Homemade Spaghettios
on Oct 23, 2022, Updated Jul 29, 2024
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Itโs time to ditch the can for good and make my easy cheesy ๐ 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 ๐ด meals are not only affordable but time-saving for parents. This is why I decided to recreate the classic ๐ฅซ 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 ๐ 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 ๐ pasta dish that’s super satisfying and way more delicious and nutritious than the canned version.
How to Prepare Homemade Spaghettios
๐ง Add the olive oil to a pot or big skillet with high sides then add the garlic to the cold oil.
๐ก๏ธ Turn the heat to medium and let the oil and garlic heat up together.
๐ฟ Once the garlic is sizzling, add the Italian seasoning and tomato paste. Then give it a stir and cook for 20 seconds.
๐ Now, add the tomato sauce and stir.
๐ง Next, add in the spaghettios and water, then sprinkle a pinch of salt and stir.
๐ง Add a Parmesan cheese rind if using.
โฒ๏ธ 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).
๐ฅฃ Once the pasta is fully cooked, take it off the heat, remove the cheese rind, add the freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, and stir.
๐ Garnish with fresh basil and enjoy!
Nonna’s Tip ๐ง
The amount of water you add will depend on the pasta shape you choose. Start with 2 1/2 to 3 cups and add more a little at a time as it cooks.
Variations and Substitutions for Homemade Spaghettios
- You can use any mini pasta shape in this Homemade Spaghettios recipe, such as ditalini, orzo, or alphabet-shaped noodles.
- For added nutrition, throw in a handful of chopped fresh or frozen ๐ฅฌ spinach in the last minute or so of cooking.
- Instead of parmesan, you can also use grated low-moisture mozzarella or any other grated cheese of choice.
- Feel free to use passata or your favorite ๐ tomato sauce in this recipe. I used our homemade tomato sauce, but if you canโt make your own, feel free to use a better-quality sauce like Raoโs.
- 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 Reggiano and nothing that is pre-grated or boxed as it makes all the difference.
- Make this recipe gluten-free by using your favorite non-gluten pasta variety.
Similar Recipes
Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce
35 mins
Pink Pasta
15 mins
Pasta Limone
15 mins
Cherry Tomato Pasta
15 mins
Lemon Shrimp Pasta
15 mins
Pasta e Ceci
25 mins
Best Served With
- Enjoy this with some crusty ๐ฅ bread to soak up all the delicious juices.
- If you’re feeling ambitious, you can serve this with my No Knead Peasant Bread.
- My ๐ฅ Simple Green Salad makes this a full, balanced meal.
Common Questions
Yes, the Homemade Spaghettios will keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop when ready to enjoy. When reheating, add a bit of water to thin out the sauce.
No, the cheese rind is completely optional, but infuses wonderful cheesy flavor to the dish. I buy chunks of Parmigiano cheese on the rind, and when the cheese is all used up, I store the rinds in a freezer-safe bag in the freezer and use them for adding flavor to soups and stews.
I formatted this recipe to cook in one pot to save time, and dishes, but you can absolutely let the sauce simmer for a few minutes and cook the pasta separately in boiling salted water. Add the cooked pasta to the sauce with the cheese and a touch of starchy water and enjoy.
You can use any mini pasta shape in this Homemade Spaghettios recipe, such as ditalini, orzo, or alphabet-shaped noodles.
I used my family’s homemade tomato sauce, but if you canโt make your own, feel free to use a better-quality sauce like Raoโs or even a jar of passata.
Homemade Spaghettios
Equipment
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, or dry oregano
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ยพ cup tomato sauce, I like the brand Rao's or use homemade
- 2 cups SpaghettiOs
- pinch salt
- 3 cups water
- parmigiano cheese rind, optional, leave out if you don't have it
- ยฝ cup parmigiano reggiano cheese, freshly grated
- basil , for garnish
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a pot or big skillet with high sides. Add the garlic to the cold oil. Turn the heat to medium and let the oil and garlic come up to temperature together.
- Once the garlic is sizzling, add the Italian seasoning and tomato paste. Give it a stir and let cook for 20 seconds. Add the tomato sauce and stir.
- Add the spaghetti Oโs (formally called Anelli Siciliani) and water. Sprinkle a pinch of salt and stir. I do not over-salt as my tomato sauce has salt in it and my cheese is also salty as well.
- I like to freeze all my Parmigiano Reggiano cheese rinds so I always have them on hand. I throw one rind in into any soups, stews, and sauces. Feel free to skip this step if you donโt have a cheese rind. You can also use a Pecorino Romano rind as well.
- 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). Be sure to stir the pasta a few times in between cooking as some of the pasta can get stuck to the bottom of the pot.
- If you feel like all of the water has evaporated, but the pasta is not cooked yet, add a splash of water as needed until the pasta is cooked. This step will really depend on the pasta shape you use.
- 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.
Every time I cook this recipe, thereโs water in the pot or skillet that I use to cook the recipe. Is it normal for there to be water after cooking the food for 15 minutes or should a lot of the water be gone? What can I do to improve?
Hi J.D., it’s normal for there to be some liquid remaining in the pot at the end of cooking. It could be due to the brand and size of the pasta you use. If you want a more concentrated sauce, try adding about 1/2 cup less water next time. ๐
Is this freezable? would be great to have in the freezer and pop on some toast for a quick lunch.
Hi Kimberley! I have not tried freezing it yet, but I think if you slightly undercook the pasta to al dente (about 2 to 3 minutes less cook time than the directions on the package), this will be fine for freezing. If you do freeze the spaghettios, please let us know how they turn out in the comments.
When you say tomato sauce is it spaghettiโ sauce? What kind of Raos do you use?
Hi Kylie, when I say tomato sauce I mean Marinara or Passata. Look for ingredients like: tomatoes, salt, basil, olive oil, garlic.
Instead of Olive oil, I used a tablespoon of vegan butter. I also doubled the cheese lol. And I made a home tomatoes sauce. This will become a para state in my house. Also, I found pasta rings by Cremette at my local grocery store
Thank you so much for sharing your adjustments, Stephanie! I LOVE this so much!
If you cook pasta separately then you leave the 2-3 cups of water out of the sauce, right?
Hi Allison, if you cook the pasta separately, I would still add a bit of water, about 1/2 cup, to loosen the sauce. Once you combine the pasta and sauce, over medium heat, add a little bit of water, stir, and continue until you reach the desired consistency.