Deep Hamburger Sausage & Pepperoni Pie

Ingredients

• 1 box ready-to-bake pie crusts (2 rolled crusts)

• 1/2 pound ground beef

• 1/2 pound Italian sausage (optional)

• 1 cup pepperoni slices

• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

• 1 cup shredded cheddar or provolone cheese

• 1 1/2 cups pizza sauce or marinara

• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

• 3 tablespoons melted butter (for brushing top crust)

Instructions

1. Cook meats: Brown ground beef and Italian sausage in a skillet over medium heat until fully cooked. Drain excess fat and set aside.

2. Preheat oven: Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C).

3. Assemble crust: Roll out one pie crust to fit a deep-dish pie pan or deep skillet. Press into the pan and trim edges.

4. Layer cheese: Spread half of the shredded mozzarella evenly over the bottom crust.

5. Add meats and pepperoni: Layer cooked ground beef, Italian sausage, and half of the pepperoni slices over cheese.

6. Add sauce and season: Pour pizza sauce evenly over the meat mixture, then sprinkle Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes for spice if desired.

7. Top with cheeses and pepperoni: Add remaining mozzarella and cheddar (or provolone) cheese. Top with remaining pepperoni slices.

8. Cover with second crust: Place the second pie crust over the filling. Trim any excess dough and crimp edges to seal.

9. Brush top: Brush melted butter over the top crust and sprinkle garlic powder for extra flavor.

10. Bake: Bake for 20-25 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is bubbly.

11. Cool and serve: Let cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.