The ultimate comfort food, this Johnny Marzetti recipe is the perfect kid-friendly meal to make for cold nights when you want to warm your belly and your heart.
“Johnny Marzetti!”
Back when my parents first separated, my mother would pick me up every other Friday for a weekend over at her apartment. And the first thing I always asked for was a plate of my favorite casserole: Johnny Marzetti.
Everything about Johnny Marzetti is comforting: from the smell of the beef and onions browning, to the melted cheese on top of the wide egg noodles.
It’s comfort food at it’s best, and I needed extra comfort during those turbulent times.
As I grew up, I attempted to make it on my own, without any recipe on hand, and there were some pretty interesting renditions. Some included chili beans, others included bell peppers, and others used stewed tomatoes. And they were pretty darn good.
But they never quite compared to the original recipe.
You see, years ago, my mother was an ICU nurse in Ohio. And the original recipe she followed was from a 1970s cookbook that was created by the hospital she worked in. So, none of the recipes I could find online were quite right.
Eventually, I got around to asking my mother for the recipe to my favorite childhood comfort food. And I was surprised to see how much simpler it is to make than I ever anticipated. (and that a hospital would serve something that is clearly not healthy. It’s delicious, but definitely not up to modern ‘healthy food’ standards)
Related>>>> Check out some healthy foods we do like to eat!
These days, I love to make it for my own kids, who love to have it for dinner themselves. And I always make an extra pan for the freezer, because it never hurts to have a family favorite meal ready for those times when we all need a little bit more comfort food
Johnny Marzetti Noodle Casserole Recipe
Johnny Marzetti Noodle Casserole Recipe
The ultimate comfort food, this Johnny Marzetti recipe is the perfect kid-friendly meal to make for cold nights when you want to warm your belly and your heart.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground beef
- 1 28 oz. can diced tomatoes
- ½ c chopped onion
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- ¾ c water
- 1 bag uncooked wide egg noodles
- 4 oz sliced American style cheese
Instructions
- Crumble beef into a large skillet with high sides. Salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook beef on medium heat until browned.
- Remove beef to a separate bowl or plate and drain the rendered fat.
- Add onions to the skillet and cook until softened.
- Add tomatoes, water, cooked beef and uncooked noodles. Carefully stir to combine.
- Cover skillet with a tight fitting lid and cook for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and prepare a casserole dish with butter or non-stick cooking spray.
- Place cooked meat and noodle mixture into the prepared casserole dish.
- Arrange cheese slices on top of the mixture and bake for 20 to 25 minutes.
- Let cool for 5-10 minutes before serving, and enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Unsaturated Fat: 0g
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Donna Reidland says
I love simple dishes like this noodle casserole, I’m definitely pinning to try this one!
Jann says
Anything with cheese on top has me! 🙂 Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Teresa says
It looks absolutely delicious! Thank you for sharing at The Really Crafty Link Party this week, and happy 2018!
Natalie A says
This is my kind of recipe! It looks so delicious! I pinned this recipe! I want to try it out! Thanks for sharing!
Karen, the next best thing to mummy says
I love noodles so will definitely be trying this#trafficjamweekend@_karendennis
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
This looks so good. Why is it called, “John Marzetti”? And thanks for sharing it on the What’s for Dinner link up – it’s featured tomorrow!
Elise Ho says
You totally reminded me of how easy it is to make a noodle casserole, I love easy dinners.
Florence @ Vintage Southern Picks says
The way you describe this I can just smell it cooking right now! And you’re right, it is the classic comfort food. You are so fortunate to still have your mom around to find out about the recipe! There are some things my mom cooked all the time that I thought would be so easy to replicate, but no…not the same.
Pinning this…it really looks delish!
Sheri says
This reminds me of a dish my mom used to make. Yum! Thanks for joining us at the To Grandma’s House We Go link party!
Gloria says
YUP…sounds like a winner dinner to me. I love ALL pasta dishes….and oh that cheese looks so good. Leftovers would be great…guess I have to make a BIG batch.
Lisa Bryan says
Simple but tasty casseroles are the best for weeknight meals!
Jill says
Johnny Marzetti is such a classic dish – I wonder if it’s a Midwestern thing? We used to eat it too when I was a kid. So good!
Traci says
There’s just something about beef and noodles that makes everybody happy! It’s the ultimate comfort food in my mind. Thanks for the recipe inspiration 🙂
Rita says
Wonderful recipe.
Suzanne says
Thank you for bringing this to the party it looks delicious!!
Lisa says
Love American cheese and all noodles! Definitely going to try this one, thanx!
Angie says
Its also good withvelvetta cheese instead of american