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Johnny Marzetti is a classic ground beef casserole with egg noodles, tomato soup, veggies and cheese — all baked into one delicious comfort food dish! The easy dinner recipe is a perfect freezer meal, prep-ahead supper, or potluck offering to share with friends and family!Easy ground beef casserole called Johnny Marzetti in blue and white baking dish

There’s nothing better than a cozy casserole to satisfy, nourish, and warm you from the inside out! Johnny Marzetti is a blast from my past, and it’s the type of comforting meal that I grew up enjoying during the cool weather months.

Just the smell of the ground beef browning in a skillet takes me back to my mamma’s kitchen!Bowl of Johnny Marzetti Casserole with casserole dish in background

How to Make Johnny Marzetti Casserole with Egg Noodles

This is truly your basic casserole recipe, and it starts with browning the meat in a large skillet.

My recipe for Johnny Marzetti includes a combination of ground beef and pork sausage, along with diced onion and green bell pepper. I think that the sausage adds great flavor to the dish, but you can certainly swap out the sausage for an additional 1/2 lb. of ground beef.

Ground beef in skillet

Season the cooked meat mixture with salt and pepper, to taste. Then go ahead and add the canned tomatoes, condensed soup, brown sugar, dry mustard and garlic powder.

Be sure to use a very large skillet, because it will be full to the brim! This recipe makes a lot of sauce.Ground beef with tomato soup for Johnny Marzetti in skillet

Allow the sauce to simmer (uncovered) for about 30 minutes over very low heat. Then you can stir in the green olives and sliced mushrooms.

Don’t worry! If you (or your kids) don’t love green olives, you can easily omit them from the recipe. Your Johnny Marzetti will still taste amazing!

Green olives and mushrooms in Johnny Marzetti casserole in skillet with wooden spoon

While the sauce bubbles for about a half hour, you will have time to boil your egg noodles. I like to leave my noodles a bit al dente (with a little bite to them), since they will have some additional time to cook in the oven.

Then just combine your sauce with your cooked pasta, and the dish is almost done…

Egg noodles stirred into johnny marzetti casserole in big blue pot

Transfer the Johnny Marzetti to a large baking dish and sprinkle with freshly grated cheddar cheese.Grated cheddar cheese on top of Johnny Marzetti casserole

Your casserole goes into the oven at 350 degrees F for about 20 minutes, or just until heated through.Easy comfort food dinner of Johnny Marzetti Casserole in a blue and white enamel pan with wooden spoon

The end result is a delicious one dish meal to serve a crowd!

Johnny Marzetti Recipe in a white and blue bowl with fork

Kids love this simple, hearty casserole, making it the perfect option for family dinners or larger group gatherings like a church potluck.

I also like to prepare meals like this in advance, which I can stash in my freezer (before baking) and thaw on a later date when I don’t have time to cook!

Since this recipe creates a lot of food, I will often divide the mixture between two smaller 8-inch square pans. That way I can bake one for dinner the first night, and stick the other unbaked casserole in the freezer for another meal. It’s like getting TWO for the price of ONE!Johnny Marzetti Recipe with Egg Noodles in blue and white baking dish

Recipe Variations — Johnny Marzetti Casserole

  • Green olives are controversial — especially when kids are dining at the table — so feel free to omit them if your family’s not on board!
  • As I mentioned above, you can omit the pork sausage and replace it with additional ground beef.
  • You can also swap out the beef and use ground turkey or ground chicken, if that’s your preference. Anything goes!
  • Have fresh herbs on hand? Feel free to add more seasonings to this casserole. Make it your own!

Johnny Marzetti recipe with tomato soup in a bowl garnished with parsley

More Casserole Recipes to Try

Johnny Marzetti Casserole

5 from 1 vote
Prep: 50 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Total: 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 393 kcal
Johnny Marzetti is a classic ground beef casserole with egg noodles, tomato soup, veggies and cheese -- all baked into one delicious comfort food dish!

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ½ lbs. lean ground beef
  • ½ lb. pork sausage or use additional ground beef
  • 1 green bell pepper, diced
  • 1 yellow onion, diced
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes, NOT drained
  • 2 cans (10.75 ounces each) condensed tomato soup, NOT diluted (I used Campbell’s Healthy Request)
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon dry mustard
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 8 ounces dry wide egg noodles
  • 1 (4 ounce) can sliced mushrooms, drained
  • 1 (7 ounce) jar green olives, drained optional
  • 1 cup grated cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown beef, sausage, bell pepper, and onion in the skillet; drain. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add tomatoes (with juice), crushing them slightly with a wooden spoon, condensed soup, brown sugar, dry mustard, and garlic powder. Simmer over very low heat for about 30 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, cook egg noodles according to package instructions. Drain well.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a large rectangular baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
  • After beef mixture has simmered for 30 minutes, stir in mushrooms and olives. Remove from heat and toss with the cooked noodles.
  • Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake for 20 minutes, or until heated through and bubbly.

Notes

Cooking for a Smaller Family? Cut the ingredients in half and bake the casserole in an 8-inch or 9-inch square pan.
Want to Prep Ahead? You can assemble the Johnny Marzetti in advance, wrap it tightly, and stash it in the freezer until you're ready to bake it!
HOW TO ADAPT THIS CASSEROLE:
  • Green olives are controversial -- especially when kids are dining at the table -- so feel free to omit them if your family's not on board!
  • As I mentioned above, you can omit the pork sausage and replace it with additional ground beef.
  • You can also swap out the beef and use ground turkey or ground chicken, if that's your preference. Anything goes!
  • Have fresh herbs on hand? Feel free to add more seasonings to this casserole. Make it your own!

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of the casseroleCalories: 393kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 30gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 111mgSodium: 413mgPotassium: 594mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 295IUVitamin C: 18mgCalcium: 143mgIron: 3.5mg
Keyword: casserole with egg noodles, ground beef casserole, Johnny Marzetti recipe
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Author: Blair Lonergan
blair

Hey, I’m Blair!

Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Inspired by local traditions and seasonal fare, you’ll find plenty of easy, comforting recipes that bring your family together around the table. It’s down-home, country-style cooking!

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Oh my, I made this tonight and boy, it was so delicious! I posted the link to Facebook and I hope that everyone gets a chance to make it. It’s so fantastic that you can dress it up however you like! And the olives make a huge difference in the taste. Enjoy all!

  2. sunds good! like a saturday night specialmy mother would make, except no olives. although i believe i would like olives also being my family like elbow macaroni i would sub that thanks

  3. sounds good! like a saturday night specialmy mother would make, except no olives. although i believe i would like olives also being my family like elbow macaroni i would sub that thanks