Bowtie pasta, pizza sauce, ground beef, Italian sausage, cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings make this recipe a super cheesy family favorite!
Oh, the kitchen – it’s not just a room, it’s a treasure trove of memories and laughter, especially when shared with family and friends. Just the other day, I had the joy of cooking alongside my mom, something we don’t get to do as often as I’d like. Being there, in the heart of where my culinary adventures began, was like wrapping myself in a warm, familiar blanket.
My mom, she’s the reason I fell head over heels for cooking. Picture this: a young me, barely tall enough to reach the stove, serving up what I now realize were less-than-perfect scrambled eggs on those lazy Saturday mornings. Not exactly gourmet, but to me, they were little plates of heaven.
Mom was the queen of the kitchen, whipping up breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. It wasn’t just because our dining-out budget was tighter than a jar lid, but because she genuinely loved it. Her necessity turned into a burning passion, and guess what? That passion ignited something in me too.
Now, let me share a recipe that’s as close to our hearts as family itself. It’s a casserole that’s as adaptable as your mood or pantry. Think of it as a pizza, but in casserole form. We’ve kept it simple here, but feel free to let your imagination run wild! Mushrooms, olives, peppers, artichokes – throw in whatever tickles your fancy.
And hey, don’t be deceived by the photo – this easy pizza casserole recipe is a real crowd-pleaser. It’ll generously fill up a 9×13 dish. Sometimes, we even split it into smaller casseroles. Perfect for sharing, because let’s face it, food tastes better when it’s eaten with the ones we love.
Can I add other toppings to pizza casserole?
Absolutely, you can jazz up your pizza casserole with all sorts of toppings – that’s the beauty of it! Think of your casserole as a blank canvas, just waiting for you to add your own personal touch. Whether you’re a meat-lover, a veggie enthusiast, or somewhere in between, the possibilities are endless.
Fancy some pepperoni or sausage? Toss ’em in! Vegetarian options? Green bell peppers, onions, and spinach are fantastic choices. And for those who like a bit of a kick, why not sprinkle some red pepper flakes or jalapeños? Oh, and don’t forget that generous helping of cheese – because let’s be honest, cheese makes everything better.
The great part about customizing your casserole is that you can cater to everyone’s taste buds. Got a family member who’s not a fan of mushrooms? No problem, just section off a part of the casserole without them. Want to make a half-and-half casserole, half meaty, half veggie? Go for it!
Just keep in mind that the relatively short bake time might not cook your veggies all the way through. So, if you want them soft, you can add them to your meat mixture when you cook it or give them a quick sauté by themselves before adding them to the mix.
So go ahead, mix and match your favorite toppings, and create a casserole that’ll have everyone at the dinner table asking for seconds. After all, the best recipes are the ones that bring smiles to faces and warmth to the supper table.
How to Store Pizza Casserole Leftovers
In the refrigerator, your pizza casserole will stay fresh and tasty for about 3 to 5 days. Just make sure you’ve got it in an airtight container or tightly wrapped in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. This keeps it from drying out and also stops those fridge odors from doing a little unwanted flavor mixing.
If you’re thinking long-term, the freezer is your friend. When properly stored in freezer-safe containers or tightly sealed with freezer wrap or heavy-duty aluminum foil, your casserole can last for 2 to 3 months in the freezer. The trick here is to let the casserole cool completely before you freeze it. This helps to maintain the texture and taste when you reheat it.
When it’s time to reheat, you can thaw your casserole in the fridge overnight if it’s frozen. Then, pop it in the oven until it’s heated through. The oven helps to keep that lovely texture, making it almost as good as when it was first baked.
Ingredient Swaps
Bowtie Pasta – Not a fan of farfalle or bowtie pasta, simply swap it for another short pasta like penne, rotini, etc.
Pizza Sauce – Swap your pizza sauce for an equal amount of marinara sauce.
Toppings – Add your favorite toppings to customize this dish and create the flavor your family loves. Like I said before, if you put it on a pizza, you can add it to this casserole. Just keep in mind that getting too many toppings can make this a little dry, so try to keep the total amount of toppings roughy the same as the original recipe.
Ingredients
- 1 (12-ounce) package bowtie pasta
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 1 small onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 (14-ounce) jar pizza sauce
- 1 (3.5-ounce) package pepperoni
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
- 1 (8-ounce) package shredded Italian cheese blend (2 cups)
- ½ teaspoon salt (or more)
- 1 (8-ounce) package shredded mozzarella cheese (2 cups)
Instructions
- Cook pasta in large pot of salted water according to the package directions. Drain and return to the pot.
- Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Meanwhile, brown ground beef, sausage, and onions in a large skillet until no longer pink. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Drain grease and return to pan.
- Stir in pizza sauce, pepperoni, cheese soup, and Italian cheese blend into meat mixture.
- Add meat mixture to pot with cooked pasta and combine. Add salt to taste.
- Pour into prepared casserole dish.
- Top with mozzarella cheese.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly.
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
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So yummy but makes a lot so I split in 2 pans and will freeze one!
Smart! So glad it turned out great for you!
I love this, esp. the idea that you can make multiple pans and let family choose their own “toppings.” Seems like the shape of the bowtie pasta would also work well texture-wise and keep the cheesiness from taking over the dish.
Absolutely! Thanks, Chrissy! Hope y’all enjoy!
I made this for the family tonight. The only substitution I made was using some leftover queso’ I had in lieu of the cheddar cheese soup. (I didn’t have any on hand.) Everyone loved it. This is a keeper. I think next time I will add some roasted bell peppers. Thanks for a great recipe.
That’s fantastic! I’m so glad y’all loved it, Maggie!
Can a portion be frozen?
I don’t see why not!
Can you think of a cleaner substitution for the canned cheese soup?
Thanks!
I suppose you could just leave it out or maybe swap it for some sour cream.
There is only my husband and me. Will you send me the recipe for a smaller quantity?
This recipe halves pretty easily.
How many does this serve?
You can probably serve about 6 depending on the serving size.
making this tonight but modifying it a little by adding Canadian bacon and regular bacon making it a meat lovers pizza casserole!
Sounds amazing! Hope it turned out great!
I made this for dinner tonight. It tasted even better than I thought it would! Great flavor! My picky kids loved it, too!
Wonderful, Amanda!
Serving this at my house tonight. Thanks!
I’m so trying this is it fattening?
wow..sounds delicious! My husband has to be gluten free so I will now be on a search for GF cheddar cheese soup so he can enjoy it too!
O. M .G . Made this today and my precious little girls came home and
they eat just like three little pigs.It was very easy and didn’t take long at all.
I love this recipe and I’m glad y’all do too! Comforting, filling, and easy! Those are things that are super important in my house!
THIS LOOKS SOOOO GOOD. CAN’T WAIT TO MAKE THIS.
Thanks! Let me know how they turn out for you!
Stacey: You haven’t steered me wrong yet so am sure this will be wonderful. Thanks for sharing it!
I sure hope you’ll enjoy it!!
Thanks for posting this! I can’t wait to try it!!
Absolutely! Let us know how it turns out for you!