Dishes Baked with Love

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

If you’re on the hunt for the best slow cooker recipes for those busy days, try this easy Crock Pot Pizza Casserole next time. Hearty, cheesy, and easy to put together!

close up of pizza casserole in a white crockpot bowl

This will quickly become your favorite casserole because, not only is it delicious, it’s the perfect recipe for making a large batch to serve the whole family dinner tonight.

Crockpot Pizza Casserole Recipe 

This easy crockpot recipe is about to become a family favorite! With layers of pasta, cheesy goodness, and all of your favorite toppings, the pizza flavors really stand out in this pasta casserole, making it both delicious and hearty.

Your entire family will love it, and it’ll become one of your favorite recipes for making an easy weeknight dinner.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my disclosure policy here.
ingredients for slow cooker pizza casserole on a marble backdrop

Ingredients Needed

  • Pasta – Usually this recipe calls for penne pasta, but you can use any type of pasta.
  • Italian sausage – Choose ground sausage or replace with ground beef.
  • Ground beefLean ground beef, but you can use ground turkey as well.
  • Pepperoni – I personally love using mini pepperoni slices for this recipe, but you can also try turkey pepperoni for a healthier option.
  • Onion – Choose a small to medium sized onion, depending on how much you want. Swap for onion powder if necessary.
  • Pizza sauce – This can be switched with spaghetti sauce or, if you don’t like tomatoes, try alfredo sauce.
  • Italian seasoning – If you can’t find Italian seasoning at the store, you can also make it at home. 
  • Garlic Minced garlic is preferred, but swap with garlic powder or garlic salt if you don’t have minced. 
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese – If you don’t like mozzarella, try using cheddar or parmesan cheese. 

How To Make Crock Pot Pizza Casserole 

  1. In a large pot, add dry pasta to boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook sausage and ground beef. Drain and set aside as well.
  1. Add meat mixture to pasta, along with sauce, diced onion, Italian seasoning, and garlic, stirring to combine.
  2. Spray bowl of a 4-6 quart crockpot with cooking spray.
  1. Layer a little bit of the pasta and ground beef mixture in the instant pot. Top with cheese. Repeat two more times, and cover final layer with lots of cheese on top.
  2. Cover and cook on low for 2-3 hours or until cheese melts. Turn off heat and enjoy!
spoon scooping out pasta and pepperoni with cheese stretching

What To Serve With Pizza Casserole Recipe

Since this simple recipe leans more towards the comfort food category, it’s a good idea to serve it with some lighter sides.

I like to go with a green salad topped with carrots, green peppers, tomatoes, cucumber, and red peppers or a crusty Italian bread.

How To Store Leftovers

If you want to make this easy dinner recipe ahead and store it for serving the next day, the best way is to bake according to the directions before placing it in an airtight container.

Store in the fridge for up to 3 days, but it also makes a great freezer meal, where it can be kept for 4 months.

For best results when reheating, simply take a serving out of the fridge or freezer and bake in a pressure cooker on a warm setting based on the cook time in the recipe. Make sure it’s heated thoroughly before serving.

A great cooking tip – if it seems a little dehydrated, you can add a small can of cream of mushroom soup slowly, pouring a little in and allowing it to be soaked up before re-assessing and adding more as needed.

plate of pizza pasta and salad next to pieces of bread

Best Casserole Tips

  • For this pasta casserole, you can add any of your favorite pizza toppings and customize it for your family’s taste!
  • That means topping it with pepperoni, sausage, veggies like bell peppers, or even pineapple (for my Hawaiian pizza lovers out there). I also recommend serving with red pepper flakes or parmesan cheese, which are traditional staples for pizza.
  • Use a crockpot liner for easier clean up.
  • To really mix it up, you can make this recipe breakfast pizza style! Top with scrambled eggs, bacon, and spinach.

If you love this recipe as much as I do, pin this to your favorite casserole Pinterest board and share it on your favorite social media channels!

spoon scooping out pasta and pepperoni with cheese stretching with blue banner and text

This slow cooker pizza casserole recipe is so much fun to make, because it’s something that my entire family loves! When it comes to recipe ideas, this pasta dish is unique and one of my favorite things is how adjustable it is. You can change it up in a ton of different ways, which makes every time you eat it like the first time all over again. Don’t forget to add this to your list of great recipes for those busy weeknights! 

Yield: 8 servings

Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

overhead picture of crockpot pizza casserole with a spoon in it

This easy to prep crock pot pizza casserole is perfect for a busy weeknight when you don't want to take out a pizza for the family.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta (Rotini is best)
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
  • 8 ounces ground beef
  • 8 ounces sliced pepperoni
  • ½ medium onion (diced fine)
  • 42 ounces pizza sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 16 ounces mozzarella cheese (shredded)

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, cook the pasta according to package directions. Under cook by 1-2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
  2. In a large skillet, cook the sausage and ground beef until no longer pink. Drain and set aside.
  3. To the pasta, add the cooked meat, sauce, diced onion, Italian seasoning, and garlic. Stir to combine.
  4. Spray the bowl of a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
  5. Layer ⅓ of the pasta mixture in the bottom. Top with ⅓ of the cheese.
  6. Repeat two more times, ending with cheese on top.
  7. Cover and cook on low 2-3 hours or until melty and cheesy.
  8. Serve with crusty bread and a salad!

Notes

  • For this pasta casserole, you can add any of your favorite pizza toppings and customize it for your family’s taste!
  • Some great options include: pepperoni, sausage, veggies like bell peppers, or even pineapple.
  • I recommend serving with red pepper flakes and parmesan cheese.
  • To remove some of the grease from the pepperoni, layer them in between paper towels and microwave for 15 seconds. Then add to the casserole.
  • Recommended Products

    As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Nutrition Information:

    Yield:

    8

    Serving Size:

    1

    Amount Per Serving: Calories: 767Total Fat: 49gSaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 26gCholesterol: 130mgSodium: 1825mgCarbohydrates: 37gFiber: 5gSugar: 9gProtein: 44g

    This nutrition information was generated via a third party, Nutritionix, and we can not be held liable for any discrepancies in the information provided.

    Craving More Casseroles?

    BestCasseroleRecipes.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encourages and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

    You may also like...

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Skip to Recipe