Johnny Marzetti (1910s, Columbus, OH, USA)

Johnny Marzetti (1910s, Columbus, OH, USA)

Johnny Marzetti is an iconic Midwestern dish that combines beef, macaroni, tomato sauce and cheddar cheese into a warm, delicious, rib-sticking casserole. Possibly created as early as 1896, this recipe reached massive popularity in the early 20th century and even became an international favorite when it found its way to Panama during the construction of the Panama Canal. It is still a popular family meal today.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 50 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 5 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

Servings 12 Servings

Equipment

• Normal Kitchen Utensils

Ingredients

  

• 2 Lbs Ground Beef Lean Preferred
• 24 oz. Cheddar Cheese Grated, About 6 C
• 1 Large Onion Chopped
• 12 oz. Mushrooms Sliced
• 1 Can Tomato Sauce 29 oz., About 3 1/2 C
• 1 Lb Elbow Macaroni
• 4 Tbsp Olive Oil
• Salt and Pepper to Taste

Instructions

 

• Begin boiling a pot of water to cook the pasta.
• In a large skillet, at medium-high heat, sauté the onion with 3 Tbsp of the olive oil and a heavy pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until the onions are translucent. About 5 minutes.
  1 Large Onion, 4 Tbsp Olive Oil, Salt and Pepper to Taste
• Add the mushrooms to the skillet and sauté another 5 minutes.
  12 oz. Mushrooms
• Once your pasta water is boiling, drop in the pasta and a heavy dose of salt. Boil to al dente. Begin preheating your oven to 350 degrees.
  1 Lb Elbow Macaroni
• While the pasta boils, add the beef to the skillet with the mushrooms and onions, cooking until browned through. 5-10 minutes. Add another heavy pinch of salt and pepper, and be sure to break up the beef as it cooks.
  2 Lbs Ground Beef
• Once the beef is cooked through, turn off the burner. Mix in the tomato sauce and 5 C of the cheddar cheese. Drain the cooked pasta and mix it with the beef mixture. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  1 Can Tomato Sauce, 24 oz. Cheddar Cheese
• Use the remaining 1 Tbsp of olive oil to oil a 13×9 inch baking dish. Pour the beef and pasta mixture into the dish and top with the remaining cheddar cheese.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.
• Let rest 5-10 minutes before serving.

Keyword Beef, Casserole, Cheddar, Cheese, Johnny, Marzetti, Mushroom, Pasta, Tomato

Johnny Marzetti is a casserole created by Teressa Marzetti, an Italian immigrant to the United States. The dish was named after her brother-in-law, Johnny, and was initially served at her restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. While the restaurant closed decades ago, the Marzetti family became known for their salad dressings and now owns a number of different food brands, including Cardini’s (named after Caesar Cardini, the creator of the Caesar Salad). Check out what they have to offer on their website.

It may be the six cups of cheese talking, but this casserole is seriously delicious. There is no question why it gets positive reviews everywhere it is served. Back when the United States was building the Panama Canal, the Army served it in their kitchens. The recipe must have been shared with the people of Panama, because it is excessively popular in the country even today. It sounds like the Panamanian version (called Johnny Mazetti, excluding the “r”) includes green olives and something called Arturo Sauce…not a bad idea. Here’s an example of that recipe.