Johnny Marzetti Casserole

This kid-approved Johnny Marzetti casserole with ground beef, sausage, pasta, and a savory tomato sauce is layered with cheese and baked until bubbly.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 1 hr 5 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 35 mins
• Calories: 790 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 clove garlic, minced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
• 1 pound ground beef
• 8 ounces rotini pasta
• cooking spray
• 2 cups shredded Italian cheese blend
• 1 (14.4 ounce) can diced tomatoes
• 1 tablespoon minced green bell pepper
• 0.75 cup chopped onion
• 1.5 cups shredded sharp Cheddar cheese
• 0.25 cup chopped celery
• 0.5 pound bulk mild Italian sausage

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 7x11-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.

Step 2

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add rotini and cook until tender yet firm to the bite, 6 to 8 minutes; drain. Run cold water over pasta to stop it from cooking further.

Step 3

While the pasta is cooking, cook ground beef and sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat until completely browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Add onion, celery, garlic, and bell pepper; cook and stir until vegetables are tender, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from the heat and stir in tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Let cool for 5 minutes.

Step 4

Spread pasta over the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle Italian cheese blend over rotini, then pour meat sauce over top. Cover the dish with heavy-duty aluminum foil.

Step 5

Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and sprinkle Cheddar cheese over the casserole. Continue to bake until Cheddar has melted, about 5 minutes. Rest for 10 minutes before serving.