful of shredded mozzarella cheese to the pot with the drained pasta. Stir well to evenly coat the pasta with sauce and cheese.
Assemble the Casserole: Transfer the pasta mixture into a 9×13 inch casserole dish. Evenly sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese on top and arrange the reserved 18 whole pepperoni slices over the cheese.
Bake: Bake the casserole at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted and bubbly, and the pepperoni edges are crispy.

Notes

For best texture, do not overcook the pasta before baking; it should be slightly undercooked.
You can substitute rigatoni with any other medium to large tubular pasta like penne or ziti.
If you like it spicier, consider using spicy Italian sausage or adding red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Let the casserole rest for a few minutes after baking before serving to help it set.
For a lower-fat option, use turkey sausage and part-skim mozzarella cheese.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole, Italian sausage casserole, baked pasta casserole, pizza pasta bake, pepperoni pasta casserole