Homemade Spaghettios (2024)

It’s time to ditch the can for good and make my easy cheesy 🍝 Homemade SpaghettiOs from scratch. I cannot say that I grew up on canned foods such as SpaghettiOs in Bulgaria or Greece, but when I first came to Canada, I certainly noticed how many kids enjoyed them. In this fast-paced society, these types of 🍴 meals are not only affordable but time-saving for parents. This is why I decided to recreate the classic 🥫 canned food and show you how simple it is to make from scratch. My version also happens to be a thousand times tastier and more nutritious.

Why You’ll Love Homemade Spaghettios

My Homemade SpaghettiOs is a weeknight wonder. This recipe takes just 20 minutes from start to finish and cooks together in just one pot, so it’s perfect for busy weeknights. This recipe is so tasty, too. For a quick sauce, it’s wonderfully rich and full of fresh 🍅 tomato flavor. It can also be made as cheesy as your family likes, for even more great flavor. Use whatever little kid-friendly pasta shape you like, such as alphabet pasta or even pastina like stellette. The result is such a warm, comforting 🍝 pasta dish that’s super satisfying and way more delicious and nutritious than the canned version.

How to Prepare Homemade Spaghettios

🧄 Add the olive oil to a pot or big skillet with high sides then add the garlic to the cold oil.

🌡️ Turn the heat to medium and let the oil and garlic heat up together.

🌿 Once the garlic is sizzling, add the Italian seasoning and tomato paste. Then give it a stir and cook for 20 seconds.

🍅 Now, add the tomato sauce and stir.

🧂 Next, add in the spaghettios and water, then sprinkle a pinch of salt and stir.

🧀 Add a Parmesan cheese rind if using.

⏲️ Let everything boil, semi-covered, on medium-low heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until the pasta is soft (or al-dente if you prefer).

🥣 Once the pasta is fully cooked, take it off the heat, remove the cheese rind, add the freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, and stir.

😋 Garnish with fresh basil and enjoy!

Variations and Substitutions for Homemade Spaghettios

1. You can use any mini pasta shape in this Homemade Spaghettios recipe, such as ditalini, orzo, or alphabet-shaped noodles.
2. For added nutrition, throw in a handful of chopped fresh or frozen 🥬 spinach in the last minute or so of cooking.
3. Instead of parmesan, you can also use grated low-moisture mozzarella or any other grated cheese of choice.
4. Feel free to usepassata or your favorite 🍅 tomato sauce in this recipe. I used our homemade tomato sauce, but if you can’t make your own, feel free to use a better-quality sauce like Rao’s.
5. The cheese rind is absolutely optional, if you don’t add it in you can add some extra cheese at the end if you desire.Make sure it’s good quality Parmigiano Reggianoandnothing that is pre-grated or boxed as it makes all the difference.
6. Make this recipe gluten-free by using your favorite non-gluten pasta variety.

Best Served With

• Enjoy this with some crusty 🥖 bread to soak up all the delicious juices.
• If you’re feeling ambitious, you can serve this with my No Knead Peasant Bread.
• My 🥗 Simple Green Salad makes this a full, balanced meal.

Common Questions