Oven Baked 4-Ingredient Johnny Marzetti

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

Directions and Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 2 to 3-quart white oval baking dish or a similar casserole dish and set it aside.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and cook until just shy of al dente, about 1 to 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain well and set aside.
3. While the pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully browned with no pink remaining, about 6 to 8 minutes. If there’s excess fat, spoon off most of it, leaving just a thin coating for extra flavor.
4. Pour the tomato pasta sauce into the skillet with the cooked ground beef. Stir to combine and let it simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Taste and season with salt and pepper if desired. Remove from heat.
5. In a large mixing bowl or the pasta pot, combine the drained elbow macaroni with the beef and tomato sauce mixture. Add 2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese and stir until the cheese is evenly mixed throughout.
6. Spoon the mixture into the prepared baking dish, smoothing it into an even layer. Sprinkle the remaining 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top.
7. Place the baking dish on the center rack of the preheated oven. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until bubbling and the cheese is melted and lightly golden.
8. Let the casserole rest for 5 to 10 minutes before serving to help it set. Serve warm and enjoy!

Notes or Tips

• Feel free to add your favorite vegetables, like bell peppers or spinach, for a nutritional boost!
• If you prefer a bit of heat, consider adding red pepper flakes to the sauce.
• This dish can be prepared ahead of time! Assemble everything in advance and store it in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, simply pop it in the oven.

Cooking Techniques

This Johnny Marzetti relies on fundamental techniques like boiling pasta to the perfect texture and browning ground beef to develop rich flavors. Cooking the pasta just shy of al dente ensures it maintains a slight bite when baked in the casserole, preventing it from becoming mushy. Simmering the sauce with the beef enhances the depth of flavor, making every bite a burst of deliciousness!