This is a fun variation on pizza that even my pickiest eaters gobble up. If you are looking for something a little different to serve for dinner that only uses basic ingredients and can be made at the last minute (or made ahead of time and frozen) – you must try upside down pizza!
Guest post from Brigette Shevy
Your family will love this Upside Down Pizza Casserole
The first time I ever made this recipe was with my great-grandma. Every Saturday, for many years, Crystal and I would spend several hours at our great-grandparent’s house. After the cleaning was finished, I loved helping my Grandmother in the kitchen. Even well into her 80’s and 90’s, she loved trying new recipes!
This was one we tried together – and I liked it so much that I copied it out and brought it home with me. It quickly became a staple in our family’s recipe box!
What is Upside Down Pizza?
Upside-Down Pizza is an easy, kid-friendly, all-in-one dish with the sauce and meat on the bottom and the “crust” on the top (hence “upside down” pizza!)
Add a bag of frozen veggies, and dinner is ready!
Ingredients for Upside Down Pizza
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 can or jar (15 ½ oz.) pizza sauce (or 2 cups homemade sauce)
- ½ tsp. garlic salt
- ¼ tsp. oregano
- 8 oz. grated Mozzarella cheese
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp. oil
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Upside Down Pan Pizza Variations
I rarely follow the recipe exactly as I love mixing it up with different pizza toppings and spices… so feel free to improvise!
Add in whatever pizza-like toppings and ingredients you have in the house (or whatever your family loves)
(Note: If you end up adding a bunch of salty toppings such as olives or pepperoni, you will probably need to add less salt than the recipe calls for.)
How to Make Inverted Pizza
1. Preheat oven to 350º.
2. Brown ground beef and onion. Drain off fat.
3. Mix in pizza sauce, garlic salt, and oregano. Pour into a greased 9×13-inch pan and sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, oil, and flour.
Pour over meat mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
Bake 30-40 minutes (You can turn on the broiler for the last minute or two if you want a browner, crispier top).
Makes one 9×13 pan
Pizza Upside Down Storage
Any leftovers can be portioned out for lunches and refrigerated in food storage containers for up to a week (or frozen for longer).
Pizza Upside Down Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion finely chopped
- 16 oz pasta sauce (or 2 cups of homemade sauce)
- ½ tsp. garlic salt
- ¼ tsp. oregano
- 8 oz. Mozzarella cheese grated
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 Tbsp. oil
- ½ tsp. salt
- 1 cup flour
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese grated
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º.
- Brown ground beef and onion. Drain off fat.
- Mix in pizza sauce, garlic salt, and oregano. Pour into a greased 9×13-inch pan and sprinkle with Mozzarella cheese.
- In a small bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, oil, and flour.
- Pour over meat mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Bake 30-40 minutes (You can turn on the broiler for the last minute or two if you want a browner, crispier top).
Nutrition
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Brigette is a full-time wife and mother who is blessed with three amazing bundles of energy and another on the way. She enjoys music, experimenting in the kitchen, homeschooling her children, finding great deals, long-distance running, and anything chocolate.
Reader Interactions
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Elaine says
If you freeze this recipe do you bake it first?
Toynette says
Thanks for this recipe, making it tonight.
Sarah says
It made a delicious and fun meal to kick off the Olympics! Thanks for a great versatile recipe!
Sarah says
We made this and decorated with pepperoni in the shape of the Olympic Rings for dinner tonight. The pepperoni stayed on top and
Amy says
I have been making this recipe for years and it is a favorite of my family. We like lots of sauce and lots of cheese so we double both and also always add pepperoni. I also add garlic and italian seasoning to the hamburger while I am browning it to make it very flavorful. We buy our meat in 2 pound packages so I just freeze half to make it quick the next time I am making this.
Lizzie says
We’ve made this for years 🙂 We used to request it for our birthday dinner. We called it popover pizza though.
http://adustyframe.com/2007/03/05/popover-pizza-casserole/
Bonnie says
I made a version of this but used sloppy joe sauce since I had that on hand. The crust was great! I had tried things like this before but always hated the crust…they always tasted like a soggy biscuit. This was really good. We love popovers so don’t know why this had never occurred to me. This crust could work with fruit as well. Thank you!
Brigette says
Great ideas! I am glad you liked it – and love that you used what you had on hand! 🙂
Becky says
This looks great. It would make a good potluck dish for church 🙂 Thank you!
Brigette says
Definitely potluck friendly! 🙂
Mrs. R. says
YUM! We’ll try anything that’s proven to be kid-friendly! And it warms my heart to hear about your many Saturdays with your great-grandparents’ house—helpin’g and being helped. 🙂
Just one question Do you usually add the vegs to the casserole itself; and, if so, is it still kid-friendly? Thanks!
Brigette says
I just went back and re-read what I wrote, and it was confusing – sorry about that! (guess I should edit the post!). I don’t add the bag of frozen veggies to the casserole itself – just serve them on the side. You CAN add extra pizza-friendly veggies/toppings right into the casserole though (mushrooms, peppers, olives, etc.), if your kids like them. 🙂
Bethany says
Yum! The upside-down pizza we make is slightly different (Italian sausage, tomato sauce, etc.), but I agree that it’s easy and yummy! I always double the base and freeze half, which makes for a super easy dinner another night down the road.
Nicole says
Crystal I was wondering if you take suggestions for recipes? I have a delicious smoothie recipe that takes minutes to make and is rather inexpensive..uses ingredients I usually almost always have.
Crystal Paine says
Absolutely! I’d love to have you email me: [email protected]
LaFlora says
I would love to have the smoothie recipe, that Nicole mentioned.
Thank you. I know this post was made in 2014, but hopefully, I can still get it.
LaFlora
Tammy says
This looks so good!
Jenn says
Looks yummy and easy!
Heather says
I just made this almost exact recipe last night for the first time, with a recipe I got from Christy at Southern Plate.
Elise says
My family loves upside down pizza! Except we call it “popover pizza” for some reason. 🙂 We haven’t made ethos in forever though, I should totally do that tonight. 🙂
Julie says
This sounds yummy! Thanks!
Teresa says
Sounds easy and yummy!