If you’re craving all the cozy, cheesy, saucy flavors of pizza but want something a little heartier (and way easier), this pizza rice casserole is about to be your new weeknight favorite. It’s gluten-free, kid-approved, and has all your favorite pizza toppings. Think of it as the ultimate comfort food meets your pizza night craving.
Want another dump and bake type dinner? Try this Dump and Bake Meatball Casserole! So easy and filled with feta cheese!
Why You’ll Love This Pizza Rice Casserole
- Total comfort food -warm, cheesy, and satisfying.
- Budget-friendly -way cheaper than buying out.
- Naturally gluten-free -none of the ingredients contain gluten but always read your labels to be sure.
- Customizable while I typically keep it simple for a fast dinner, you can absolutely top it with your favorite pizza toppings.
- Meal-prep friendly — reheats like a dream.
Ingredients
- Rice
- Broth
- Cream Cheese (see below)
- Sun dried tomatoes
- Garlic
- Onion
- Tomatoes
- Arugula
- Sausage
- Garlic Powder
- Italian Seasoning
- Salt
- Shredded mozzarella
- Pepperoni slices (or your favorite toppings: mushrooms, olives, peppers, etc.)
See below for quantity ingredients!
Seasonally, Trader Joe's makes an "everything but the pizza cream cheese" that's just perfect for this recipe, and you can skip the sundried tomatoes if you use it, as it has them in it!
Swaps & Variations
- Dairy-free: Use your favorite DF mozzarella + parmesan alternatives.
- Add protein: Browned ground beef, Italian sausage, chicken, or turkey pepperoni.
- Veggie-loaded: Add mushrooms, spinach, bell peppers, onions, or zucchini.
- Extra saucy: Increase the marinara for a more lasagna-like vibe.
How to Make Pizza Rice Casserole
- Preheat your oven to 425°F.
- Add together the rice, broth, garlic, onion, cream cheese, sundried tomatoes, and arugula.
- Bake for 35 minutes, covered.
- Stir in the spices and mix everything together, then back into the oven to bake another 30 minutes.
- Top with the mozzarella and pepperoni (or your favorite toppings).
- Broil uncovered for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese.
Storage & Reheating
- Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-5 days.
- Reheat: Warm in the microwave or bake at 350°F until heated through.
- Freeze: Freeze tightly wrapped portions or the entire casserole once cooled for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight before reheating.
Pizza Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups Rice
- 3 cups Broth
- 8 oz. Cream Cheese see ingredient list above
- 1 pint Sun dried tomatoes
- 5 cloves Garlic diced
- 1 medium Onion chopped
- 1 pint Tomatoes
- 2 handfuls Arugula
- 12-16 oz. Sausage fully cooked, chopped
- 1 tsp. Garlic Powder
- 1 tbsp. Italian Seasoning
- 1 tsp. Salt
- 1 cup Shredded mozzarella
- Pepperoni slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425°F and bring the broth to a boil
- Add to a casserole dish the uncooked rice, boiling broth, cream cheese, sundried tomatoes, garlic, onion, grape tomatoes, arugula, and sausage.
- Cover tightly with foil or a lid and bake for about 35 minutes, then stir it thoroughly and add the spices, then recover and bake for another 30 minutes or so, or until the rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Put the oven on broil, then top the casserole with the mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. Broil for 2-4 minutes until the cheese is melted.
Did you try this recipe? Leave a comment below with a rating to let me know how it came out or any questions!
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