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Square overhead shot of Johnny Marzetti in a white baking dish.
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5 from 1 vote

Johnny Marzetti

This easy Johnny Marzetti casserole is a hearty, old-fashioned pasta bake made with ground beef, tomato soup, and cheddar cheese.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Keyword Johnny Marzetti, Johnny Marzetti casserole, Johnny Marzetti recipe
Prep Time 50 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 515kcal
Author Blair Lonergan

Ingredients

  • 1 ½ lbs. ground beef
  • ½ lb. pork sausage (or use additional ground beef)
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 small yellow onion, diced (about 1 cup)
  • 1 (28 ounce) can whole tomatoes, not drained
  • 2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed tomato soup, (I use Campbell’s Heart Healthy)
  • 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 (optional)
  • 1 small jar green olives (about 5 ounces), drained (optional)
  • 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste
  • Optional garnish: chopped fresh parsley, thyme, basil, oregano, or green onions

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Brown the beef, sausage, bell pepper, and onion in the skillet; drain off the excess grease.
    Browning ground beef and sausage with bell peppers and onions in a Dutch oven for a Johnny Marzetti recipe.
  • Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Add the tomatoes (with juice), crushing them slightly with a spoon, condensed soup, brown sugar, dry mustard, and garlic powder.
    Adding tomatoes and seasoning to ground beef and pork.
  • Simmer over very low heat for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in mushrooms and olives, if using.
    Stirring olives and mushrooms into a Dutch oven full of Johnny marzetti sauce.
  • Meanwhile, cook the egg noodles in a large pot of well-salted boiling water for about 1 minute less than the package directions for al dente. Drain well.
    Boiled egg noodles draining in a colander.
  • Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray 9 x 13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. Remove the sauce mixture from the heat; toss with the cooked noodles.
    Stirring noodles into beef mixture.
  • Transfer the beef and noodle mixture to the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the cheese on top.
    Process shot showing how to assemble Johnny Marzetti casserole before baking.
  • Bake, uncovered, until heated through and bubbly, about 20 minutes. Garnish with chopped fresh herbs or green onions just before serving.
    Horizontal overhead image of Johnny Marzetti baked in a white casserole dish.

Video

Notes

Prep Ahead: Assemble the entire casserole up to 24 hours in advance and keep it covered in the refrigerator until ready to bake. Before baking, allow the dish to sit on the counter and come to room temperature for at least 30 minutes. Freeze the casserole before baking. Wrapped tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, the assembled casserole will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8 of the casserole | Calories: 515kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 116mg | Sodium: 495mg | Potassium: 805mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 643IU | Vitamin C: 32mg | Calcium: 171mg | Iron: 5mg