Bubble Up Pizza Casserole (Biscuits That Actually Bake Through)

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Bubble up pizza is a pillowy biscuit crust baked with pizza sauce and your favorite pizza toppings. It’s a family favorite that kids love with one easy layer, one pan and on the table in under 1 hour. Use our tips for biscuits that bake through.

Try our pizza potatoes and cinnamon roll biscuit bake, too!

overhead view of biscuit pizza bake with pepperoni

QUICK LOOK: Bubble Up Pizza Casserole

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Bake Time: 35 minutes (15 covered, 20 uncovered)
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6
Cook Method: Oven-baked casserole
Flavor & Texture: Pizza flavor, fluffy biscuit bottom, gooey mozzarella, crisp pepperoni edges
Difficulty: Easy (great for beginner cooks)

What is bubble up pizza casserole?

Bubble up pizza is an old fashioned recipe using refrigerated biscuits cut into pieces as the crust to the pizza. Then it is topped with sauce, cheese and your favorite pizza toppings.

As the casserole bakes, the biscuit pieces puff up and “bubble up” through the toppings. It’s an easy way to enjoy your favorite pizza flavors without making pizza dough.

Do the biscuits cook all the way through?

Yes, and this is how we do it. Cut each biscuit into 6 pieces, then spread them in a single layer on the bottom of a 9×13″ pan. They should not be stacked or layered at all.

Start the baking covered, then uncover to finish cooking, which will help set and brown the biscuits.

The mistake that leaves you with gummy biscuits is crowding the pan or making it 2 layers deep. I tested it the casserole with two layers to make it heartier and could not get the center to bake though even with a long bake. I wanted to keep this recipe under 1 hour, so one layer of biscuits it is.

One can of biscuits in a 9×13″ pan is the best way to ensure the biscuits bake through.

What you need for bubble up pizza:

Here’s the short version: canned biscuits, good pizza sauce, mozzarella, sausage, green peppers, pepperoni slices, and a couple of pantry seasonings.

Key ingredients:

Refrigerated biscuits. 1 16.3-ounce can, either store brand or Grands! Biscuits work. Try our spinach cheese stuffed biscuits, too.
Pizza sauce. I use Rao’s pizza sauce which is 12.4 ounces. Choose a sauce that you love the flavor of because this will make all the difference between it tasting like pizza and any other Italian casserole. Or make homemade pizza sauce.
Italian sausage. Want to make your own blend? Try my homemade Italian sausage seasoning recipe. Ground beef would work for this bubble pizza recipe, too.
Mozzarella. Two cups, shredded. Shred your own off a block if you can since it melts creamier than pre-shredded cheese.

Looking for homemade biscuits? Try our Amish biscuits and sourdough biscuits.

How do you make bubble up pizza casserole?

Step 1: Coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray and heat the oven to 375°F. Cut each biscuit into pieces and spread evenly in the prepared pan.

Step 2: Brown the sausage and onion over medium-high heat. Cook until the sausage is no longer pink and the onion softens. Drain the grease and set aside.

biscuits with sauce and seasoning over the top

Step 3: Pour the pizza sauce evenly over the top, then sprinkle on the Italian seasoning and garlic powder.

Step 4: Scatter the sausage and green pepper over the sauce, then sprinkle the mozzarella evenly on top. Then top with pepperoni.

Step 5: Cover with foil and bake 15 minutes. Remove the foil and bake 20 minutes more, until the cheese is melted and bubbling, the pepperoni edges have crisped. Use a fork to pull up on the center biscuit to make sure it is baked through. Top with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes.

a spoon scooping out a helping of bubble up pizza

Can I make bubble up pizza with Grands Biscuits?

Yes. Grands biscuits work great. I recommend cutting the jumbo biscuits in 6 pieces to ensure they bake through.

Make it a Meal.

Because it’s hearty dinner, I keep the sides light and fresh. A fresh green salad with Italian dressing is my go-to, or go with an Italian pasta salad or Italian green beans.

More Easy Family Dinners to Love

Ground sausage dinner recipes
Johnny Marzetti (Midwestern pasta casserole)
Sloppy joe pasta
Homemade Italian meatballs
Ritz cracker chicken casserole

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make bubble up pizza casserole ahead of time?

Brown the sausage and dice your vegetables ahead, but cut and assemble the biscuits right before baking. Biscuit dough sitting in wet sauce too long turns gummy.

How do I store leftovers?

Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat individual pieces in a 350°F oven or air fryer to bring back some crisp.

Can I freeze it?

It’s best fresh. If you do freeze it, freeze after baking and reheat in the oven. The biscuit texture softens after freezing but the flavor holds.

What toppings can I add?

Any that you like on a pizza. Mushrooms, baked ham, black olives, corn, extra pepperoni, cooked bacon, or banana peppers all work. Just don’t overload it or the biscuits may not bake through.

Bubble Up Pizza Casserole with Biscuits

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Bubble up pizza is a pillowy biscuit crust baked with pizza sauce and your favorite pizza toppings. One easy layer, one pan and on the table in under 1 hour. Use our tips for biscuits that bake through.

Servings 6

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Total Time 55

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Ingredients

1 pound bulk Italian sausage
1 small yellow onion diced
16.3 ounces refrigerated biscuits 1 can
12.4 ounces pizza sauce (I use Rao's)
2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sliced pepperoni
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Instructions

Prepare a 9×13 inch baking dish by coating with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 375°F.
Brown the sausage and onion in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Break it up into pieces as it cooks. Cook until it is no longer pink and the onions have softened. Drain off any excess grease and set aside. 1 pound bulk Italian sausage, 1 small yellow onion
Remove the biscuits from the packaging and cut each one into quarters. 16.3 ounces refrigerated biscuits
Add the biscuit quarters to the casserole dish in an even layer. Pour the pizza sauce evenly over the biscuits, then sprinkle the Italian seasoning and garlic powder over the top. 12.4 ounces pizza sauce, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Scatter the sausage and green pepper over the sauce. Sprinkle the mozzarella evenly over the toppings, then arrange the pepperoni over the cheese. ½ cup diced green bell pepper, 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, ½ cup sliced pepperoni
Cover the casserole with foil and bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for 20 minutes, until the cheese is melted and bubbling, the pepperoni edges have crisped, and the biscuits are cooked through.
Sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper if you would like. Allow the casserole to set up for about 5 minutes, then serve. 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

Notes

Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.

The calories shown are based on the recipe serving 6, with 1 serving being ⅙ of the casserole. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. **

Nutrition

Author Julie Clark

Course Appetizer, Dinner, Main Dish

Cuisine American, Italian

Calories 734

Keyword baked, comfort food, easy, kid-friendly

Bubble Up Pizza Casserole