Pizza Spaghetti Casserole Recipe

Why decide between pizza and spaghetti when you can make a casserole that can give you both? Combine the best of a hearty spaghetti dish with all the flavors of your favorite pizza and you have a meal that is not only delicious, but is warm and satisfying.

Best of all, it requires only 6 ingredients and it is simple and easy to make! All you have to do is layer the ingredients and put it in the oven to bake.

It is one of my go-to busy weeknight meals when I don’t have time (or don’t want) to stand in the kitchen making dinner. Although sometimes I make life a little easier and make it ahead of time so all I have to do for dinner is put it in the oven.

Then when dinner is ready, all I have to do is slice and serve it. The sausage, pepperoni, and cheese give you that familiar pizza flavor, while the pasta makes the meal hearty and filling.

It’s a great small-batch recipe that’s perfect for dinner at home and easy enough to throw together on a weeknight. And if you are lucky enough to have leftovers, they taste even better the next day!

Ingredients You’ll Need

This casserole is made with just a few basic ingredients.

• Spaghetti Noodles: Just like when making my traditional Pizza Casserole and my Pizza Pasta Skillet recipe, pasta is the foundation for this dish. However, instead of using rotini or elbow pasta, spaghetti noodles becomes the base.
• Salt: Just a little salt goes into the pasta water, helping season the noodles as they cook.
• Ground Sausage: Italian sausage gives a great flavor to the casserole. Use mild, hot or turkey sausage.
• Pepperoni Slices: Pepperoni brings that classic pizza flavor and texture. Half goes into the casserole for baking, while the other half is layered on top for a bit of crispness. You can use regular or turkey pepperoni.
• Pasta Sauce: Use your favorite jarred or homemade pasta sauce for this recipe. A classic marinara works well.
• Parmesan Cheese: Grated Parmesan adds that extra kick of flavor that we all love on top of our pizza.
• Italian Three-Cheese Blend: This blend melts perfectly over the top, giving you that gooey, cheesy layer. Or substitute Mozzarella cheese if that is what you have on hand in your kitchen.

Step-By-Step Instructions For Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

Step 1: Preheat and Prep the Baking Dish

Start by preheating your oven to 350ºF and lightly spray an 8×8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. This will prevent sticking and make cleanup easier after dinner.

Step 2: Cook the Spaghetti

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, then cook the spaghetti noodles per package instructions until they’re al dente. This is usually a few minutes short of fully cooked but soft enough to eat with a slight bite. After draining the noodles, add them directly to the prepared baking dish.

Step 3: Cook the Sausage

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the ground sausage until it’s no longer pink. Once it’s fully cooked, drain off any excess fat to avoid a greasy casserole. Spread the sausage evenly over the spaghetti noodles in the baking dish.

Step 4: Crisp the Pepperoni

Using the same skillet, carefully wipe it down with a paper towel to remove any leftover sausage bits and grease. Return it to medium-high heat and add the pepperoni slices, cooking them for about 3–4 minutes.

The goal is to get them slightly crisp. When they’re ready, remove the pepperoni from the skillet and place them on a paper towel-lined plate to absorb any excess oil.

Step 5: Add Sauce and Pepperoni Layers

Pour the pasta sauce over the sausage and spaghetti layers, spreading it evenly with the back of a spoon. Arrange half of the pepperoni slices evenly over the sauce layer.

Step 6: Top with Cheese and More Pepperoni

Next, sprinkle the top of the pizza spaghetti casserole with both the grated Parmesan and shredded Italian three-cheese blend. Then place the remaining half of the pepperoni slices over the cheese layer.

Step 7: Cover and Bake

To prevent the cheese from sticking to the foil, lightly spray one side of the aluminum foil with non-stick cooking spray. Cover the baking dish with the foil, sprayed side down, and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

Step 8: Uncover and Finish Baking

After 30 minutes, carefully remove the foil and return the dish to the oven. Bake for another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is fully melted and has a few golden spots.

Step 9: Let It Rest Before Serving

Once it’s done baking, take the casserole out of the oven and let it sit for about 5 minutes. This helps the layers firm up, making it easier to slice and serve.

Tips for Making Pizza Spaghetti Casserole

1. Choose Quality Ingredients: Because this casserole recipe has so few ingredients, using quality pasta sauce and cheese can make a big difference in the final taste.
2. Don’t Skip Browning the Pepperoni: Crisping the pepperoni slices before baking may seem like a small step, but it helps bring out the flavors and reduces the grease in the casserole.
3. Experiment with Other Toppings: While this recipe calls for sausage and pepperoni, you can easily customize it by adding other pizza toppings like diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or black olives.
4. Let It Rest: Allowing the casserole to rest for a few minutes after baking helps it set and makes it easier to serve without falling apart.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

If you have leftovers, let them cool completely. Then simply cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container, and store it in the refrigerator.

It will keep for up to three days. To reheat, you can use the microwave or pop it back into the oven at 350ºF for about 10–15 minutes, until warmed through.

Pizza Spaghetti Casserole Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 oz. uncooked spaghetti noodles
• 1/2 pound ground sausage
• 1/2 package pepperoni slices 
• 13 ounces pasta sauce 
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• 4 ounces shredded Italian three-cheese blend

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Spray an 8 x 8 Inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

Cook spaghetti noodles in a large pot of salted water per instructions on the package for al dente. Drain and place in the prepared baking dish.

While the pasta is cooking, brown the sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the meat is no longer pink, drain the fat and layer the sausage crumbles over the pasta.

Wipe the skillet clean and place it over medium high heat. Add the pepperoni slices and cook for 3-4 minutes or until the pepperoni starts to slightly become crisp. Remove the pepperoni from the pan and place on a paper towel lined plate.

Pour the pasta sauce over sausage and spaghetti, smoothing it out in an even layer. Then arrange half of the pepperoni slices evenly over pasta sauce.

Sprinkle the top of the pizza spaghetti casserole evenly with both the Parmesan cheese and the shredded Italian three-cheese blend. Place the remaining half of pepperoni slices evenly over cheese.

Cover with aluminum foil that has been sprayed with non-stick cooking spray so that the cheese does not stick to it.

Place the covered baking dish in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Then carefully remove the foil, and bake 10 more minutes or until cheese is melted and just begins to turn light brown in a few areas.

Take the baking dish out of the oven and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving. Just like when making Baked Spaghetti Casserole letting it rest will make it easier to slice and serve.

Enjoy! Mary

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