Description
This Dolly Parton Pizza Casserole is a warm, cheesy, and nostalgic dinner that blends classic pizza flavors with comforting baked pasta. Made with affordable, pantry-friendly ingredients like ground beef, egg noodles, pizza sauce, and melted mozzarella, it’s a crowd-pleaser that’s perfect for families, potlucks, or busy weeknights. Easy to prepare and highly customizable, this budget-friendly casserole is sure to become a go-to favorite in your home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 (24 oz) jar pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 1 (8 oz) can sliced mushrooms, drained (optional)
- 1 (3.8 oz) can sliced black olives, drained (optional)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 (12 oz) package wide egg noodles
- 1/2 cup chopped turkey bacon or chicken ham (optional topping)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Cook egg noodles according to package directions, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, chopped onion, and bell pepper until the beef is browned and vegetables are tender. Drain any excess grease.
- Stir in the pizza sauce, mushrooms, and olives (if using). Simmer for 5–7 minutes to blend flavors.
- Add the cooked noodles to the meat mixture and stir to combine.
- Pour the noodle and meat mixture into the prepared baking dish.
- Sprinkle the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses evenly over the top.
- Add chopped turkey bacon or chicken ham over the cheese, if desired.
- Bake uncovered for 20–25 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.