Home Pizza Casserole Deluxe

Pizza Casserole Deluxe






What You'll Need


  • one cup sliced black olives
  • 1/2 cup pepperoni slices, chopped
  • one (16-oz.) package rigatoni pasta
  • three tablespoons butter
  • three tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • three cups half-and-half
  • 8 ounces fresh mozzarella, shredded (2 cups)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • one (8-oz.) package shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 8 to 10 pepperoni slices
  • one (1-lb.) package ground mild Italian sausage $
  • tow garlic cloves, minced
  • one tablespoon olive oil
  • one (26-oz.) jar marinara sauce $$
  • one teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 medium-size red onion, chopped
  • 1/2 medium-size red bell pepper, chopped $
  • 1/2 medium-size green bell pepper, chopped
  • 1/2 (8-oz.) package sliced baby portobello mushrooms

How to Make It


  1. Preheat oven to 350°.
  2. Cook sausage and garlic in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 5 to 7 minutes or until sausage crumbles and is no longer pink.
  3. Remove with a slotted spoon, reserving drippings in skillet.
  4. Drain sausage mixture on paper towels, and transfer to a medium bowl.
  5. Stir marinara sauce and 1/2 tsp.
  6. salt into sausage mixture.
  7. Sauté onion and next 3 ingredients in hot drippings 5 minutes or until tender; stir in olives and chopped pepperoni.
  8. Reserve 1/4 cup onion mixture.
  9. Prepare pasta according to package directions in a large Dutch oven.
  10. Melt butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat; whisk in flour until smooth.
  11. Cook, whisking constantly, 1 minute.
  12. Gradually whisk in half-and-half; cook over medium heat, whisking constantly, 7 to 10 minutes or until mixture is thickened and bubbly.
  13. Stir in fresh mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, pepper, and remaining 1/2 tsp.
  14. salt.
  15. Pour sauce over pasta in Dutch oven, stirring to coat.
  16. Stir in onion mixture.
  17. Transfer pasta mixture to a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish, and top with sausage mixture, packaged mozzarella cheese, reserved 1/4 cup onion mixture, and pepperoni slices.
  18. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly browned.
  19. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.