This Johnny Marzetti Casserole is a classic comfort food dish that is easy to make and so delicious! Layers of pasta, ground beef, and cheese are baked in a rich tomato sauce for the ultimate family-friendly meal.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
- This casserole is easy to make and packed with flavor.
- It is also a true comfort food classic that your whole family will love.
- A hearty casserole is a perfect way to feed a crowd.
If you love pasta and cheese, then you are going to love the Johnny Marzetti casserole! This dish is easy to make and is perfect for a weeknight dinner. Plus, it's sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. Give this casserole a try today!
🛒 Ingredients
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Note: The full list of this recipe ingredients with their amounts and options are listed in the recipe card below.
- macaroni pasta
- olive oil
- onion
- green bell pepper
- mushrooms
- ground meat - beef and sausage
- tomato sauce
- diced tomatoes
- garlic
- dried oregano
- Italian herbs seasoning
- sugar
- cheddar cheese
- Italian blend cheese
🗒 Instructions
Note: This is an overview of the instructions. The full instructions are in the recipe card below.
- In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms to the skillet and saute until softened, about five minutes.
- Add the ground beef and cook until no pink remains. Drain the fat off the meat mixture, then season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, garlic, oregano, Italian herbs, and sugar to the beef mixture.
- Allow the beef and tomato mixture to simmer for five minutes or so, stirring occasionally.
- Carefully pour the beef mixture into the pot with the noodles and stir to combine.
- Add 1 cup of cheddar cheese and 1 cup of Italian blend cheese to the mix.
- Stir well until the cheese is mixed through.
- Pour the mixture into a 9 X 13 inch casserole dish.
- Top with the remaining 2 cups of cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and melted. Top with parsley for serving.
🔪 Equipment
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You’ll need the following items to make this recipe successfully.
- skillet
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
- sharp knife
- cutting board
- Baking dish - 9X13-inch
🤔 FAQs
These are the questions we are most frequently asked about making Johnny Marzetti Casserole.
This dish is called Johnny Marzetti because it shares the name with the man who invented the casserole recipe.
The main difference between these two dishes is that Johnny Marzetti is typically baked and goulash is usually made in a skillet. Otherwise, the two recipes are very similar.
The dish originated in Columbus, Ohio at Marzetti's, an Italian restaurant.
It was created by Teresa Marzetti and she named the casserole after her brother-in-law, Johnny Marzetti.
Making baked Johnny Marzetti is super simple. Just follow these directions below in the recipe card and you will have a delicious baked Jonny Marzetti casserole in no time at all.
👩🏻🍳 Tips
- If you want a little more flavor in your dish, try using Italian-seasoned diced tomatoes instead of regular diced tomatoes.
- I like to use ground beef that is 85% lean and 15% fat for this recipe. If you use ground beef that is too lean, the casserole will be dry.
- Be careful not to overcook your pasta, you want it on the firmer side because it will continue to cook in the oven.
📚 Variations
- If you want to make a vegetarian version of this dish, you can easily do so by omitting the ground beef and adding in a can of black beans.
- You could also add in a can of corn to change things up.
- If you are looking for a little bit of a spicy kick, you could add in a diced jalapeno pepper or some red pepper flakes.
🥫 Storage
The leftover casserole can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days. You can also freeze this casserole for up to three months.
Reheat this dish in the oven at 350 degrees F for 10 to 15 minutes. Or heat in the microwave at 50% power for one to two minutes or until it's warm all the way through.
📗 Related Recipes
- This Vegetable Sausage Pasta Bake is filled with ground sausage, with saucy penne pasta, hearty veggies, and melted mozzarella cheese. Making it a hearty meal for a busy weeknight dinner.
- This Stuffed Rigatoni only requires four ingredients and satisfies even the pickiest of eaters. Your entire family is going to love this cheesy goodness.
- Are you looking for a creamy chicken casserole that is not only family-friendly but also easy to make? Then, look no further than this Chicken Pasta Bake.
🍽 Serve with
- With a rich and hearty casserole like this meal, I like to serve a salad that is loaded with vegetables. This Italian Summer Salad with Basil Dressing is the perfect side to pair with this comfort food casserole.
- I always serve a bread side like these Soft and Garlicky Breadsticks with pasta dishes like this one. You will fall in love with these after the first bite.
- I like to end a hearty meal like this with a creamy and light dessert that I can make ahead, like this No-Bake Cherry Delight. It's sweet and fruity and there is no reason to turn on the oven.
📞 Chiacchierata (chat)
I'm not sure what it is about casseroles that make them so comforting, but I could seriously eat one every day and never get tired of it. This Johnny Marzetti casserole is one of my favorites because it's hearty and filling but still feels like a treat.
Plus, it's easy to make, you just layer the ingredients in a baking dish and bake! Give it a try for your next dinner party and you'll have everyone asking for the recipe.
And if you're in a time crunch try our Italian Creamy Beef and Shells recipe. This skillet dinner is pure comfort food with it's seasoned beef and creamy cheesy tomato sauced shells.
Beef and shells are always a family favorite, that's why our Easy Goulash is an absolute favorite that we make often. Try it yourself and see!
Tutti a tavolo, è pronto!
What's new? Check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy.
📝 Recipe Card
If you're looking for an easy, cheesy casserole to make, look no further than the Johnny Marzetti casserole. This dish is made with ground beef, pasta sauce, and cheese, and it's sure to please everyone at your table. Plus, it's so easy to make that you can have it on the dinner table in no time.
Next time try our Cheesy Beefy Baked Ravioli recipe. It's a family favorite that you can prepare and have on the table in no time at all. And a favorite hamburger version of a classic dish is our Ground Beef Stroganoff recipe. Easy and delicious, don't you just love that?!
We love mixing pasta with meat to make complete meals you can cook in one pot or pan. This is why Chili Mac and Cheese is a family favorite at our house. If you're family is a fan of those types of dishes, then you have to try out fabulous recipe.
If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.
📖 Recipe
Classic Johnny Marzetti
Ingredients
- 1 lb macaroni pasta
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 green bell pepper
- 8 ounces mushrooms white or brown
- 2 lbs ground beef or swap 1 pound for Italian sausage
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 28 ounces tomato sauce 2 cans (14oz)
- 14 ounces diced tomatoes 1 can
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon mixed Italian seasonings
- Pinch sugar only if the tomatoes are too acidic
- 2 cups cheddar cheese divided
- 2 cups Italian blend cheese divided
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉.
- Bring a large pot of water to boil for the macaroni. Cook the macaroni molto al dente which is on the firmer side. About 7 minutes.It will continue to cook in the casserole. Drain the pasta and return it to the pot and set aside.
- In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, bell pepper, and mushrooms to the skillet and saute until softened, about five minutes.
- Add the ground beef and cook until no pink remains. Drain the fat off the meat mixture, then season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, garlic, oregano, Italian herbs, and sugar to the beef mixture. allow it to simmer for five minutes or so, stirring occasionally.
- Carefully pour the beef mixture into the pot with the noodles and stir to combine.Add 1 cup of cheddar cheese and 1 cup of Italian blend cheese to the mix. Stir.
- Pour the mixture into a 9 X 13 inch casserole dish. Top with the remaining 2 cups of cheese.
- Bake for 30 minutes, or until the cheese is golden and melted.
- Top with parsley for serving.
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