October 2, 2024
Review RecipeUpside Down Pizza
A unique casserole that literally flips its inspiration on its head, this upside down pizza is loaded with your favorite pizza toppings covered by a bubbly top.
Jump to Recipe
Table of Contents
This is the best recipe for upside down pizza, complete with a double meat beef and pepperoni filling and a bubbly popover top. This pizza casserole is an interesting take on the classic slice, and it tastes just as good.
Upside Down Pizza Ingredients
You’ll need:
For The Meat Mixture:
- 1½ pounds of lean ground beef
- ½ large yellow onion, diced finely
- 1 tablespoon of minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- ½ teaspoon of black pepper
- 1 (7-ounce) package of pepperoni, chopped
- 1 (24-ounce) jar of traditional spaghetti sauce
For The Cheese Layer:
- 1½ cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
For The Popover Top:
- 1½ cups of all-purpose flour, sifted
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1½ cups of whole milk, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon of salt
- ⅓ cup of shredded parmesan cheese
Substitutions And Additions
CRESCENT ROLLS OR BISCUITS: If you’d like to skip the traditional popover top of this pizza, you can substitute a roll of Pillsbury Crescent Rolls or Biscuits.
You’ll need to pre-bake them for half of the recommended time, and then flip them over and bake them for the remaining time on top of your pizza.
This will ensure that they cook through and aren’t underdone on the bottom.
VEGGIES OR OTHER “TOPPINGS”: While they won’t be actual toppings since they will be inside the casserole, you could definitely add any of your favorite items that you usually would order on a pizza.
Add green pepper, olives, hot peppers, and mushrooms to make it supreme.
How To Make This Upside Down Pizza Recipe
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
Take out your eggs and milk a few minutes before starting this recipe to bring them to room temperature.
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a glass 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
PRO TIP:
For best results, use a glass rather than a ceramic baking dish for your pizza.
STEP TWO: In a large skillet, brown beef over medium heat until no longer pink.
Drain the grease and return the ground beef to the skillet.
Use a meat masher to break the meat into small pieces.
STEP THREE: Add onions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often so that they do not burn.
Add minced garlic and cook for an additional two minutes, stirring often.
STEP FOUR: Add Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and pepperoni.
Stir well and continue to cook for an additional three to five minutes or until the pepperoni is cooked and heated through.
STEP FIVE: Add tomato sauce to the beef mixture and stir well. Let simmer for three minutes.
STEP SIX: Add the meat mixture to the bottom of the pan and spread it out evenly using a rubber spatula.
Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
STEP SEVEN: Place in the preheated oven while you combine the popover mixture so that the baking dish is very hot when you pour the popover mixture into it so that it bubbles up.
PRO TIP:
It is very important that your baking dish is HOT before you add the popover top or this recipe will not work properly.
STEP EIGHT: In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine sifted flour, eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and salt.
Use a large spoon to mix together but make sure not to over mix.
PRO TIP:
This batter will be a bit runny and should be able to pour onto the top of the casserole.
STEP NINE: Remove the baking dish from the oven and pour the popover top mixture over the meat mixture, making sure to get the top all the way to the edges of the casserole dish.
Sprinkle ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese over the top of the bubble up top and place the pan back in the oven.
STEP TEN: Bake for 30 minutes, or until the top “crust” has puffed up and is a deep golden brown color.
PRO TIP:
Do not open the oven while this is baking! Doing so could cause the top to not bubble up correctly or collapse.
STEP ELEVEN: Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
How To Serve
Turn things upside down (literally!) on pizza night with something new. This cheesy dish is a great way for a different twist on traditional pizza.
Add a simple Caesar salad on the side to complete your meal.
Craving more pizza? You’ll love our easy recipes for pizza casserole and pizza muffins.
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: If you have leftover upside-down pizza, it’s recommended to store it in your fridge for no longer than two to three days.
Because of the popover top, the texture of the pizza will change quickly and may become soggy.
IN THE FREEZER: We don’t recommend freezing this recipe as the popover top will become soggy during the thawing process.
This epic upside-down pizza has a double meat filling, a bubbly popover top, and plenty of melted cheesy goodness. It’s a treat that’s fun to make and even more fun to eat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my popover top not bubble up?
There are a few reasons why your top might not have bubbled up. First, you need to make sure your milk and eggs are at room temperature. Second, you have to make sure your pan is HOT before adding the popover mixture. Third, you must not open the oven during baking, or the top may fall.
Can I use different meat in this recipe?
Any ground meat or Italian sausage will work fine in this delicious recipe.
Can I add other toppings to the casserole?
Any of your favorite pizza toppings can be added to the casserole if you’d like.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Slow Cooker Country Style Pork Ribs
- Bacon Cheeseburger Sliders
- Crescent Roll Taco Bake
- Salisbury Steak
- Steak Marinade
- Chili Cheese Dog Bake
- Cherry Pie Bars
- Lasagna Roll Ups
- Sausage Egg and Cheese Breakfast Sliders
- Pizza Sauce Recipe
- Pizza Grilled Cheese
- Puffy Tacos
- Baked Spaghetti and Meatballs
- Air Fryer Pizza Rolls
- Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
- Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole
- How to Make Homemade Tomato Sauce
- Crock Pot Spaghetti
- Bacon Cheddar Biscuits
- Crock Pot Hamburger Potato Casserole
- King Ranch Chicken Casserole
- Hamburger Rice Casserole
- Easy Pepperoni Rolls
- Air Fryer Pizzas
- Rectangle School Pizza
- Meatloaf
- Crustless Pizza
- Mini Corn Dogs
- No Peek Beef Tips
- Crescent Roll Garlic Knots
Upside Down Pizza
A unique casserole that literally flips its inspiration on its head, this upside down pizza is loaded with your favorite pizza toppings covered by a bubbly top.
Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 8
Ingredients
Meat Mixture
- 1½ pounds lean ground beef
- ½ large yellow onion, diced finely
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 7 ounces pepperoni, chopped
- 24 ounces traditional spaghetti sauce
Cheese Layer
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Popover Top
- 1½ cups all purpose flour, sifted
- 3 large eggs, room temperature
- 1½ cups whole milk, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a glass 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain grease and return ground beef to the skillet and use a meat masher to break meat into small pieces.
- Add onions and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often so they do not burn. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional 2 minutes, stirring often.
- Add Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and pepperoni. Stir well and continue to cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes, or until pepperoni is cooked and heated through.
- Add spaghetti sauce to the meat mixture and stir well. Let simmer for 3 minutes.
- Add the meat mixture to the bottom of the baking dish and spread out evenly using a rubber spatula. Top with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Place in the preheated oven while you combine the popover top mixture. You want your baking dish to be very hot when you pour the popover mixture into it.
- In a separate medium mixing bowl combine sifted flour, eggs, milk, vegetable oil, and salt. Use a large spoon to mix together. Don’t over mix. This batter will be a bit runny and should be able to pour onto the top of the casserole.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and pour the bubble up top over the meat mixture, making sure to get the top all the way to the edges of the casserole dish. Sprinkle ⅓ cup shredded parmesan cheese over the top of the bubble up top and place in the oven.
- Cook at 400°F for 30 minutes, or until the popover top crust has puffed up and is a deep golden brown color.
- Remove from the oven and serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Take out your eggs and milk a few minutes before starting this recipe to bring them to room temperature.
- For best results, use a glass rather than a ceramic baking dish for your pizza.
- It is very important that your baking dish is HOT before you add the popover top or this recipe will not work properly.
- This batter will be a bit runny and should be able to pour onto the top of the casserole.
- Resist the urge to open the oven door while this is cooking, as doing so will prevent the top from rising. Make sure the popover top is puffed and golden brown before opening the oven door.
Nutrition
Calories: 514kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Cholesterol: 165mg | Sodium: 1687mg | Potassium: 792mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 720IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 254mg | Iron: 5mg
Have You Tried This Recipe?Follow me on Pinterest @spaceshipslb
Comments
jay platte says
this recipe is perfect for every occasion!!!
Deb Carmicheal says
I can’t wait to try this sounds so good