If your family is anything like mine, anything with “pizza” in the name gets everyone excited. This dump and bake pizza casserole brings all those cheesy, saucy, pepperoni-packed flavors to the dinner table without having to roll a single dough. The best part? There’s no boiling pasta ahead of time. You just throw everything into one dish, pop it in the oven, and let it bake into gooey perfection.

Dump And Bake Pizza Casserole

This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights when you need dinner to practically make itself. If you love easy, budget-friendly meals like this, be sure to check out my [Baked Spaghetti Casserole], [Cheesy Ravioli Bake], or even my super popular [Sheet Pan Pizza Sliders]. They’re all crowd-pleasers that come together with minimal effort and ingredients.

What I really love about this dish is that it’s endlessly customizable. You can toss in your favorite pizza toppings like mushrooms, cooked sausage, onions, or even olives. It’s also great for using up leftover sauce or pasta shapes you already have in the pantry. Once you’ve made it once, you’ll be adding it to your regular rotation in no time.

What You Will Love About This Recipe

No boiling pasta — just dump, bake, and serve

Tastes like pizza night but with less mess and way fewer dishes

Perfect for picky eaters since you can leave out or add whatever toppings you want

One-pan wonder — dinner is ready with just one baking dish

What is Pizza Casserole?

Pizza Casserole is a pasta bake that combines pasta and pizza into one incredible dish. The traditional pizza dough is replaced with elbow noodles, but has all the other delicious pizza flavors you love!

How to Make Dump and Bake Pizza Casserole

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with canola spray.
Pour uncooked elbows into your casserole dish

Add the spaghetti sauce.

Pour in the water.

Add about ¾ of your pepperoni slices.

Give everything a mix to combine.

Cover with aluminum foil.
Place in the oven for 25 minutes.
After 25 min remove from the oven. Remove the aluminum foil.

Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top.

Sprinkle the remaining pepperoni over the top.

Recover with aluminum foil.
Place back in the oven for 15 minutes.
Remove and Enjoy!!

Tips & Tricks

Don’t skip the foil — it helps trap the steam and cook the pasta perfectly without drying out the sauce.
Use mini pepperoni for even topping coverage and fun presentation, but regular slices work just as well.
Switch up your sauce by trying a spicy arrabbiata or a garlic-parmesan base for a twist.
Add-ins are welcome — toss in some diced green peppers, onions, or precooked sausage to bulk it up.
Let it sit for a few minutes before serving so it thickens up and cuts neatly.

FAQs

Yes! You can assemble everything up to the point of baking, then cover and refrigerate. Just add about 10 extra minutes to your bake time if it’s cold from the fridge.

Absolutely. Assemble, wrap tightly, and freeze before baking. When ready to eat, thaw overnight and bake as directed.

Totally. Short shapes like penne, rotini, or shells work great—just avoid anything too large or thick since it might need a longer cooking time.

Go for it! Add extra mozzarella in the middle layer before the final bake, or mix in some shredded parmesan for a sharp cheesy bite.

Dump And Bake Pizza Casserole

Name: Dump And Bake Pizza Casserole
Prep time: 3 min
Total time: 3 min
Ingredients: 1 (16 oz) Box of Elbow Pasta, uncooked; 3 Cups Spaghetti Sauce; 3 Cups Water; 1 (5 oz) Pepperoni Slices, I used the minis; 1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella

Prep Time: 3 minutes

Total Time: 3 minutes

This 4 ingredient Dump And Bake Pizza Casserole will be a new family favorite in no time as it takes all your favorite ingredients to make a one dish pizza casserole that everyone always loves!

Ingredients

1 (16 oz) Box of Elbow Pasta, uncooked
3 Cups Spaghetti Sauce
3 Cups Water
1 (5 oz) Pepperoni Slices, I used the minis
1 Cup Shredded Mozzarella

Instructions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
Spray a 9 x 13 baking dish with canola spray.
Pour uncooked elbows into your casserole dish
Add the spaghetti sauce.
Pour in the water.
Add about ¾ of your pepperoni slices.
Give everything a mix to combine.
Cover with aluminum foil.
Place in the oven for 25 minutes.
After 25 min remove from the oven. Remove the aluminum foil.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over the top.
Sprinkle the remaining pepperoni over the top.
Recover with aluminum foil.
Place back in the oven for 15 minutes.
Remove and Enjoy!!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 172Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 680mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 4gSugar: 7gProtein: 8g

Melissa

I’m Melissa, the imaginative force behind Sparkles to Sprinkles, where creativity comes to life, and sprinkles of joy are scattered generously. Melissa is a proud Jersey girl who found love with a New York boy. As a mom to four wonderful boys and a few fur babies, her journey into the world of blogging began after making the life-changing decision to stay home and raise her children. Previously a dedicated workaholic, Melissa’s blog became her creative outlet and passion project. Inspired by her mother-in-law, a masterful cook renowned for her delicious home-cooked meals and legendary holiday feasts (think mouthwatering sausage stuffing), Melissa honed her culinary skills through a combination of family recipes and countless cooking classes. She often attended these classes with her son Michael, who shared her enthusiasm for cooking from a young age. Melissa’s love for learning extends beyond familiar cuisines, as she enjoys exploring international recipes in hands-on cooking classes. Her blog features a diverse array of recipes, showcasing her expertise with various kitchen appliances such as the Instant Pot, air fryer, Slow Cooker, Ninja Foodi, Instant Vortex Plus, and more. Join Melissa on her culinary adventures as she shares tried-and-true family favorites alongside exciting new discoveries!

Dump And Bake Pizza Casserole