Food - Drink
Is Ohio's Johnny Marzetti Casserole Named After A Real Person?
By HARMONY COLANGELO
While both the East and West Coasts and the South have reputations for serving up popular regional delicacies, the culinary creations of the Midwest often get overlooked. From deep-fried sauerkraut balls to an endless variety of casseroles, the Midwest continuously serves up comfort food, like the mysteriously-named Johnny Marzetti casserole.
Although Johnny Marzetti was a real person, his eponymous casserole was actually created by his sister, Teresa Marzetti, at her restaurant in Columbus Ohio in 1896. The dish consists of ground beef, cheese, tomato sauce, and noodles, and although quite simple, it’s filling and flavorful in a way only something fresh out of the oven can be.
The dish quickly became beloved and although Marzetti’s original restaurant is no longer open, you can easily make the casserole at home. Simply layer your tomato sauce, cooked macaroni, Italian cheese blend, and cooked ground beef in a casserole dish, and then bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 45 minutes.