Go Back
–+ servings
Johnny Marzetti Casserole on a plate
Print

Johnny Marzetti Casserole

Cheesy, beefy, and so easy to make—a great addition to your dinner rotation. This Johnny Marzetti Casserole can feed a crowd. It also reheats beautifully!
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Keyword beef casserole recipes, pasta casserole recipes
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 339kcal
Author Kathleen

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces mini penne pasta, cooked according to package instructions
  • 1 pound 80/20 ground beef
  • 1/2 pound Italian sausage
  • 3/4 cup onion chopped
  • 1/4 cup red bell pepper finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 8 ounces cremini mushrooms sliced
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara sauce
  • 1 (14.4 ounce) can diced tomatoes drained
  • 1/4 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Cook pasta (12 ounces) according to package instructions. Drain and return to the pot it saw cooked in.
    How to make Johnny Marzetti Casserole , boiling the pasta
  • Preheat the oven to 350 °F (177 °C). Spray a 9X13 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  • In a large skillet, over medium heat, brown and crumble ground beef (1 pound) and Italian sausage (1/2 pound) until cooked through. Transfer cooked meat to a plate. Drain and remove all but 2 tablespoons of grease from the skillet.
    How to make Johnny Marzetti Casserole , cooking the ground beef
  • Saute onion (3/4 cup), red bell pepper (1/4 cup), garlic (4 cloves), and cremini mushroom (8 ounces) until vegetables are soft. Stir in salt (3/4 teaspoon), pepper (1/2 teaspoon), Italian seasoning (1 tablespoon), marinara sauce (1 jar), diced tomatoes (1 can), sugar (1/4 teaspoon), and cooked meats. Over medium heat, cook the sauce until heated through.
    How to make original johnny marzetti recipe , stir in tomatoes and meat
  • Pour the sauce over pasta. Toss until evenly combined.
    How to make Johnny Marzetti Casserole , mixing the pasta and the sauce
  • Spread half the pasta in the prepared baking dish. Top with half the mozzarella and 1/2 the cheddar. Spread the remaining pasta over the cheese layer. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove from oven. Remove and discard foil then top with remaining cheese. Bake in the oven and continue to cook until cheese is melted.
    How to make original johnny marzetti recipe , transfering to the casserole dish

Notes

  1. Pasta: I like to use mini penne but you can also use elbow macaroni, shells, or in a pinch even egg noodles.
  2. Cheese: I use mozzarella in this dish but you can opt for a pre-shredded Italian cheese blend.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 339kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 789mg | Potassium: 481mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 618IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 228mg | Iron: 2mg