Title: My Grandma’s 4-Ingredient Johnny Mac Recipe
Let me make something clear: my grandma doesn’t consider herself a cook. However, she has been feeding our family every Sunday for as long as I can remember. While she sometimes opts for delivery pizza, most of the time she relies on a handful of quick and simple recipes to feed everyone. One of my childhood favorites was her signature pasta casserole, Johnny Mac.
Johnny Mac is my grandma’s simplified twist on the classic Johnny Marzetti casserole. Her version swaps sausage for ground beef or turkey, uses only Parmesan cheese, and loads up on tomato sauce instead of added veggies. The one constant is the macaroni, which is how it earned its name.
When I first moved out on my own, I turned to Johnny Mac time and time again. It was delicious, easy to make, and always left me with leftovers for days. If you need to feed a crowd, my grandma’s got you covered with her Johnny Mac recipe.
To make 8 to 12 servings of this dish, you’ll need salt, pepper, elbow macaroni, ground beef or turkey, marinara sauce, and Parmesan cheese. Simply cook the macaroni and meat, mix with the sauce and cheese, then bake until golden brown. Let it cool before serving and store any leftovers for later.
Enjoy my grandma’s 4-ingredient Johnny Mac recipe!
