Granny’s Jon Marzetti

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Granny’s Jon Marzetti is a go-to weeknight dinner when we’re out of ideas or short on time. Easy, quick, and always tasty, it has been a favorite for years. It can be lightened up with more vegetables and spiced up with chilies, and it makes enough for leftovers. Jon Marzetti is also a great option for a hot dish potluck. This is also a great option for stocking the freezer with an oven ready, emergency dinner. Portion out enough for a meal or two, store in an airtight, freezer safe container and you have dinner in the bank.

When my husband was a bachelor, his mom gave him a great cookbook of family recipes for easy and hearty meals. Many of the recipes, like Granny’s Jon Marzetti, were dishes made by his grandmother. Since we’ve been married, he has been the chief casserole officer and this is one of our favorites.

I was curious about the name and found that there are many versions of this floating around. I found an article pointing to a Marzetti family from Italy who immigrated to Columbus, Ohio in the late 1800s. They stared a restaurant that catered to college students and hot dishes like their “Johnny Marzetti” were easy, inexpensive, and hearty. Interestingly enough, Mike’s grandparents were from Ohio.

Granny’s Jon Marzetti

Vickie Young

Jon Marzetti is a great casserole that's quick and easy for any night of the week. Our version of Jon Marzetti is from Mike's side of the family and over the years we've spiced it up a little to give it a bit more zip. It's adaptable so add any number of spices or vegetables to fit your taste.

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Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 35 minutes mins

Rest 5-10 minutes before serving 5 minutes mins

Total Time 50 minutes mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Equipment

• 9 x 13 baking dish

Ingredients

  

Ingredients

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 med onion chopped
• 3 cloves garlic minced
• 1 green bell pepper chopped
• 2 cups wide egg noodles
• 1 15 oz can stewed tomatoes
• 1 8 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 4 oz can green chilies optional
• 2 tsp Salt plus more for pasta water
• 1 tsp Freshly ground pepper
• 1 tbsp Garlic powder
• 2 cups Grated cheddar cheese and/or pepper jack cheese I like a mixture of both

Instructions

 

Directions

• Heat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9 x 13" baking dish. Chop vegetables, gather ingredients, and start heating salted water for noodles.
• Bring water to a boil for noodles & cook according to package directions, drain.
  
• In a small saucepan simmer stewed tomatoes, sauce & ½ green pepper. Heat a large skillet and add ground beef.
  
• Brown ground beer until no longer pink and sauté onion & ½ green pepper in a skillet. Drain grease and add garlic and green chilies if using. Add tomato and green pepper mixture to the meat mixture.
  
• When noodles are cooked, drain and add to meat and sauce mixture, stir. Season with salt, pepper and garlic powder to your liking.
  
• Pour into greased casserole dish & sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese and/or pepper jack cheese.
  
• Bake 20-25 minutes in a 350 degree oven. For crispier edges finish by broiling for 1-2 minutes.
  

Notes

This is a an easy make-ahead dish.  You can make a double batch and set aside half in the fridge or freezer for a quick meal later.  Or, split it up into smaller serving dishes for 1-2 servings each.  Serve with a fresh salad or some frozen veggies for an easy dinner!

Keyword Casserole, comfort food, dinner, Easy, Main Dish, Pasta, recipe