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Johnny Marzetti Casserole

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   Johnny Marzetti casserole hails from the center of a heart-shaped state on the eastern boundary of the region we call the heartland. I can’t think of anything more Midwestern.


Ingredients

  • 12 ounces mushrooms, cleaned and chopped or sliced

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or neutral cooking oil

  • 1 large onion, chopped

  • 5 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 bell pepper (any color), seeded and cored, finely chopped

  • Salt, to taste

  • 1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef (90:10 is good)

  • 1 (28-ounce) can whole plum tomatoes in juice

  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste

  • 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano

  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

  • Freshly ground black pepper

  • 12 ounces (2 3/4 cups) uncooked elbow macaroni

  • 8 ounces grated cheddar cheese (2 generous cups), divided

  • 4 ounces grated Parmesan cheese (1 1/2 cups), divided

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. 

    Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish; set aside.

  2. Cook the vegetables and beef: 

    Heat a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms to the dry skillet. As they heat, the mushrooms will give off their moisture. Stir them occasionally until they are soft, slightly browned, and most of their liquid has evaporated, 5 to 8 minutes. Scrape the mushrooms in a bowl; set aside.

    Wipe out the skillet and return it to the burner. Add the oil; when it ripples, add the onion and cook until translucent, about 6 minutes. Add the garlic and bell pepper and cook 1 minute longer. Season generously with salt.

    Add the beef, reduce the heat to medium, and cook, breaking the beef up with a spoon into small clumps. Stop when the meat is no longer pink, about 8 minutes.

    Sliced mushrooms stirred in a hot skillet over the stove for Johnny Marzetti casserole recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Onions, bell pepper, and garlic cooking in the skillet on the stove for Johnny Marzetti casserole recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Beef added to skillet on the stove and cooking with the vegetables for Johnny Marzetti casserole recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

  3. Add the tomatoes and seasoning:

    Use your hands to crush the tomatoes directly into the pan (wear an apron) and add the remaining juices from the can.

  1. Add the tomato paste, oregano, pepper flakes, and black pepper and simmer until saucy, about 20 minutes. Add the reserved mushrooms; simmer 2 minutes longer. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed with salt.

    Hand crushing whole canned tomatoes into the skillet with the ground beef mixture for Johnny Marzetti casserole recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Cooked mushrooms added to the meat sauce in the skillet for Johnny Marzetti casserole recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

  2. Meanwhile, boil the pasta:

    As the sauce cooks, bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the pasta and cook until it still retains a bit of bite. Drain.

    Cooked elbow pasta draining in a colander in the stove for Johnny Marzetti casserole recipe

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

  3. Assemble the casserole: 

    Return the pasta to the pot; add the cooked sauce and toss. Mix in half of the cheeses, then dump into the greased dish. Scatter the remaining grated cheese on top.

    Johnny Marzetti casserole ingredients mixed together with cheese in a pot

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Johnny Marzetti casserole ingredients added to a casserole dish

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

    Casserole dish with Johnny Marzetti casserole ingredients topped with grated cheddar and parmesan cheese

    Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

  4. Bake:

    Bake until the sauce bubbles and the cheese is lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. 

        Baked Johnny Marzetti casserole in the casserole dish

        Simply Recipes / Mark Beahm

                           Serving of Johnny Marzetti casserole and mixed greens on a plate at a table setting with more casserole in a casserole dish, another plate with another serving and two glasses with a drink

for full instructions click on the next page

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