Classic Crockpot Pizza Casserole
This classic crockpot pizza casserole combines seasoned ground meat, savory marinara, tender pasta, and a blend of cheeses, all slow-cooked to perfection for an easy and satisfying meal.
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Slow Cooker (6-quart or larger)
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef or Italian Sausage
- 1 medium Onion, chopped
- 1 Bell Pepper (any color), chopped
- 2-3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 24-32 oz jar Marinara Sauce
- 14.5 oz can Diced Tomatoes, undrained
- 8 oz Cooked Pasta (rotini or penne works great), al dente
- 2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
- 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1/2 cup Pepperoni Slices (or more to taste)
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning Salt to taste
- Black Pepper to taste
Instructions
Cooking Steps
- Brown the ground beef or sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, draining excess fat once no longer pink.
- Add chopped onion and bell pepper to the skillet, cooking until softened, then stir in minced garlic and Italian seasoning for one minute until fragrant.
- Stir marinara sauce and diced tomatoes into the meat mixture in the skillet, and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Lightly grease a 6-quart or larger slow cooker, then layer with a third of the cooked pasta, meat sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, and pepperoni slices.
- Continue layering pasta, sauce, cheeses, and pepperoni, ending with generous amounts of mozzarella and pepperoni.
- Cover and cook on low for 3-4 hours or high for 2-2.5 hours until pasta is tender and cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Serve generous portions of the delicious pizza casserole.
Notes
For extra flavor, consider adding a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat mixture. This casserole is perfect for meal prepping and reheats well throughout the week. If you prefer a crispier topping, you can transfer the casserole to an oven-safe dish and broil for a few minutes after slow cooking.