Description
Hearty meat lovers pizza casserole brings Italian-inspired comfort to dinner tables with layers of savory meats and melted cheese. Satisfying flavors merge perfectly, promising a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (454 grams) lean ground beef
- 1 pound (454 grams) pork sausage
- 1 cup (150 grams) chopped pepperoni
Cheese and Dairy:
- 2 cups (226 grams) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 tablespoons (15 grams) grated parmesan cheese
Additional Ingredients:
- 1 (26-ounce) (737 grams) jar tomato basil pasta sauce
- 1/4 cup (30 grams) all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 (13.8-ounce) (391 grams) can refrigerated pizza crust dough
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
Instructions
- Heat oven to 425°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, ensuring complete coverage.
- Brown ground beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat until meat loses pink color, then thoroughly drain excess fat.
- Incorporate pepperoni, flour, and 3 teaspoons Italian seasoning into the meat mixture, stirring until evenly distributed.
- Pour pasta sauce into skillet and bring contents to a gentle boil, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Transfer meat mixture to prepared baking dish and spread evenly across the bottom, creating a uniform layer.
- Sprinkle 1½ cups mozzarella cheese over the meat mixture, covering the entire surface.
- Carefully unroll pizza crust and place directly on top of the cheese layer, stretching to cover completely.
- Brush pizza crust with olive oil, ensuring even coverage for a golden finish.
- Dust the crust with remaining Italian seasoning, ½ cup mozzarella cheese, and parmesan cheese for enhanced flavor.
- Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes until crust turns golden brown and cheese melts completely.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow casserole to set.
Notes
- Customize meat selection by using leaner ground turkey or chicken for a healthier protein option.
- Add extra vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms to boost nutritional value and create more complex flavor layers.
- Experiment with different cheese blends such as provolone or cheddar to enhance the overall taste profile of the casserole.
- For gluten-sensitive individuals, use gluten-free pizza crust and replace flour with cornstarch or alternative thickening agents.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 603 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 1218 mg
- Fat: 44 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 116 mg