This dish gives you the flavor of pizza, but in an easy casserole form. Mozzarella cheese, meat sauce, and a batter that produces a crust-like layer, makes this casserole much like an upside down deep dish pizza. Add your favorite toppings!
Deep Dish Pizza Casserole
This recipe is really a casserole, but it sure fills the bill when you're in the mood for pizza, but lacking the time. Of course, homemade pizza from scratch, is always the way to go - and there's nothing that can really match it. But, let's face it. That's pretty much a weekend project for many of us.
It's a casserole style that dish gives you the flavor of pizza, but in much less time. Layers of ingredients, beginning with Mozzarella cheese, topped with a meat sauce, and finished with a batter that produces a crust-like layer, makes this casserole much like an upside down deep dish pizza.
We like green bell pepper, onion, beef and pepperoni on ours, but make it your own by adding your favorite pizza toppings. Use my easy homemade pizza sauce for this, or I often use the Walmart Great Value pizza sauce - it's cheap, it's tasty and it's lower in sugar than most commercial products.
So, when you have the taste for pizza, but not the time, this casserole is a winner since it comes together so quick and easy, but still gives you that pizza taste. It's one of those recipes that's been around forever and it's always a favorite in our house. If you haven't gotten around to trying it yet, what are you waiting for?
For more of my favorite casserole recipes, visit my page on Pinterest!!
Upside Down Deep Dish Pizza Casserole
Yield: About 4 to 6 servings
Prep time: 30 MinCook time: 30 MinTotal time: 1 Hour
This dish gives you the flavor of pizza, but in an easy casserole form. Mozzarella cheese, meat sauce, and a batter that produces a crust-like layer, makes this casserole much like an upside down deep dish pizza. Add your favorite toppings!
Ingredients
- 8 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 2-3 ounces pepperoni, roughly chopped
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 (14 ounce) jar pizza sauce, or a homemade version
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
- Butter or spray a 9 x 13 inch glass baking pan with non-stick cooking spray and sprinkle the mozzarella cheese evenly on the bottom of the baking pan; set aside.
- Heat the 1/2 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook the onion and bell pepper until soft, but not browned.
- Add the beef and cook until browned. Stir in the pepperoni and cook another 4 minutes; drain excess fat if needed.
- Stir in the pizza sauce and Italian seasoning and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the milk, oil and eggs. Add the flour and the salt to the milk mixture and whisk until well blended and smooth.
- Carefully transfer the meat mixture evenly over the layer of mozzarella in the prepared pan. Pour the batter on top of the meat mixture, making sure to cover completely. Do not stir. Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese evenly on top.
- Bake about 35 to 45 minutes or until golden brown and puffy. Casserole will deflate and resemble an upside down deep dish pizza.
Notes:
Vary the "toppings" to create your own favorite pizza flavors!
Taco Casserole: Prepare as above, except omit pepperoni and substitute taco sauce for the pizza sauce. Omit Italian seasoning and substitute a packet of taco seasoning or equivalent homemade. Prepare batter and layer as above. When finished baking, let cool slightly and add a layer of 1/2 cup sour cream. Finish with layers of toppings such as finely shredded lettuce, chopped onion, chopped tomato, shredded cheese, black olives and/or whatever taco toppings you like.
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