Low Calorie Pizza Casserole

Pizza Casserole

This Low Calorie Pizza Casserole Recipe is very deceiving, on purpose. It looks decadent and unhealthy, but under that top layer of pepperoni and cheese is a veggie packed casserole that tastes just like your favorite pizza!

I have supplied you with protein boosting and carb cutting tricks below so that you can make this yummy meal no matter what diet you are on.

Pizza Casserole

And this pizza casserole recipe his a great meal prep dinner as well. You will find meal prep tips below too.

Low Calorie Pizza Casserole

Ingredients in Healthy Pizza Casserole Recipes

Here at Lose Weight By Eating we don’t shy away from carbs. 1000’s of people have lost weight eating healthy pasta dishes, and that’s why this recipe uses regular pasta.

However, I understand that many people don’t feel great after eating pasta or can’t have traditional pasta. And with that said I have included some tips to boost protein and lower the carbs in a big way.

Boost Protein and Lower Carbs:

  1. Swap out the pasta for Protein Pasta (I like Banza Chickpea Pasta)
  2. Cook 4 Italian sausages and dice. Then add them to the filling to boost the protein.
  3. Make my homemade marinara sauce. The nutrition is based off store-bought which has lots of added sugar and carbs. But it’s what most people use, and that’s why I use it in the nutrition label.
Pizza Casserole

Shopping List for Healthy Pizza Casseroles:

  • Olive oil spray
  • 1 16-ounce package penne pasta
  • 3 cups Marinara Sauce 
  • 1 red bell pepper 
  • 1 green bell pepper 
  • 1/2 small red onion 
  • 5 ounces mushrooms
  • 1/4 cup black olives 
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup all-natural pepperoni slices

How to Make Low Calorie Pizza Casseroles

You can easily meal prep this recipe. You can meal prep in individual servings, or in a family size batch! Here are some tips on meal prepping.

How to Meal Prep:

  1. Prepare and cook the recipe according to the directions.
  2. Cool completely.
  3. Cut into 8 servings (one long cut lengthwise and 3 short cuts across)
  4. Scoop portions out and place in meal prep containers.
  5. Cover and freeze or refrigerate, will hold for 4 days in the fridge and 1 month in the freezer.
  6. To reheat, uncover and place in the microwave (5-6 minutes for frozen or 1-3 minutes for defrosted) or the oven (375 degrees, bake for 20 minutes from defrosted until hot).
  7. Alternatively for a family sized meal prep, you can prep the entire casserole and skip baking it. Cover well and store in the fridge for 4 days or the freezer for a month. To complete the meal, simply bake according to the directions (the recipe card is printable- I recommend printing and taping to the casserole so you don’t have to search later.)
Pizza Casserole

How to Make Healthy Pizza Casseroles:

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and spray a 9×13 casserole dish with olive oil.
  2. Cook the pasta according to directions on package. Drain and add back to the pot.
  3. To the cooked pasta, add 2 cups of the marinara sauce, bell peppers, red onions, mushrooms, and black olives.
  4. Mix the pasta together and scoop into the prepared baking dish.
  5. Top with remaining marinara sauce, and then cheese, and finally the pepperoni slices.
  6. Cover with foil and place in the hot oven.
  7. Bake for 20 minutes covered, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
  8. Remove from the oven and serve hot.

Low Calorie Pizza Casserole Recipe

This pasta casserole is so yummy and surprisingly healthy too! I have supplied you with tips on cutting carbs and boosting protein in the Ingredients Section, and tips on meal prepping this recipe in the How To Section.

Pizza Casserole

Low Calorie Pizza Casserole

Lose Weight By Eating
This pizza casserole is quick and easy, and actually healthy. Though it doesn't look that way. And that's intentional.
We hide all the healthy pizza topping ingredients under the pepperoni so you feel like you're eating a naughty dinner, when in fact you are having a veggie packed dinner that's just 265 calories!
Special Tip: If you want to boost protein more, cook 4 Italian sausages and dice. Then add them to the filling to boost the protein.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 8 servings
Calories 265 kcal

Ingredients
 
 

  • Olive oil spray
  • 1 16-ounce package penne pasta
  • 3 cups Marinara Sauce divided
  • 1 red bell pepper seeded and chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper seeded and chopped
  • ½ small red onion chopped
  • 5 ounces mushrooms chopped
  • ¼ cup black olives sliced
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup all-natural pepperoni slices

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and spray a 9×13 casserole dish with olive oil.
  • Cook the pasta according to directions on package. Drain and add back to the pot.
  • To the cooked pasta, add 2 cups of the marinara sauce, bell peppers, red onions, mushrooms, and black olives.
  • Mix the pasta together and scoop into the prepared baking dish.
  • Top with remaining marinara sauce, and then cheese, and finally the pepperoni slices.
  • Cover with foil and place in the hot oven.
  • Bake for 20 minutes covered, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes.
  • Remove from the oven and serve hot.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cupsCalories: 265kcalCarbohydrates: 46.7gProtein: 9.1gFat: 4.6gSaturated Fat: 1gCholesterol: 44mgSodium: 455mgPotassium: 462mgFiber: 3.3gSugar: 9.8gCalcium: 39mgIron: 57mg
Keyword Low Calorie Pizza Casserole, pasta casserole, pizza casserole
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Nutrition and Calories in Pizza Casseroles

As a reminder, I have supplied tips on cutting carbs and boosting protein in the Ingredients Section, and tips on meal prepping this recipe in the How To Section! See above.

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Pizza Casserole

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