Name: Pizza Casserole Pie: A Savory Twist on Classic Pizza
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 package refrigerated pie crusts ((or homemade pie dough)); 2 tbsp olive oil (divided); 1/2 onion chopped onion; 2 cloves garlic (minced); 1 pound ground sausage or Italian sausage (casing removed); 1 cup pizza sauce; 1 cup mozzarella cheese (shredded); 1/2 cup pepperoni slices; 1/2 cup bell peppers (diced); 1/2 cup mushrooms (sliced); 1 tsp Italian seasoning; salt and pepper (to taste); extra mozzarella cheese (for topping); additional pepperoni slices (for topping)

This Pizza Casserole Pie is everything you love about pizza in casserole form as a thick, sliceable pie. With a flaky crust and a rich, cheesy filling, it’s full of sausage, pepperoni, veggies and Italian seasonings. Building on all that goodness, this recipe merges the best parts of pizza and pie into a singularly comforting dish, making it a perfect option for family dinners or get-togethers.

Why You Are Going To Love This Pizza Casserole Pie:

Hearty and Comforting: The blend of flaky buttery pie crust and delicious pizza filling makes this recipe on of the best comfort food.

Customizable: You can easily trade in your favorite pizza toppings, making it adaptable for everyone’s tastes, be it classic pepperoni or veggie-heavy.

Simple Dinner for the Whole Family: It’s a home-run with both kids and adults — perfect for busy weeknights or a casual dinner party.

Make-Ahead Friendly: You can fully assemble this pie ahead of time, and then bake it off when you want to eat it, so dinner prep is a breeze.

It Keeps: If there’s any left, just pop a slice in the microwave or oven and heat for a quick mid-day meal the next day.

Would you like to save this?

Just drop your email here and I'll send it right away!

Key Ingredients:

Pie Crust

Store-Bought or Homemade? Store-bought refrigerated pie crust is a time-saver, but if you have a great recipe for homemade pie dough, do that! It lends another layer of flakiness.

Pre-baking Is Crucial: Pre-baking the crust is essential so it doesn’t end up soggy once you add the filling. Then you just bake for a quick 8 minutes.

Brushing with Olive Oil: A light brushing of olive oil on the crust prior to baking lends it a rich flavor and browns handsomely.

Ground Sausage

Pick Your Protein: Italian sausage gives it a nice heat, but ground beef, turkey or even a plant-based sausage alternative work, too.

Season As You Go: Since sausage can be saltier or less salty depending on the brand, you don’t want to over-season your filling before it’s cooked. Taste it and adjust the seasoning afterward.

Vegetables and Toppings

Bell Peppers and Mushrooms: While you can’t go wrong with these pizza staples, feel free to throw on other favorites, such as olives, spinach, or jalapeño.

Pepperoni: Always a punchy flavor bomb, and a fan favorite, but can easily be replaced with other cured meats like salami, or omitted completely for a vegetarian version.

Mozzarella Cheese: Provides that classic pizza stretch when melted. Sprinkle in some cheddar or Parmesan for more cheesiness and another layer of flavor.

Pizza Sauce

Store-Bought Vs. Homemade: Store-bought pizza sauce is fine for when you’re in a bind, but if you have the time to spare, make your own, which can elevate the flavors. And make sure the sauce has a nice consistency so that the pie isn’t too watery.

Spice It Up: Adjust for heat, adding more red pepper flakes, and if needed, add a pinch of sugar to balance out the acidity.

Full list of ingredients (amounts) and instructions are located in the recipe card below

Directions

Prepare the Crust

Preheat the Oven:

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).

Roll Out the Pie Crust:

Weigh it on a lightly floured surface and roll it out until it is about 1/8 inch thick, then fit it into a deep dish pie plate, allowing the dough to cover the edges of the dish.

Brush the crust with olive oil to impart flavour and help a lovely golden colour develop.

Pre-bake the Crust:

Bake the crust for about 8 minutes, until slightly golden. This will pre-bake the crust, keeping it from being soggy when the filling is added.

Take out of the oven and let sit to cool slightly.

Make the Filling

Sauté the Aromatics:

In a big skillet, add a bit of olive oil and heat to a medium high heat.

Then add chopped onion and minced garlic, cooking until translucent and fragrant.

Cook the Sausage:

Add the ground sausage to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spoon or spatula.

Cook until browned and crumbly; drain any excess fat.

Combine Ingredients:

Add in pizza sauce, shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni slices, diced bell peppers and sliced mushrooms.

Season with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper to taste cooking until well combined and cheese is melting.

Assemble the Pie

Fill the Crust:

Pour the filling in the pre-baked crust and smooth out evenly.

For more flavor, top with mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices.

Add a Top Crust (Optional):

If sealing an entire pie, place a second piece of pie crust over the top.

Pinch the edges together to seal, then slash the top crust to release steam.

Bake

Bake the Pie:

Put the assembled pie in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and filling is hot and bubbling.

Cool and Serve:

Let the pie cool for a few minutes — just long enough for the filling to set.

Cut and serve hot: the ooey-gooey cheesiness, decadent, salty goodness.

Serving Suggestions:

So of course you might be wondering: What should we serve with our Pizza Casserole Pie? Here are some ideal pairings to complete your meal:

Fresh Salad: A crunchy Caesar salad or simple mixed greens with a vinaigrette will balance the richness of the pie.

Garlic Bread: Pair with a couple of garlic breadsticks or a buttery garlic loaf to soak up any leftover sauce.

Dipping Sauces: Marinara or ranch dipping sauce can give an extra flavor to dip each cheesy slice.

Cold Drinks: This hefty meal cries out for a glass of red wine or a cold beer, or even a soda for the full pizza-parlor experience.

Storage and Meal Prep Tips:

Leftover Pizza Casserole Pie? No problem! Here’s how to keep it good and tasty:

Refrigeration: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days. Reheat slices in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 minutes or so to recrisp that crust.

Freezer: You may freeze an already baked pie by wrapping it in foil and putting it into a freezer-safe bag. To reheat, bake from frozen at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until warm.

Make-Ahead Tip: The filling and crust can be prepared separately up to 1 day ahead. Refrigerate the filling and assemble the pie right before baking.

Variations on Your Pizza Casserole Pie:

Fun & Delicious Variations to Personalize Your Pizza Casserole Pie:

Veggie Lovers: For a delicious vegetarian version, replace the sausage with sautéed spinach, roasted zucchini and artichoke hearts.

Carnivore’s Delight: It can be a meat lover’s dream by adding extra cooked bacon, ham, and sausage.

BBQ Chicken Twist: Replace the pizza sauce with BBQ sauce, plus cooked shredded chicken and red onions for a sweet, smoky flavor.

Spicy Kick: Stir in red pepper flakes or use spicy Italian sausage for a little heat.

Four-Cheese Bomb: Blend various cheeses — cheddar, Monterey Jack or provolone — into the filling for a more decadent, creamier pie.

Conclusion:

Pizza Casserole Pie though pulls together everything you love about pizza, with the comforting vibes of a homemade pie. It’s simple to make, infinitely customizable and can feed a hungry family. For weekend nights, whether you do classic pepperoni and sausage or you put your own spin on things, he just thought that it became sort of a go-to comfort favorite. Cook away, and savor every tasty morsel!