Hearty Slow Cooker Pizza Casserole Recipe

 The Ultimate Comfort Food for Family Dinners

When life gets busy, having a go-to recipe that’s both simple and crowd-pleasing is essential. This Slow Cooker Pizza Casserole combines all the classic flavors of your favorite pizza into a cheesy, comforting pasta dish. It’s the perfect meal to bring everyone together at the table, and it’s especially great for picky eaters who love pizza night!

Why This Recipe is a Must-Try

1. Family-Friendly Favorite: Pizza-inspired flavors make this dish a guaranteed hit with both kids and adults.
2. Effortless Cooking: Using a slow cooker takes the stress out of dinner prep, letting you focus on other tasks while it cooks.
3. Perfect for Leftovers: This dish reheats beautifully, making it an excellent option for meal prepping or enjoying throughout the week.
4. Customizable Ingredients: You can easily add your favorite pizza toppings, like mushrooms, olives, or bell peppers, to make it your own.

Ingredient Breakdown

Pasta

• Use a short pasta like rigatoni, penne, or ziti. These shapes hold the sauce and cheese beautifully, ensuring every bite is packed with flavor.

Protein

• Ground Italian Sausage: Adds a slightly spicy and savory flavor to the dish.
• Ground Beef: Provides a hearty and mild base that balances the bold sausage.
• Pepperoni: A quintessential pizza topping that brings its signature zesty flavor to the casserole. Pre-cooking the pepperoni helps reduce excess grease.

Sauce and Seasoning

• Pizza Sauce: Three jars (42 ounces total) create the rich, tomatoey base that ties the dish together. Look for a high-quality pizza sauce for the best flavor.
• Italian Seasoning and Garlic: These staples elevate the sauce with aromatic herbs and savory depth.

Cheese

• Mozzarella Cheese: Melts beautifully into the dish, giving it that gooey, stringy texture everyone loves.

Vegetables

• White Onion: Adds a touch of sweetness and crunch, balancing the rich, meaty flavors.

Step-by-Step Process for the Best Pizza Casserole

1. Prepare the Pasta

Start by boiling a large pot of water. Add the pasta and cook until just shy of al dente—this should take about 6–7 minutes. Draining it a little early ensures it doesn’t overcook in the slow cooker. Set the pasta aside while you prepare the other ingredients.

2. Cook the Meats

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the Italian sausage and ground beef together. This takes about 8 minutes. Break the meat into small crumbles as it cooks. Once fully cooked, drain any excess grease to avoid a greasy casserole.

3. Pre-Cook the Pepperoni

To prevent the casserole from becoming too oily, place the pepperoni slices between paper towels. Microwave for 15 seconds to remove the excess grease. This step ensures the pepperoni enhances the dish without making it too heavy.

4. Mix the Ingredients

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cooked pasta, browned meats, pepperoni, chopped onion, pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, and minced garlic. Stir everything together until the pasta is evenly coated with sauce and the ingredients are well distributed.

5. Assemble in the Slow Cooker

Spray the inside of your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking. Layer the pasta mixture and shredded mozzarella cheese in the slow cooker, creating three layers. Always end with a generous layer of mozzarella on top to achieve that delicious, cheesy finish.

6. Cook to Perfection

Set your slow cooker to LOW and cook for 3 1/2 to 4 hours. Avoid overcooking, as the casserole can burn if left too long or cooked on HIGH.

7. Serve and Enjoy

Once cooked, serve the casserole warm alongside garlic bread and a fresh salad. The combination of flavors and textures makes for a truly satisfying meal.

Pro Tips for Success

• Use high-quality pizza sauce for the best flavor.
• Customize with your favorite toppings, like diced bell peppers, mushrooms, or black olives, for extra flavor and variety.
• If you want a crispier topping, sprinkle some extra mozzarella and pop the casserole under the broiler for a few minutes before serving.

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 Simple Recipe for Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

Ingredients

• 8 ounces short pasta (rigatoni, penne, or ziti)
• 1 pound ground Italian sausage
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 8 ounces sliced pepperoni
• 1/2 large white onion, chopped
• 42 ounces pizza sauce (three 14-ounce jars)
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 16 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

1. Cook the pasta until slightly underdone (6–7 minutes). Drain and set aside.
2. Brown the Italian sausage and ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease.
3. Pre-cook the pepperoni by microwaving it between paper towels for 15 seconds.
4. In a large bowl, combine pasta, cooked meats, pepperoni, onion, pizza sauce, Italian seasoning, and garlic.
5. Coat a 5-quart slow cooker with non-stick spray. Layer the pasta mixture with mozzarella cheese, creating three layers and ending with cheese on top.
6. Cover and cook on LOW for 3 1/2 to 4 hours.
7. Serve hot with garlic bread and a side salad.