Description
Hearty pizza casserole pie delivers classic Italian-American comfort in one satisfying dish. Layers of pasta, melted cheese, and zesty marinara create a crowd-pleasing meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground sausage or Italian sausage (casing removed)
- 1 package refrigerated pie crusts (or homemade pie dough)
- 1 cup (240 ml) pizza sauce
- 1 cup (240 g) mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup (75 g) pepperoni slices
- 2 tbsps (30 ml) olive oil (divided)
- ½ onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ cup (75 g) bell peppers (diced)
- ½ cup (75 g) mushrooms (sliced)
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- Extra mozzarella cheese (for topping)
- Additional pepperoni slices (for topping)
Instructions
- Crust Preparation: Heat oven to 375°F. Gently position pie crust in deep dish, brushing with olive oil. Par-bake for 8 minutes until light golden, then cool completely.
- Meat and Vegetable Foundation: In large skillet, sauté onions and garlic until translucent. Add ground sausage, crumbling and browning thoroughly. Drain excess fat meticulously.
- Flavor Composition: Fold pizza sauce into meat mixture. Incorporate mozzarella, creating creamy consistency. Introduce pepperoni, bell peppers, and mushrooms. Season with Italian herbs, salt, and pepper. Stir until cheese softens and ingredients integrate harmoniously.
- Assembly and Topping: Spread filling evenly across pre-baked crust. Lavishly cover with additional mozzarella and pepperoni slices. Optional: Apply top crust, sealing edges and creating steam vents.
- Baking Process: Transfer to oven, bake 25-30 minutes until crust achieves rich golden-brown color and filling bubbles vigorously. Final stage ensures complete flavor development and textural perfection.
- Serving Presentation: Allow casserole to rest briefly for filling stabilization. Slice into generous portions, serving while warmth preserves intricate flavor profile.
Notes
- Crust Preparation Tip: Par-bake the pie crust to prevent sogginess and create a crisp foundation that holds the hefty pizza-inspired filling without becoming wet.
- Meat Draining Technique: Always drain excess grease from sausage to maintain a lighter, less greasy texture and prevent the casserole from becoming overly oily.
- Cheese Melting Strategy: Layer cheese throughout the filling and on top to ensure maximum melting and create those irresistible cheesy pulls that make this dish memorable.
- Resting Time Essential: Allow the casserole to rest for 5-10 minutes after baking, which helps the filling set and makes cutting and serving much easier without losing structural integrity.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 432
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 920 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 55 mg