Homemade SpaghettiOs
An easy homemade version of SpaghettiOs that will bring back great childhood memories and is way better for you than the canned stuff. This recipe tastes very close to the original and your whole family will enjoy it.
For day TWO of my favorite childhood food week, I made an adult version of homemade SpaghettiOs that you will love! I don’t know about you, but I tore these up as a kid. I think I had them for lunch every day of my life when I was home for lunchtime. I was even famous for having them for dinner when I didn’t like what my mom made (which was 5 out of 7 nights a week, give or take a couple days. Nothing against my mom’s cooking – I was super picky!)
I added shredded chicken to this to make it more of a hearty “adult” meal. If you are making this for your kids, you can leave out the chicken and it will still be very tasty…also omit the chicken if you want it to taste just like the original SpaghettiOs, but it is a nice alternative/option. Honestly, I’ve never been a really huge fan of chicken and red sauce together (i.e. Chicken Parmesan) – I’m a little bit weird and picky like that when it comes to my food. BUT, Mr. Wishes liked it a lot with the chicken and thought it really made it more of a meal. His reaction to this dish was, “This tastes a lot like SpaghettiOs!” He is very creative with his feedback 😉 But I do love that positive feedback!
So, if your kids (of you adults out there) find SpaghettiOs to be somewhat of a guilty pleasure…as I do…this recipe is a quick and cheap way to make lunch or dinner for you and your kids without all of the preservatives!
Did you miss day ONE of my themed week? I made these Circus Animal Sugar Cookies – be sure to take a look! They were a popular one!
- 1 pound small circular pasta (I used rings)
- 1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter
- Three 15-ounce cans tomato sauce (I used Hunt's)
- 1 tablespoon dry Ranch Dressing seasoning packet
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast (optional)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Cook pasta to al dente according to package directions then drain under cold water to stop the cooking process.
- Melt butter into a large dutch oven or pot over medium heat.
- Add tomato sauce, stirring to combine.
- Add your cooked pasta to the sauce along with the shredded chicken (if you are using), Ranch seasoning and black pepper. Stir to combine, reduce heat to medium low..
- Top with shredded cheese and close lid to melt cheese for 3-5 minutes. You can stir the cheese in or leave it on top.
- Once cheese is melted, serve.
Recipe source: adapted from picky-palate.com
So….we pretty much ate spaghettiO’s at least 1 or 2 times a week for lunch growing up. And I have to admit that I have not eaten them since I started college. Just haven’t brought myself to do it. But this recipe intrigues me and makes me think that someday, as a mom, I could actually make this!!!
I tore them up as a kid!
Wow these spaghettios look delicious, Ashley! Great homemade version (:
Aww thanks Monica!
Its 115am where I am and I just woke my wife Melissa up and dragged her out of bed to send her to Wegmans to get these ingredients and to come home and make them for us. The second best part of this story is that when I told her its imperative to do so because I need Homemade Spaghetti Os right now because I am a “big baby”, she understood. The best part of this story will be in about an hour (215am approx) when these homemade spaghetti o’s are in my mouth and I feel like I’m 10,11, 12 ,13,14,15,16,17, and 18 again -only the healthy version. Thanks Mrs. Dishes (my wife thanks you too (because she likes to see me giddy like a schoolboy), but asks that next time you dont post such a delightful dish at 1am on a 3 degree night).
Wow, you must really love SpaghettiOs!
I love Ranch Sauce, a friend of mine from the States introduced me to it 🙂
Love the look of this 🙂 Xx
Thank you, Johlene! I love ranch sauce, too.
Good gosh. These are insane! Incredible!
Thank you!!!
Now this takes me back! I used to feed my children Spaghetti O’s and they loved them. I’ve never thought to make my own but you’ve inspired me! xx
I ate them all the time growing up! Thanks, Charlie!
Oh my – I LOVED spaghettios when I was a kid, too. LOVED. I always liked the ones with the little meatballs in them best. I’ve never thought of making a homemade adult version before – nice work!
I loved the meatballs, too! Next I will make a version with meatballs 🙂
This is a great recipe!! I didn’t eat much pasta as a little girl. It’s not that popular in Poland
My daughter is a very picky eater but one think she likes is pasta! I think I will make it for her 🙂
I LOVE pasta – I’d eat it every day if I could 🙂 Thanks, Kat!
I used to love spaghettios when I was little! I bet the homemade version is better 😛 Great job 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
It is very good!! Thanks!
I loved spaghettiOs as a kid! Brings back memories. I would have had no idea how to make them. Sounds delicious!
I think every kid ate these like it was their job! LOL
I seriously love this idea! I bet I could use vegan butter and my own seasonings in order to try to make this vegan. Hmm..you have my brain really thinking now! 😉
I love how creative you are in making different dishes vegan!! Go for it!! Thanks, Hannah 🙂
Oh boy….Michael is gonna FLIIIIP out! lol
Hahaha SpaghettiOs has a special place in many hearts 🙂
I hate to admit this but I am 48 years old and I just had them for lunch! I can’t wait to try this version!
Don’t be ashamed to admit that! I still eat them too (from the can!)
I can’t even begin to tell you how many cans of SpaghettiOs I’ve eaten in my life. What a fun trip down memory lane!
Yeah I don’t even want to know how many I’ve had LOL
This is a great idea. Thanks for coming up with the recipe.
THanks, Ginny!!
I used to love this growing up! What a great idea! I can’t wait to give this a try! 🙂
I ate countless cans of them… Even well into my adulthood. No shame!
Yay for healthy versions of comfort foods which look this awesome!
Thank you! I love making homemade versions because I feel way was guilty eating them
Confession: I have never tasted SpaghettiOs. In fact, I didn’t really know what they were… but this looks yummy! 🙂
I can’t believe you’ve never had them!
LOVE this!!! I was so obsessed with spaghetti os when I was a kid. Cannot wait to try this!
You and me both! LOL
Sounds tasty and comforting spaghettios pasta….
Lovely pgotographed too!!!
great job Ashley…..
Thanks!
Who wouldn’t love homemade SpaghettiOs? I sometimes ate these when I was a kid, too, but haven’t had them for years (we’re talking decades and decades). Really fun recipe — thanks.
Thank you John!
I used to love SpaghettiOs as a kid, but then I got freaked out by them one day and never ate them again. I think as this is a homemade recipe that looks even better, it would get me to love them again!
I don’t blame you for getting freaked out by them – they really are not good for you at all 🙂
These definitely look like spaghettiO’s! I could never eat them. I always thought they tasted like the can. lol Homemade rules!!
You’re right- they kind of did!
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I made those for my daughter and she really liked them 🙂 it’s so comforting to make something she actually enjoys to eat 🙂 she is a really picky eater. Thanks Ashley!
Thank you so much for letting me know!! I was always a picky eater too so I understand 🙂 It gets better!
Spaghettios were awesome, this is such a cool recipe 😀
Cheers
CCU
OMG! I forgot how much I loved these until I saw this post 🙂 your version looks delicious
THank you!!
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