# Crockpot Pizza Casserole

Pasta, sausage, pepperoni, and marinara with mozzarella on top; the pasta goes in cooked so it does not turn to paste.

 

 

 ![Crockpot Pizza Casserole](https://irenpins.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/ire-casserole-pizza.webp)  

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## Crockpot Pizza Casserole

Recipe by Iren Pavlenko

 

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0.0 from 0 votes ** 

Course: Main CourseDifficulty: Easy

Servings

6

servings

Prep time

20

minutes

Cooking time

3

hours 

Pasta, sausage, pepperoni, and marinara with mozzarella on top; the pasta goes in cooked so it does not turn to paste.

### Ingredients

- 12 oz rigatoni or penne, cooked 3 minutes less than the package says
- 1 lb Italian sausage, browned and drained
- 1 jar (24 oz) marinara
- 1 cup pepperoni slices
- 1 green bell pepper and ½ onion, diced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh basil leaves to finish
- Red pepper flakes to serve

### Directions

- Gather and measure everything before you start, so nothing waits on the counter.
- Brown the sausage with the pepper and onion and drain.
- Stir the sausage, marinara, half the pepperoni, and the seasoning together in the insert.
- Cook 2–3 hours on LOW.
- Fold in the drained pasta.
- Top with the mozzarella and the rest of the pepperoni and cook 15–20 minutes, until the cheese melts.
- Check that the cheese has melted into a blanket and the pasta is tender but still holds its shape.
- Let the casserole rest 10 minutes with the lid off so the layers set.
- Scoop with a wide spoon straight down to the bottom, so each serving has every layer.
- Cool leftovers within 2 hours and refrigerate in shallow containers for up to 4 days.

 

### Notes

 

Undercook the pasta. It keeps soaking up sauce in the pot.

 

  

## Why undercook the pasta

 

Pasta keeps absorbing sauce in the pot, so it finishes cooking there. Pulling it three minutes early keeps it from turning to paste.

 

Browning the sausage first gives it a better flavor and removes extra fat.

 

## Crockpot Pizza Casserole: swaps

 

Ground beef can replace sausage, and turkey pepperoni works too. Mushrooms or olives are easy additions. Do not use fresh mozzarella, which turns watery.

 

Penne holds sauce well. Skip tiny pasta shapes.

 

## Serve and store

 

A crisp green salad and garlic bread suit it. Leftovers keep in shallow containers. Reheat with a splash of water or sauce, because the pasta soaks up moisture overnight.

 

## One mistake with this casserole

 

Draining the sausage badly. Extra grease floats in the sauce and the cheese turns oily. Drain it well, and fold in the pasta only when the sauce is hot. Let the cheese melt into a blanket before you scoop.

 

Warm bread on the side is a good way to finish off the sauce on the plate. Kids tend to like the pepperoni on top most, so save a few slices for the last layer.