My aunt made this for a family gathering and everyone asked for the recipe because it tastes incredible. The best part is that it only needs 4 simple ingredients.

This oven baked 4-ingredient Amish tomato macaroni bake is one of those humble, church-basement style casseroles that somehow steals the whole potluck table. My aunt brought a pan of this to a big family gathering, and everyone went back for seconds and then asked for the recipe. It’s pure comfort food: tender macaroni, a rich, slightly sweet tomato sauce, and a golden, bubbly cheese crust. With just four simple ingredients and almost no prep, it’s perfect for busy weeknights when you still want something cozy and homemade in the oven.

Serve this tomato macaroni bake straight from the oven with a simple green salad or steamed veggies to balance the richness. Garlic bread or buttered dinner rolls are great for scooping up the extra sauce. It also pairs really well with roasted or grilled chicken, meatloaf, or even just some sliced smoked sausage on the side. For a lighter option, add a big bowl of mixed fruit or a crisp cucumber salad to round out the meal.

Servings: 6

12 oz elbow macaroni (about 3 cups dry)

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a 9x13-inch glass baking dish so the macaroni doesn’t stick.

Cook the elbow macaroni in a large pot of well-salted boiling water until just shy of al dente, about 1–2 minutes less than the package directions. The pasta will continue to cook in the oven. Drain well.

In the same pot (to save dishes), stir together the drained macaroni, tomato sauce, 1 1/2 cups of the shredded cheddar cheese, and the milk until everything is evenly coated and saucy.

Taste the mixture and, if you like, add a little salt and black pepper. (Traditional Amish-style versions keep it very simple, but season to your family’s taste.)

Pour the macaroni mixture into the prepared 9x13-inch glass baking dish and spread it into an even layer so the sauce is distributed throughout.

Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the top to form a cheese layer that will melt and turn golden in the oven.

Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for 20 minutes. This helps the macaroni soak up the tomato sauce and milk and keeps it from drying out.

Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10–15 minutes, or until the top is melted, bubbly, and starting to brown around the edges. The sauce should be thick and the casserole set but still a little saucy.

Let the macaroni bake rest for 5–10 minutes before serving so it can thicken slightly and slice more neatly. Serve warm, scooping down to the bottom to get plenty of that thick tomato sauce in each portion.

If you want to bulk this up a bit while still keeping it simple, you can stir in up to 1 cup of leftover cooked ground beef, crumbled sausage, or shredded rotisserie chicken before baking. For a creamier version, swap 1/2 cup of the milk for heavy cream or evaporated milk. If you like a slightly sweeter, more old-fashioned flavor, add 1–2 teaspoons of sugar to the tomato sauce mixture before baking. You can also change up the cheese: use half mozzarella for extra stretch, or a Colby-jack blend for a milder taste. To make this ahead, assemble the casserole, cover, and refrigerate up to 24 hours; when baking from cold, add an extra 10 minutes covered so it heats through. Leftovers reheat well in the oven or microwave with a splash of milk to loosen the sauce and keep everything creamy.