Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

Introduction

If you love pizza night but crave a meal that’s even simpler to pull together, Crock Pot Pizza Casserole is the answer. This recipe delivers classic pizzeria flavors in a comforting, set-it-and-forget-it casserole—perfect for busy weeknights and effortless family dinners. With layers of gooey cheese, savory sauce, and your favorite toppings, it’s a go-to for pleasing picky eaters and pizza lovers alike.

Why Crock Pot Pizza Casserole is a Crowd Pleaser

This casserole reinvents pizza by making it portable, leftover-friendly, and incredibly easy to prepare. You get all the melty, cheesy goodness of a loaded pizza, combined with tender pasta and the hands-off convenience of the slow cooker. Customize with everyone’s favorite pizza toppings—like pepperoni, sausage, or vegetables—so every bite is packed with flavor.

The Secret to Flavorful Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

Browning the meat and lightly toasting the pasta before everything simmers infuses deep, savory flavors throughout the dish. The slow cooker gives the cheese a perfectly melty consistency, while the sauce and add-ins meld into a rich, robust meal. Choosing high-quality sauce and your favorite blend of cheeses will elevate the whole casserole.

Assembling Your Pizza Casserole in the Slow Cooker

Begin by layering cooked pasta, browned sausage or ground beef, spaghetti sauce, and plenty of cheese. Add your favorite pizza toppings between the layers—think sliced olives, mushrooms, or sliced pepperoni. Top it all off with extra cheese and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning for that irresistible pizza aroma.

Serving Suggestions for Crock Pot Pizza Casserole

This casserole is best served hot, straight from the crock pot. Garnish with fresh basil or a handful of chopped parsley for a burst of color and flavor. Pair with a crisp green salad or garlic bread to round out a satisfying family meal. The leftovers reheat beautifully for a tasty lunch the next day.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe makes about 6 hearty servings. Each serving (without extra toppings) generally contains 400–500 calories, with protein and fiber from the meat and veggies, and a satisfying balance of carbs and healthy fats. Choose turkey sausage or add more veggies for a lighter twist!

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and streamlined meal planning.

Instructions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, brown sausage (or ground beef) with chopped onion over medium-high heat until cooked through. Drain excess fat, then stir in garlic; cook for 1 minute more.
3. In the crock pot, add half of the cooked pasta, then a layer of the meat mixture, followed by half the sauce, half the diced tomatoes, half the mozzarella, half the Parmesan, and half the pepperoni or optional toppings. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
4. Repeat layers with remaining ingredients.
5. Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours or until cheese is melted and everything is bubbly and hot. (Avoid overcooking so pasta doesn’t go mushy.)
6. Top with more cheese or extra fresh toppings, if desired, and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.

Weekly Meal Planning

This recipe is ideal for prepping in advance—assemble everything the night before, refrigerate the slow cooker insert, and start cooking the next day. Save and schedule this recipe in your meal planner to automatically combine ingredients with your other planned meals and avoid shopping headaches.

Planning Benefits:

– Calculates total ingredient quantities across all your recipes
– Sorts your shopping list by store section for fast and organized shopping
– Helps avoid duplicate purchases and forgotten essentials
– Makes weekly meal prep more predictable, less stressful, and efficient

Pro tip: Schedule this recipe alongside others for the week. If you need onion for multiple dishes, your shopping list will automatically total it—no more guesswork or missed ingredients.

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 3–4 hours (slow cooker)
Total Time: 3 hours 20 minutes to 4 hours 20 minutes

Enjoy your flavorful, hands-off Crock Pot Pizza Casserole and make meal planning a breeze!