Johnny Marzetti is a classic comfort food casserole that we Southerners just can’t get enough of. While my recipe deviates a little from how your grandmother made it (no Velvetta), the result is a super simple stove top meal that doesn’t require a lot of work. The combination of ground beef, onion, green pepper, and egg noodles in a cheesy sauce is just about as comforting and easy as you can get.
Make a Hamburger Casserole for Dinner Tonight
Did you grow up eating Johnny Marzetti? Weird name for a hamburger casserole but it was on my Mother-in-laws dinner rotation and became one of my favorite casseroles. However, her recipe uses Velveeta and canned tomato soup. With a few tweaks and changes, this recipe is even better.
American cheese from the deli gives it that creamy texture but with so much more flavor than processed cheese and a homemade bechamel sauce holds it all together without the need for canned soup.
The unique flavor that you will see in this casserole over other hamburger casseroles is from the use of green pepper. It can be a strong flavor but it’s needed to give this casserole it’s distinct flavor. It tastes completely different from a traditional ground beef casserole with potatoes or a hamburger casserole with biscuits.
Making just a couple of homemade tweaks can make these old fashioned casseroles so much more flavorful and it doesn’t take much more time. Traditionally, this dish is baked in the oven, but the stovetop method makes it super simple.
If you love egg noodle casseroles and want to try one with chicken, you can’t go wrong with a chicken noodle casserole.
If you time it right, you can get this meal on the table in half an hour. Start boiling the water first and make the sauce while you wait. Keep it warm while the pasta cooks, and you have a quick meal to feed a hungry crowd. I love making this dish in the days after the holidays when I really don’t feel like cooking again but still have a crowd to feed.
Try doubling the recipe and freezing one to have on hand for later.
What to serve with a Johnny Marzetti casserole
This is a full meal in one pot, but if you want some sides to go with it here’s some ideas:
- Sour cream biscuits will melt in your mouth.
- Try some Southern cooked apples for a little sweetness with the savory.
- A spinach salad with strawberries will add some color and freshness.
- Throw in a chocolate cobbler while you’re cooking and it will be ready by the time dinner’s over.
What is Johnny Marzetti?
According to a few different sources, Johnny Marzetti is named after a real person. It’s a combination of ingredients that changes from family to family, but what rarely changes is the inclusion of ground beef, noodles, and some type of cheese. The story goes that it was served at Marzetti’s restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.
Does Johnny Marzetti have to be made with ground beef?
Ground beef is the classic choice for Johnny Marzetti, and it brings a lot of flavor to the dish. However, ground chicken or turkey would work – but I would cook it in butter or olive oil to make sure you have enough fat to cook the onion and bell pepper.
Why You’ll Want to Add This to Your Dinner Rotation
- It’s made with simple ingredients. On any given day, I probably have everything I need to make this recipe in my fridge, freezer, and pantry. And if I don’t, all it takes is a quick trip to the grocery store – everything is easy to find and is always in stock!
- It’s quick and easy to make. With a short list of ingredients that you can easily find at the grocery store, you can make this dish in less than half an hour and get dinner on the table in a flash. I love it for nights when I’m exhausted and need something that I don’t need to think about making – I can get it done super fast.
- It’s great for feeding a crowd. Whether you have a house full of guests or unexpected friends joining you for dinner, Johnny Marzetti is a crowd-pleasing meal that doesn’t take a lot of effort to put together.
Johnny Marzetti Recipe Ingredients
- Ground beef – Ground beef is a must for traditional Johnny Marzetti. For most recipes, I use 80/20 ground beef, but you can use what you prefer.
- Onion and Bell Pepper- Onion and bell pepper give the dish flavor and texture.
- Flour and butter- Cooking flour in butter makes a roux, which will thicken the bechamel sauce.
- Milk and chicken broth- Traditionally, bechamel sauce is made with only milk, but using some chicken broth adds great savory flavor and keeps the sauce from being too rich.
- Tomato sauce- Make sure to use a can of plain tomato sauce – it shouldn’t have any seasonings added to it.
- Egg noodles- Egg noodles are very traditional, but you can use any type of noodle or pasta that you like.
- American cheese – Ask your deli counter for an 8oz chunk of American cheese. You can use a block of cheddar cheese, but the result won’t be as creamy.
Why use American cheese?
Getting a big block of American cheese from the deli counter is the secret to this recipe. American cheese melts so nicely into the sauce and makes it thick, creamy, and flavorful. I prefer it to processed cheese because it has way more flavor and still melts like Velveeta does.
You can use Velveeta if you prefer, or you can use the deluxe American cheese slices from the dairy department – but the best choice for flavor is a block of American cheese cut into cubes.
How To Make Johnny Marzetti for a Crowd
Step 1: Prepare the noodles.
Boil a large pot of water on the stove for the pasta. Salt it heavily and cook your noodles according to the package directions, then drain and set aside. I like to make the sauce while I wait for the water to boil, then just keep it warm over low heat while the pasta cooks.
Step 2: Make the bechamel sauce.
While the pasta is cooking, melt some butter in a saucepan, then whisk in the flour and cook for a minute. Slowly add the milk and chicken broth, whisking until thickened—season the sauce to taste with salt and pepper, then set aside.
Step 3: Cook the ground beef.
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, onions, and green peppers until the beef is browned and the onions have softened (but the peppers should still have some crunch). Add more salt and pepper to taste.
Step 4: Mix everything together and serve.
Add the bechamel sauce and tomato sauce to the ground beef mixture and stir to combine before gently stirring in the cooked noodles. Place cheese cubes on the top and cover with a lid. Heat over low heat until cheese has melted, about 3-5 minutes.
The cheese will melt right into the casserole, there’s no need to stir it, just serve as is.
Tips for Making Johnny Marzetti
- Cook the flour in the butter for at least a minute – it gets rid of that chalky texture that raw flour has.
- Don’t overcook the peppers! They should still be a little bit crunchy.
- Undercook the pasta just a little bit – I like to take about a minute off of the package directions for ‘al dente,’ which for most noodles is about 6 minutes. Slightly undercooking the pasta allows it to absorb all of the sauce without getting mushy.
Can I bake Johnny Marzetti in the oven?
You can combine everything and bake it in the oven, but it’s an extra step doesn’t really improve the flavor or texture of the recipe.
How to Store Johnny Marzetti Casserole
In the fridge – Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for threeto five days.
In the freezer – Freeze your leftovers in an airtight container for up to three months.
To reheat – This is one recipe where the microwave works fine or you can use the. oven.
Even More Easy Meals to Feed a Crowd
If you loved this recipe, give it a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating! Also, snap a picture of your finished dish and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #butterandbaggage and tagging me @butterandbaggage.
Stove Top Johnny Marzetti Casserole with American Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion large, diced
- 1 green pepper diced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 8 ounces egg noodles
- 8 ounces American Cheese cubed
Instructions
- Cook pasta in salted water per package instructions. Drain and set aside.
- While the pasta is cooking, make a white sauce. Add 2 tablespoons butter to a saucepan over medium heat. When melted, add flour and whisk for 1 minute. Slowly add the milk and chicken broth whisking until it thickens, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and set aside.
- In a large skillet with a lid, cook hamburger, onions and green peppers until the hamburger is browned and the onions have softened. The green peppers should still have some crunch to them. Add more salt and pepper to taste. Drain any grease, if needed.
- Add the white sauce and tomato sauce and stir to combine.
- Add cooked egg noodles and stir to combine.
- Place cheese cubes on the top and cover with a lid. Heat over low heat until cheese has melted, about 3-5 minutes.
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- Cook the flour in the butter for at least a minute – it gets rid of that chalky texture that raw flour has.
- Don’t overcook the peppers! They should still be a little bit crunchy.
- Undercook the pasta just a little bit – I like to take about a minute off of the package directions for ‘al dente,’ which for most noodles is about 6 minutes. Slightly undercooking the pasta allows it to absorb all of the sauce without getting mushy.
Nutrition
Follow Me On SocialDid you make this recipe? Mention @ButterandBaggage or tag #ButterandBaggage
on Instagram!
The ingredients do not list a white sauce in the Stove Top Johnny Marzetti Casserole with American Cheese. The instructions do however list to add the white sauce. What white sauce will I need for this?
I should have been more clear in my directions, the white sauce is the sauce you make with the butter, flour and milk, no need to buy a white sauce or can of soup. I added that to the recipe card. Hope that helps.
Totally understand now!! I plan on making this tonight for the family. Sounds great.
Thank you!!!
This casserole was so very easy to make and so delicious 😋 I didn’t think the white sauce would be so tasty but it sure was! I’m a garlic lover so I added a little garlic to the white sauce and to the ground beef as it cooked and sprinkled garlic salt on top while the cheese cubes were melting. OMG 🥰🥰🥰 This will definitely be one of my go-to dishes! Thank you!
Terrie, I’m so glad you liked it, my Mother-in-law made it for me all the time, and it always reminds me of her.