Description
This Easy Supreme Pizza Casserole is a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish that combines classic pizza flavors with creamy cheese sauce and tender pasta. Featuring savory Italian sausage, fresh vegetables, pepperoni, olives, and a cheesy blend of mozzarella and Parmesan, it’s a hearty, baked casserole perfect for family dinners or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Sauce
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage (ground)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 jar marinara sauce (26 oz)
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
Vegetables and Toppings
- 1/4 cup yellow onion (minced)
- 1 green bell pepper (seeded and chopped)
- 8 oz sliced mushrooms
- 1 can sliced black olives (3.8 oz)
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices (chopped)
Pasta
- 16 oz farfalle pasta
Cheese Sauce
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 3 cups half and half
- 8 oz fresh mozzarella (shredded, about 2 cups)
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
Topping Cheese
- 8 oz packaged mozzarella cheese (shredded)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the casserole later.
- Cook the sausage and garlic: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the ground Italian sausage and minced garlic. Break up the sausage with a fork or potato masher and cook for 5-7 minutes until fully cooked.
- Drain sausage: Remove the sausage and garlic mixture using a slotted spoon and place it on paper towels to drain excess fat. Keep the drippings in the skillet for later use.
- Combine sausage and marinara: In a large bowl, mix the drained sausage with marinara sauce and salt. Set this mixture aside.
- Sauté the vegetables and toppings: Using the skillet with drippings, add minced onion, chopped green bell pepper, and sliced mushrooms. Sauté for about 5 minutes until tender. Stir in sliced olives and chopped pepperoni. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Cook the pasta: Prepare the farfalle pasta according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and transfer to a large bowl.
- Make the cheese sauce: In a large saucepan or skillet over low heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour until smooth and cook for 1 minute while whisking constantly. Increase heat to medium, slowly add half-and-half while whisking continuously. Cook for 7-10 minutes until thick and bubbly.
- Add cheeses to sauce: Stir in fresh shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, and ground black pepper into the thickened sauce. Whisk until cheese melts and the sauce is smooth.
- Combine pasta with cheese sauce: Pour the cheese sauce over the cooked pasta and mix thoroughly to coat all the noodles.
- Assemble the casserole: Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Transfer the pasta and cheese sauce mixture into the dish. Spoon the sausage marinara mixture evenly on top.
- Add toppings: Sprinkle shredded packaged mozzarella cheese over the casserole, then top with the sautéed onion, bell pepper, mushroom, olive, and pepperoni mixture.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes or until the cheese is melted and the sauce is bubbly. Let it stand for 5-10 minutes after baking to set before serving.
- Serve and enjoy: Dish out warm casserole and enjoy the savory, cheesy pizza-inspired flavors in every bite.
Notes
- For a spicier version, substitute mild Italian sausage with spicy Italian sausage or add red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- You can swap farfalle pasta with penne or rotini if desired.
- Feel free to add extra vegetables like spinach or zucchini for more nutrition.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
- Using freshly grated cheese yields better melting and flavor than pre-shredded cheese due to anti-caking agents.
