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Pizza Casserole Bake: A Comforting Twist on Pizza Night
Introduction
Craving pizza, but want something a little different? Enter this Pizza Casserole Bake—a cheesy, hearty, and satisfying dish that brings together all the flavors of pizza in a delicious casserole form. Packed with croissants, eggs, sausage, pepperoni, cheese, and classic pizza seasonings, this casserole is sure to be a hit at your dinner table. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or looking for a crowd-pleasing meal, this recipe will quickly become a favorite. Plus, it’s so easy to make!
Let’s get cooking.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
This Pizza Casserole Bake is a fun and flavorful spin on the classic pizza but with a comforting, casserole twist. The croissants make it so much more than just a pizza—it’s like pizza and a savory bread pudding had a baby. The blend of sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, and parmesan makes it super cheesy and delicious, while the eggs and heavy cream bring it all together in a rich, creamy embrace.
This recipe is perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or when you want a pizza-inspired meal that’s a little more filling. Plus, it’s versatile enough to suit a variety of dietary preferences, so feel free to get creative with the ingredients.
First things first, let’s get organized and prep. Dice your veggies, measure your cream, etc.
Prepare the Croissants
Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C). While it’s heating, grab your croissants. Slice each one into pieces, either by cutting them into thick strips or chunks, depending on your preference. The croissants will form the base of the casserole, giving it a light and flaky texture. Place the croissant pieces into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading them out evenly.
Prepare the Egg-Cream Mixture
In a large bowl, whisk together the 8 eggs, heavy cream, garlic butter seasoning, basil, oregano, and all-purpose seasoning. This mixture will create the custardy base of your casserole and bring everything together. Make sure everything is well combined before moving on to the next step.
Dice your veggies. Feel free to add or swap the veggies you like (things like mushrooms would work as well or you can go all out with a supreme pizza vibe!)
Cook the Sausage and Vegetables
In a large skillet, cook the Italian sausage over medium heat, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks. Once the sausage is browned, add the diced onion and diced bell pepper. Sauté for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables have softened. Drain any excess fat and set aside to cool slightly.
In the same skillet you cooked the sausage, sauté your veggies.
Mr. Make It Happen
2pc. Hybrid Skillet
Add the veggies to a mixing bowl along with the sausage.
Next, let’s make our pizza sauce.
If you’re craving homemade pizza but don’t want to spend hours making the sauce, this Quick and Easy Pizza Sauce is the perfect solution! With just a handful of ingredients and a few minutes of prep, you can make a flavorful sauce that’s perfect for topping your pizzas or dipping your crust. No more store-bought pizza sauces—this one is fresh, tasty, and super simple!
Instructions:
- Combine Ingredients: In a medium bowl, combine the crushed tomatoes, olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper. Stir well until all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
- Taste and Adjust: Give your sauce a taste and adjust the seasonings if needed. If you like a little more zing, add a pinch more salt or a dash of crushed red pepper flakes. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add a touch more sugar.
- Simmer (Optional): For a deeper flavor, you can simmer the sauce on low heat for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together, but this step is completely optional if you’re in a hurry.
- Spread & Enjoy: Use the sauce immediately on your pizza dough, or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
Layer the Casserole
Now it’s time to assemble your casserole. Start by layering half of the cooked sausage and vegetable mixture over the croissant pieces in the baking dish.
Next, sprinkle half of the pepperoni slices over the sausage mixture, followed by half of the shredded mozzarella and parmesan.
Repeat the layering process with the remaining sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, and parmesan. Finish by pouring the egg-cream mixture evenly over the entire casserole, ensuring the croissants and other ingredients are well coated.
Bake to Perfection
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven. Bake for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly, and the casserole has set in the center.
Let it Rest and Serve
Once your Pizza Casserole Bake is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving. This allows the casserole to firm up a little and makes it easier to cut into portions.
Tips & Variations:
- Add More Toppings: If you’re a fan of classic pizza toppings, you can easily add mushrooms, olives, or even some cooked bacon for extra flavor.
- Make It Spicy: Spice things up by adding some red pepper flakes or spicy sausage to the mix.
- Vegetarian Version: For a veggie version, skip the sausage and pepperoni, and instead load up with more vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes.
- Make Ahead: You can assemble the casserole a day in advance, cover it tightly with foil, and refrigerate overnight. When you’re ready to bake, just pop it in the oven, though you may need to add a few extra minutes to the bake time.
Enjoy your Pizza Casserole Bake, and don’t forget to save some for leftovers—this casserole tastes even better the next day!
Print and Download: Pizza Croissant Casserole Recipe
Pizza Croissant Casserole
Ingredients
- 8 large croissants
- 8 eggs
- 3 cups heavy cream
- 2 tsp garlic butter seasoning
- 2 tsp basil and oregano
- 1/2 lb Italian sausage
- 1 cup pepperoni, sliced
- 1 cup mozzarella, shredded
- 1 cup parmesan, grated
- 1 tsp all-purpose seasoning, or to taste
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 1 cup pizza sauce
Pizza Sauce
- 1 can, 15 oz crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar, optional, to balance acidity
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Dice your veggies, measure your cream, etc.
Prepare the Croissants
- Start by preheating your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- While it’s heating, grab your croissants. Slice each one into pieces, either by cutting them into thick strips or chunks, depending on your preference. The croissants will form the base of the casserole, giving it a light and flaky texture.
- Place the croissant pieces into a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading them out evenly.
Prepare the Egg-Cream Mixture
- In a large bowl, whisk together the 8 eggs, heavy cream, garlic butter seasoning, basil, oregano, and all-purpose seasoning. This mixture will create the custardy base of your casserole and bring everything together.
- Make sure everything is well combined before moving on to the next step.
- If you haven’t, dice your veggies. Feel free to add or swap the veggies you like (things like mushrooms would work as well or you can go all out with a supreme pizza vibe!)
- Cook the Sausage and Vegetables
- In a large skillet, cook the Italian sausage over medium heat, breaking it apart with a spoon as it cooks.
- Once the sausage is browned, add the diced onion and diced bell pepper.
- Sauté for another 3-4 minutes until the vegetables have softened.
- Drain any excess fat and set aside to cool slightly.
- In the same skillet you cooked the sausage, sauté your veggies.
- Add the veggies to a mixing bowl along with the sausage.
- Next, let’s make our pizza sauce.
Combine Ingredients:
- In a medium bowl, combine the crushed tomatoes, olive oil, garlic powder, oregano, basil, sugar, salt, and pepper.
- Stir well until all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.
Taste and Adjust:
- Give your sauce a taste and adjust the seasonings if needed.
- If you like a little more zing, add a pinch more salt or a dash of crushed red pepper flakes. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add a touch more sugar.
Simmer (Optional):
- For a deeper flavor, you can simmer the sauce on low heat for 10-15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together, but this step is completely optional if you’re in a hurry.
Spread & Enjoy:
- Use the sauce immediately on your pizza dough, or store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
- Layer the Casserole
- Now it’s time to assemble your casserole.
- Start by layering half of the cooked sausage and vegetable mixture over the croissant pieces in the baking dish.
- Next, sprinkle half of the pepperoni slices over the sausage mixture, followed by half of the shredded mozzarella and parmesan.
- Repeat the layering process with the remaining sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, and parmesan.
- Finish by pouring the egg-cream mixture evenly over the entire casserole, ensuring the croissants and other ingredients are well coated.
Bake to Perfection
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it in the preheated oven.
- Bake for about 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the top is golden and bubbly, and the casserole has set in the center.
Let it Rest and Serve
- Once your Pizza Casserole Bake is done, remove it from the oven and let it rest for about 5 minutes before serving.
- This allows the casserole to firm up a little and makes it easier to cut into portions.
Notes
- Add More Toppings: If you’re a fan of classic pizza toppings, you can easily add mushrooms, olives, or even some cooked bacon for extra flavor.
- Make It Spicy: Spice things up by adding some red pepper flakes or spicy sausage to the mix.
- Vegetarian Version: For a veggie version, skip the sausage and pepperoni, and instead load up with more vegetables like mushrooms, spinach, and tomatoes.
- Make Ahead: You can assemble the casserole a day in advance, cover it tightly with foil, and refrigerate overnight. When you’re ready to bake, just pop it in the oven, though you may need to add a few extra minutes to the baking time.
