Easy 3-Ingredient Pizza Beans (The Ultimate Cheesy Casserole!)

Are you on the hunt for the ultimate easy weeknight dinner? A cozy, cheesy, and completely satisfying comfort food casserole that the whole family will love, and that you can throw together in literally minutes? This incredible, 3-ingredient “Pizza Beans” recipe is the answer! We’re talking creamy white beans, all baked in a rich, savory marinara sauce and topped with a glorious, gooey blanket of melted mozzarella cheese. It has all the irresistible flavor of your favorite pizza, but in a hearty, healthy, and gluten-free bean bake.

This isn’t just another casserole recipe; it’s a guide to your new favorite “dump and bake” hero. Forget complicated steps and a sink full of dishes. This is a satisfying, customizable, and deeply comforting meal that is perfect for busy nights when you need a simple and impressive dinner on the table in a flash.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Recipe Overview: The Ultimate Easy & Cheesy Weeknight Wonder

What makes these Pizza Beans so spectacularly delicious is their incredible simplicity and their classic, crowd-pleasing flavor. This recipe is a masterpiece of efficiency, using just three core ingredients to create a stunning, from-scratch-tasting meal. The “crust” or base of the dish is made from hearty, protein-packed canned white beans, like cannellini or butter beans. The sauce is a simple but flavorful, high-quality jarred marinara sauce. The entire dish is then topped with a generous blanket of melted mozzarella cheese and baked until hot, bubbly, and irresistible. From there, the sky’s the limit with your favorite pizza toppings!

Metric	Time / Level
Total Time	25 minutes
Active Prep Time	5 minutes
Difficulty Level	Easy
Servings	4-6

The Pizza Trifecta: The Essential Ingredients

This iconic dish uses a handful of smart shortcuts and high-quality pantry staples to create its signature comforting and cheesy flavor.

• The Beans (The Secretly Healthy “Crust”!):
  • Canned White Beans: This is the brilliant and healthy secret to a hearty, protein-packed, and gluten-free base. Using a creamy, mild-flavored white bean like a cannellini or a butter bean is a fantastic choice because their soft, tender texture is the perfect canvas for all the bold pizza flavors.
• The Sauce:
  • Jarred Marinara Sauce: The secret to a fast and flavorful meal is to use a high-quality, jarred marinara sauce. A simple, classic sauce will let the other pizza flavors shine.
• The Cheeses:
  • Shredded Mozzarella: A classic, crowd-pleasing shredded low-moisture mozzarella is the perfect choice for that beautiful, gooey, and iconic “cheese pull.”
  • A Creamy Boost (Optional but Recommended!): For an even more luscious, “baked ziti” vibe, you can stir about 1/2 cup of whole-milk ricotta cheese into the bean and sauce mixture before you bake it.

Step-by-Step to the Best Pizza Beans

This delicious, one-dish meal is incredibly simple to prepare.

Step 1: Combine the Ingredients and Bake to Bubbly, Cheesy Perfection

Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch or a similar-sized baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.

Step 2 (The “Dump and Bake” Magic!): In your prepared baking dish, combine your two 15-ounce cans of drained cannellini or butter beans, the two cups of jarred marinara sauce, and 1 cup of your shredded mozzarella cheese. If you are using it, you can stir in the optional 1/2 cup of ricotta cheese at this stage.

Step 3: Bake, uncovered, for about 20 minutes. You will know it is perfectly done when the sauce is hot and bubbling around the edges and the cheese is completely melted and gooey.

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“Build Your Own Pizza Beans”: The Toppings Bar

This is where the fun really begins! Just like your favorite pizza, this dish is a fantastic canvas for all sorts of delicious toppings.

• Classic Pizza Meats: Top your casserole with some classic, cupping pepperoni slices, some cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, or some savory, browned ground beef.
• Veggies: Feel free to add your favorite pizza vegetables, like some sautéed mushrooms, onions, and bell peppers, or some sliced black olives.
• For a Spicy Kick: A sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes or some tangy, pickled jalapeños are fantastic additions for those who like the heat.

What to Serve With Your Pizza Beans

This beautiful and rich dish is a fantastic, all-in-one vegetarian meal. To round it out, here are a few simple and classic pairings:

• Crusty Garlic Bread: A side of warm, crusty garlic bread is an absolute must-have for sopping up every last drop of that delicious, savory sauce.
• A Simple Green Salad: A crisp green salad, especially one with a bright and zesty Italian vinaigrette, is the perfect, fresh counterpoint to the rich, cheesy casserole.

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Storage and Make-Ahead Tips

This Pizza Bean Casserole is the ultimate make-ahead and freezer-friendly meal.

• Make-Ahead: You can fully assemble the entire, unbaked casserole up to 2 days in advance. Simply cover it tightly with foil and store it in the refrigerator. When you are ready to bake, you may need to add 10-15 minutes to the total baking time.
• Storage: Store any leftover casserole, well-covered, in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
• Freezing: This casserole freezes beautifully! You can freeze it either before or after baking. Let it cool completely, then wrap the pan very well in a double layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)