– 1 pound ground beef
– 1 pound Italian sausage
– 1 package (8 oz) pepperoni slices
– 2 cups pizza sauce
– 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
– 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
– 1 package (12 oz) refrigerated biscuit dough (or pizza dough)
– 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
– ½ teaspoon garlic powder
– ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
– Salt and pepper to taste
Creating this amazing Meat Lovers Pizza Casserole is straightforward. Just follow these steps:
1. Preheat Oven: Begin by preheating your oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Brown the Meat: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage until fully browned. Drain excess fat.
3. Add Seasonings: Stir in the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mix well and remove from heat.
4. Prepare the Dough: If using biscuit dough, cut each biscuit into quarters. For pizza dough, roll it out and cut it into small pieces.
5. Layer Ingredients: In a greased 9×13 inch casserole dish, spread half of the biscuit or pizza dough on the bottom.
6. Add Meat Mixture: Layer the cooked meat mixture evenly over the dough.
7. Add Sauce and Cheese: Pour pizza sauce over the meat, then sprinkle with half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.
8. Add Pepperoni: Distribute pepperoni slices generously on top of the cheese.
9. Finish with Remaining Dough: Place the remaining dough pieces on top, covering the pepperoni and cheese.
10. Top with Cheese: Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheese over the casserole.
11. Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly.
12. Cool: Once baked, remove from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes before serving.
This step-by-step method will help you create an incredible dish that everyone at your table will adore.