I have seen the T. Marzetti brand my whole life, just one of those brands that populate the grocery store shelves and I don't think much about it. But the brand, turns out, has a long history. And it seems to be mainly a Midwestern thing. Not sure if I walked into a Publix or a Hannafords or a King Sooper's if I'd see this brand. But the Marzetti brand is also the genesis of another popular midwestern food: Johnny Marzetti Hamburger Casserole
I mean, Johnny Marzetti Hamburger Casserole is really just a casserole of tomatoes, noodles, ground beef, and some other basic ingredients. But like any recipe that gets passed around, people tinker with it and the dish has become quite popular among the Amish with various versions found. This is particular recipe is called "Jon-Zetti" in an Amish cookbook that I found. And there is also a popular Amish version known as "Yum-A-Zetti."
Here is a fascinating history of the dish. An excerpt describes its early popularity:
Owners Teresa and Joseph Marzetti sought a simple main course, easy and cheap to make.
It had to be scalable to feed the masses, the starved college students from Ohio State University just down the street. One of the dishes that Marzetti offered her customers became known as Johnny Marzetti, which was named after Teresa Marzetti's brother-in-law.A baked casserole, the dish included ground beef, cheese, tomato sauce, and noodles. It was a sensation at 45 cents.
It's interesting because this "Amish version" actually hews much closer to the original Johnny Marzetti recipe than some fancier versions that have taken root that pack it with spices. The original was pretty much classic comfort food, like this.
Cooked ground beef and onion form the hearty base of this dish. Many Amish Cooks that make this dish use a cast-iron skillet for browning the burger. But you can use stainless steel or non-stick.
Noodles are also an important part of this dish, some recipes call for elbow macaroni, but whatever noodles you like! And, yes, always add salt and olive oil to the water. I always do!
You can use any cheese, we used Provolone slices, but layer with shreddar Cheddar, slices of colby, whatever YOUR favorite cheese is!
Just keep laying stuff on top and alternate layers, this is noodles on top of the cheese layer.
Makes for a super hearty meal when paired with applesauce or may some fresh asparagus on the side!
🍲 Amish-Style Johnny Marzetti Hamburger Casserole
- 1 pound hamburger
- 1 medium onion
- 1 small package of noodles
- 1 small can tomatoes
- salt
- pepper
- cheese
📋 Casserole Instructions
- Brown hamburger and onion.
- Cook noodles in salt water until they are tender.
- Make layers of hamburger, slices of cheese, noodles alternately.
- Cover with tomatoes. Bake at 350 until brown,about 45 minutes.
🍲 More Amish Hamburger Casseroles
Mrs. King's Amish Hamburger Casserole - Super!
Fannie Martin's Hamburger-Corn Casserole - Who Doesn't Love Corn?!
Mashed Potato and Beef Casserole- Stick-to-your-ribs!
Amish Washday Casserole - So good!
🖨️ Marzetti Casserole
Delicious Johnny Marzetti Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 pound hamburger
- medium onion chopped
- 1 12 ounce package noodles
- 1 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
- Cheese enough to cover casserole, and you can use any kind you like
Instructions
- Brown hamburger and onion.
- Cook noodles in salt water until they are tender.
- Make layers of hamburger, slices of cheese, noodles alternately. Cover with tomatoes
- Bake until brown at 350, about 45 minutes
Kathleen Davis Davis
I have made my version of this for years. kids use to fight over the cheese on top so I would melt my cheese in tomato sauce and pour it over the pasta then bake. I use any kind of pasta, elbow, bow tie, ziti what ever was on hand. I also have used or mixed in maybe half jar of spaghetti sauce sitting in the frig. Can also jazz it up with a little oregano.
A good starter to many versions.
Kevin Williams
I like your oregano suggestion!
Randy
It would be great to know what temperature to set your oven on, so it would bake nicely.
Kevin Williams
Thanks, Randy, I added the temp, should be 350
Mary Laisure
I make a version of Johnny Marzetti, which I use elbow macaroni, hamburger, onion, chopped green or colored bell pepper, 24-32 oz. jar of spaghetti sauce, shredded sharp cheddar cheese. I brown the hamburger, onion and bell pepper. Drain grease from hamburger if there is any, then add spaghetti sauce and a little Italian seasoning to hamburger mixture and heat together. While that is simmering, I cook 8 oz. of elbow macaroni part way, drain it and put it in my Crock Pot and add the meat and spaghetti sauce and combine it then sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top and cook it on low for an hour or when the macaroni is completely cooked. This is a dish my sons like when they were young and also today.