This pizza casserole has all the best parts of pizza—pepperoni, mozzarella, rich sauce—mixed into a warm, baked pasta dish. It’s simple to make, full of flavor, and perfect for a weeknight dinner or casual get-together. Everything goes into one pan and comes out bubbly and golden.
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onions, cooking for about 4 minutes. Stir in the diced bell pepper and cook for another 5 minutes, until the beef is browned. Drain any excess grease.
1 pound ground beef, ½ cup yellow onion, 1 small green bell pepper
Reduce the heat to medium and pour in the beef broth, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Stir in the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 1 minute, then add the marinara sauce and stir well. Let the sauce simmer, partially covered, while you cook the pasta.
½ cup beef broth, 3 cloves garlic, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, 32 ounces marinara sauce, 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
Boil the penne pasta for 1 minute less than the al dente time listed on the package. Drain and set aside.
¾ pound penne pasta
Reduce the heat on the sauce to low, then stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. Add the cooked pasta and mix everything together.
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
Transfer the mixture to the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella and top with pepperoni slices.
2 ½ cups mozzarella, 25 slices pepperoni
Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and slightly golden. For a crispier top, broil on high for 1 minute, watching carefully.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Video
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Notes
Pasta: Penne works great, but egg noodles or rotini hold the sauce just as well.
Meat: Swap ground beef for ground turkey or Italian sausage if you like.
Cheese: Use freshly shredded mozzarella for the best melt and flavor.
Add veggies: Mushrooms, black olives, or red bell peppers are great extras.
Add spice: Add red pepper flakes to the sauce or use hot Italian sausage instead of ground beef.
Sauce: Marinara or pizza sauce both work—just go with what you prefer.
Make ahead: Assemble everything, cover with foil, and refrigerate for up to a day before baking.
Gluten-free: Just use your favorite gluten-free pasta and double-check that your marinara sauce and other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Fridge: Let it cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container. Store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat: To reheat, just pop it in the microwave or warm it in the oven until heated through. If frozen, thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Freeze: It also freezes well—wrap tightly in foil or use a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 2 months.