Pizza Casserole with Bread Top (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Meat Base
01 -
1 pound lean ground beef
02 -
1 pound pork sausage
03 -
1 cup pepperoni, chopped into bite-sized pieces
→ Sauce & Seasonings
04 -
1/4 cup all-purpose flour, for thickening
05 -
4 teaspoons Italian seasoning, divided
06 -
1 (26-ounce) jar tomato basil pasta sauce
→ Topping
07 -
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
08 -
1 (13.8-ounce) can refrigerated pizza crust dough
09 -
1 tablespoon olive oil, for brushing
10 -
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
# Instructions:
01 -
Start by warming your oven to 425°F. Give a 9x13-inch baking dish a light coating of cooking spray to ensure easy serving later.
02 -
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown your ground beef and sausage together until perfectly cooked through. Drain off any excess fat to keep your casserole from becoming greasy.
03 -
Back in the skillet, combine your meat mixture with chopped pepperoni, flour, and 3 teaspoons of Italian seasoning. Pour in the pasta sauce and bring everything to a gentle boil, creating a rich, meaty sauce.
04 -
Transfer your meat sauce to the prepared baking dish, then blanket it with 1½ cups of mozzarella cheese. Unroll the pizza crust and lay it gently on top of the cheese layer.
05 -
Brush the pizza crust with olive oil, then sprinkle with the remaining Italian seasoning, mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. This will create a beautiful, golden-brown crust.
06 -
Bake your creation for 20-25 minutes, until the top is beautifully golden brown and the cheese is perfectly melted and bubbly.
# Notes:
01 -
This hearty casserole combines all the flavors of a supreme pizza with the comfort of a baked pasta dish
02 -
Perfect for meat lovers, this dish layers three different proteins for maximum flavor
03 -
The combination of two different cheeses creates the perfect melty, golden top