If there’s one recipe that takes me proper again to busy weeknights as a child, it’s Pizza Casserole. It combines the consolation of a comfy baked pasta with all of the enjoyable flavors of Friday pizza evening. Suppose tender pasta coated in wealthy tomato sauce with savory sausage, peppers, mushrooms, and loads of golden, melty mozzarella, and pepperoni and olives on prime. My one-skillet model makes six servings for about $2 every, and is prepared in simply over half-hour. It’s kid-friendly, crowd-friendly, and simply plain enjoyable to eat!
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One-Pan Pizza Pasta Casserole
I’ve taken my mother’s basic pizza casserole and made it even simpler. It was at all times a humble dish that helped get our household fed rapidly, nevertheless it additionally occurred to be one in all my absolute favorites. In my model right here, the pasta cooks proper within the tomato sauce, so there’s no separate pot of water to boil and one much less dish ready for you afterward. Because it simmers, the pasta soaks up all that taste earlier than the skillet heads into the oven for a bubbly, evenly golden tacky end.
It nonetheless tastes simply as nostalgic as I keep in mind, solely now the cleanup is a complete lot simpler! I additionally love that just about any pasta sauce works right here. Should you’ve received a batch of home made marinara in your freezer, go forward and use it! Or simply seize no matter jar of pasta sauce is hanging out in your pantry for a simple win. You can even pile on any pizza toppings your loved ones loves. Go full supreme (like I’ve right here), hold it easy with cheese, and even Hawaiian (I received’t choose!). Nonetheless you construct this dish, I already understand it’ll have you ever and yours coming again for extra!
- Use a big and deep skillet. There’s quite a bit going into this pizza casserole recipe, so I exploit a big skillet with loads of room for the pasta, sauce, greens, sausage, and toppings. A crowded skillet makes it more durable to stir with out sauce sloshing over the edges! I additionally want utilizing a skillet with a fitted lid, however I’ve discovered that tightly masking it with aluminum foil works simply as properly.
- Ensure that the rotini stays submerged within the sauce. The pasta cooks by absorbing the liquid round it, so any items sitting above the sauce might keep agency or prepare dinner erratically. Stir sometimes to forestall sticking, then change the lid rapidly to carry within the warmth and steam.
- Test the pasta earlier than including the cheese. It must be al dente (tender with a slight chew). The pasta will proceed cooking within the oven, so that you don’t need it utterly tender at this stage. If it’s nonetheless too agency however a lot of the liquid has decreased, I’d stir in a small splash of water, cowl, and let it simmer for a number of extra minutes. Add the toppings as soon as the feel of your pasta is true!
Skillet Pizza Casserole
Value $12.31 recipe / $2.05 serving
This tacky Skillet Pizza Casserole recipe combines saucy pasta, Italian sausage, veggies, pepperoni, and melty mozzarella in a single simple pan dinner!
- 1 lb. floor Italian sausage ($3.62*)
- 1 small yellow onion (diced, (145g) $0.70)
- 1 inexperienced bell pepper (diced, (145g) $0.86)
- 8 oz. mushrooms (sliced, (120g) $2.04)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced, $0.22)
- 8 oz. rotini pasta (raw, $0.54**)
- 24 oz. pasta sauce ($1.58***)
- 1 cup water ($0.00)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning ($0.04)
- ¼ tsp crushed purple pepper flakes (optionally available, $0.01)
- ¼ tsp salt ($0.02)
- ¼ tsp black pepper (freshly cracked, $0.04)
- 1½ cups mozzarella cheese (shredded, $1.47)
- 25 pepperoni slices (50g, $0.85)
- ¼ cup black olives (sliced, (28g) $0.32)
Collect and prep all elements. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
Warmth a big oven secure skillet over medium warmth and add sausage and prepare dinner for about 5-7 minutes till browned, breaking it up with a spoon.
Stir in onion, bell pepper, mushrooms, and garlic. Cook dinner for 4-5 minutes till softened and aromatic.
Stir within the raw rotini pasta, pasta sauce, water, Italian seasoning, purple pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Ensure that pasta is generally submerged in sauce.
Cut back warmth to low, cowl****, and simmer for 10-12 minutes till pasta is al dente and sauce is generally absorbed. Ensure that to stir sometimes to maintain pasta from sticking.
Sprinkle mozzarella evenly excessive. Organize pepperoni slices and sprinkle with black olives. Bake within the oven for 10-Quarter-hour uncovered, till the highest is browned and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Let sit for five minutes earlier than serving for the casserole to set. Garnish with recent basil and Parmesan (optionally available, when you’ve received them) and luxuriate in!
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**I at all times use rotini each time I make this pizza casserole as a result of I really like how the sauce clings to each twist! Penne or one other equally sized pasta must also work, however remember that completely different pasta shapes can prepare dinner at completely different charges. If the pasta isn’t absolutely cooked, add a splash of water (if wanted), cowl the skillet, and let it simmer till al dente. If there’s extra liquid and the pasta is already accomplished, simmer uncovered for a couple of minutes to let it scale back.
***You should utilize a home made sauce or any most well-liked model of pasta sauce right here. Even plain tomato sauce or passata with extra seasonings (about 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning and salt to style) will work if that’s what you’ve got available.
****In case your skillet doesn’t have a lid, masking with aluminum foil will do the trick!
No massive oven-safe skillet? You possibly can prepare dinner the sausage, greens, pasta, and sauce in a daily skillet, then switch the whole lot to a baking dish earlier than including the cheese and toppings. The baking time could also be barely longer as a result of forged iron holds onto warmth higher than most glass or ceramic baking dishes.
Serving: 1servingEnergy: 584kcal (29%)Carbohydrates: 40g (13%)Protein: 27g (54%)Fats: 36g (55%)Sodium: 1591mg (69%)Fiber: 4g (17%)
Learn how to Make Skillet Pizza Casserole Step-by-Step Pictures
Collect all of your elements and preheat the oven to 375°F.
Brown the sausage: Warmth a big, deep, oven-safe skillet over medium warmth. Add 1 lb. floor Italian sausage and prepare dinner for 5-7 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles because it cooks. The sausage must be absolutely browned with no pink bits left.
Cook dinner the veggies: Add 1 diced onion, 1 diced inexperienced bell pepper, 8 oz. sliced mushrooms, and three cloves minced garlic. Cook dinner for 4-5 minutes, stirring usually, till the onion appears to be like translucent, the pepper begins to melt, and the mushrooms have contracted. The garlic must also scent aromatic.
Add the pasta and sauce: Stir in 8 oz. raw rotini, 24 oz. pasta sauce, 1 cup water, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, ¼ tsp crushed purple pepper flakes, ¼ tsp salt, and ¼ tsp black pepper. Stir properly, scraping alongside the underside of the skillet, then press the rotini down so it’s submerged within the sauce.
As soon as the sauce begins effervescent gently, scale back the warmth to low and canopy the skillet with a fitted lid or tightly with aluminum foil. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring each jiffy to forestall the pasta from sticking or cooking erratically. Change the lid rapidly every time to carry within the warmth and steam.
Test the pasta and add the cheese: Style a bit of rotini earlier than including the cheese. It must be al dente, which means tender with a slight chew, and the sauce ought to nonetheless be free sufficient to maintain the whole lot saucy. If the pasta is just too agency and a lot of the liquid has disappeared, stir in a small splash of water, cowl, and simmer for a number of extra minutes. If the pasta is prepared however the sauce appears to be like too free, simmer uncovered briefly to let it scale back.
Now sprinkle 1½ cups shredded mozzarella evenly over the pasta. Organize about 25 pepperoni slices over the cheese, then scatter ¼ cup sliced black olives on prime.
Bake the casserole: Switch the uncovered skillet to the oven and bake for 10-Quarter-hour, or till the cheese is totally melted and bubbly with evenly golden spots. The sauce must also be effervescent gently across the edges.
Let it set and serve: Rigorously take away the skillet from the oven and let your pizza casserole sit for five minutes. This provides the sauce time to thicken barely and makes it simpler to scoop and serve. Garnish with recent basil and grated Parmesan (optionally available), then get pleasure from!
Serving Recommendations
This skillet pizza casserole is a lot filling by itself because it’s just about a full meal in a single pan. You possibly can undoubtedly add some greens to your plate to complete issues off, although! I prefer to serve it with a crisp easy facet salad tossed in a lightweight balsamic dressing. The tangy dressing retains the meal feeling recent and goes properly with the wealthy tomato sauce and melty cheese. Otherwise you add some garlic bread or tacky breadsticks whenever you wish to absolutely lean into pizza evening. They’re additionally good for scooping up any sauce left behind!
Proper earlier than serving, I prefer to garnish my serving with recent basil, grated Parmesan, or a drizzle of sizzling honey for a little bit candy warmth. These are all optionally available, however they actually add to the pizza taste! I additionally assume it might be enjoyable to set out extra toppings (further olives, banana peppers, crushed purple pepper, recent herbs, no matter you’ve received) so everybody can customise their portion how they like.
To get a head begin, put together your pizza casserole right through to including the cheese, pepperoni, and olives, however don’t bake it but. Cowl it tightly and refrigerate for as much as 24 hours. While you’re able to eat, bake it straight from the fridge, including about 5-10 minutes to the cooking time because it’ll be chilly.
Storage & Reheating
Let any leftovers cool earlier than storing in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3-4 days. The pasta will absorb extra of the sauce because it sits, however leftovers of this casserole are scrumptious regardless!
Reheating
I normally microwave particular person parts till heated by means of. I’ll generally add a splash of water to loosen the sauce if wanted. You can even reheat this recipe coated in a 350°F oven till warmed by means of (about 15-20 minutes).
Freezing
Cool the pizza casserole utterly, then switch to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for as much as 2 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating. Simply observe the pasta and veggies will probably be softer after thawing, so solely freeze this recipe when you don’t thoughts these texture adjustments.
Love Pizza Flavors? Attempt These Recipes Subsequent:
- Bought leftover toppings from this casserole recipe? Add them to a Pizza Pasta Salad for lunch the subsequent day!
- These Pizza Melts mix pizza and grilled cheese in a single crispy, tacky 15-minute lunch.
- I really like how Calzones are endlessly customizable with no matter pizza toppings suit your funds.
