Johnny Mac Recipe (4-Ingredient Casserole)

Name: I’ve Been Making My Grandma’s 4-Ingredient Johnny Mac for Decades
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 10
Ingredients: Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste; 1 pound elbow macaroni; 1 pound 90% lean ground beef or ground turkey; 1 (32-ounce) jar marinara sauce (I use Rao’s); 1 1/2 cups (about 6 ounces) grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Why Make This

Johnny Mac has been loved for decades because it's just four ingredients and feeds a crowd.
The casserole also delivers comforting, cheesy, meaty goodness.

Let’s be clear about one thing: my grandma is no cook. Don’t take my word for it—she proclaims this herself. That hasn’t stopped her from feeding our whole family every Sunday for longer than I can remember.

While she occasionally orders delivery pizza and calls it a day, most of the time she draws from a small collection of quick and dirty recipes that can feed a crowd. As a kid, the standout that excited me most was her signature pasta casserole: Johnny Mac.

close-up view of a baking dish of Johnny Mac (4-Ingredient Casserole) — Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Johnny Mac is my grandma’s simplified version of the classic cheesy tomato and meat-laden Johnny Marzetti casserole. Her version relies on ground beef or turkey instead of sausage, Parmesan cheese only, and a hefty amount of tomato sauce to avoid fiddling with any added vegetables. The macaroni is the major constant between these two dishes, which is how my grandma named her take.

When I first left the nest and needed to fend for myself, I turned to Johnny Mac over and over. It checked all the boxes: yummy, easy, filling, and I never had to write down the recipe—it was too simple to forget. The other big plus? This makes a lot of food, so I had leftovers for days.

If you have a small army to feed, my grandma has your back with her Johnny Mac.

overhead view of a baking dish of Johnny Mac (4-Ingredient Casserole) and one serving scooped out onto a plate with a fork — Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

4-Ingredient Johnny Mac

Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Total Time 45 mins

Servings 8 to 10

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 pound elbow macaroni
1 pound 90% lean ground beef or ground turkey
1 (32-ounce) jar marinara sauce (I use Rao’s)
1 1/2 cups (about 6 ounces) grated parmesan cheese, divided

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
Cook the macaroni and ground beef:

Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high heat. Cook the macaroni until very al dente according to the package directions and drain.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium heat until cooked through and no longer pink, 8 to 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Combine ingredients:

In the now-empty large pot, combine the drained macaroni, cooked meat, marinara sauce, and 1 cup of the grated Parmesan. Stir until the ingredients are incorporated and the mixture is slightly stringy with melted cheese.

Now it’s time to transfer this mountain of pasta to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Smooth the pasta into an even layer, making sure it’s spread into the corners. Top the pasta evenly with the remaining 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan.
Bake:

Bake until the cheese on top starts to turn golden brown, about 20 minutes. You’re welcome to serve immediately, but you’d be well advised to practice patience for at least 15 minutes to avoid searing your tongue.

Leftovers? Yeah, I thought so. Let the pasta cool for at least 1 hour, then cover the dish or transfer portions to a few airtight containers. Refrigerate for up to 4 days. To reheat, transfer your desired serving to a bowl and microwave until warmed through.

Love the recipe? Leave us stars and a comment below!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
300	Calories
12g	Fat
24g	Carbs
22g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8 to 10
Amount per serving
Calories	300
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 12g	16%
Saturated Fat 5g	25%
Cholesterol 57mg	19%
Sodium 838mg	36%
Total Carbohydrate 24g	9%
Dietary Fiber 3g	10%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 22g
Vitamin C 2mg	11%
Calcium 183mg	14%
Iron 3mg	16%
Potassium 585mg	12%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.