How To make baked Johnny marzetti

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork can be less expensive.

cheddar cheese

🥗Healthier: reduced-fat cheese

💰Cheaper: American cheese

Reduced-fat cheese lowers calories, while American cheese is often cheaper.

mozzarella cheese

🥗Healthier: part-skim mozzarella

💰Cheaper: provolone cheese

Part-skim mozzarella is lower in fat, while provolone can be more affordable.

canned tomatoes

🥗Healthier: fresh tomatoes

💰Cheaper: crushed tomatoes

Fresh tomatoes are healthier, while crushed tomatoes can be cheaper.

Brown ground beef in a skillet and drain excess oil.

Chop and add a large green bell pepper and a medium onion to the skillet.

Add one chopped clove of garlic to the skillet.

Add one can of kidney beans with broth to the skillet.

Season with black pepper and salt; add garlic powder if desired.

Add half a can of tomato sauce and a whole can of diced tomatoes to the skillet.

Add half a jar of spaghetti sauce to the skillet and stir well.

Simmer the sauce for about 30 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

In a separate pot, bring salted water to a boil for the penne noodles.

Cook the penne noodles for about 10-12 minutes until al dente; drain and set aside.

Add 2 tablespoons of white sugar to the sauce to cut the acidity.

Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if necessary.

Once the sauce is ready, add the drained penne noodles to the skillet and mix well.

Pour the mixture into a baking pan, layering in Velveeta cheese in the middle and on top.

Bake in the oven at 350°F for about 40 minutes until heated through and cheese is melted.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Allergens