Description
Indulgent meat lovers pizza casserole combines hearty layers of savory meats, gooey cheese, and classic pizza flavors in one comforting dish. Packed with pepperoni, sausage, and bacon, this crowd-pleasing meal satisfies deep cravings and brings family and friends together around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound ground turkey or chicken
- 1 cup chopped turkey or beef pepperoni
Dairy and Cheese:
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Other Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 4 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 (26-ounce) jar tomato basil pasta sauce
- 1 (13.8-ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust dough
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Prepare the oven by heating to 375F (190C) and coating a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Brown ground beef and ground turkey in a large skillet over medium heat, ensuring complete cooking and removing excess grease.
- Incorporate pepperoni, Italian seasoning, and flour into the meat mixture, stirring for approximately one minute to develop robust flavors.
- Pour pasta sauce into the skillet, allowing ingredients to simmer and meld together for 5-7 minutes on low heat.
- Stretch pizza crust dough across the bottom of the prepared baking dish, drizzling with olive oil and sprinkling remaining Italian seasoning for enhanced taste.
- Evenly distribute the meat sauce across the crust, creating a uniform layer that covers the entire surface.
- Generously sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the sauce, ensuring complete coverage.
- Transfer the casserole to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the crust turns golden brown and cheese becomes melted and slightly bubbling.
- Remove from oven and allow the casserole to rest for 3-5 minutes before slicing and serving to help set the layers and enhance flavor cohesion.
Notes
- Swap ground beef or turkey with ground chicken, pork, or plant-based meat alternatives for diverse protein options.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like cheddar, provolone, or dairy-free alternatives to suit various dietary preferences.
- Adjust Italian seasoning and add red pepper flakes or hot sauce to personalize the heat intensity according to taste.
- Replace pizza crust with cauliflower crust or zucchini base for a gluten-free and lower-carbohydrate version of the casserole.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 22 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg