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This bowl of super easy homemade Cheesy Spaghetti O’s is the perfect recipe for busy weeknights and picky eaters. Small little O-shaped pasta, garlic butter, herbs, and tomato paste are boiled together until al dente. Then a handful of grated parmesan and pecorino cheeses are stirred into the mix. Together they create a creamy, cheesy spaghetti O-style pasta that’s wholesome, delicious, and fun. This simple pasta is made all in one pot, in just 25 minutes and your family will become obsessed!
Well, isn’t this fun?! Homemade spaghetti O’s! And SO MUCH better than anything you’d dump out of a can. So much better.
I’ve said it many times now, but it’s back-to-school season. And as much as I dreaded this time of year as a kid, there was (and is) something so exciting about starting off a new year. It’s odd since the new year isn’t officially until January. But as a kid, the start of the school year meant so much more than the actual new year. New classrooms, new teachers, new friends, possibly even a new school.
It’s a lot. And with practices, homework, and earlier bedtimes, nights become short and hectic.
My parents relied on easy dinners like chicken and rice, tacos, and pasta. My mom was always stocked with ramen, boxes of mac and cheese, and yeah, cans of Spaghetti O’s.
To be very, very honest. I never went for the spaghetti O’s. My brother Creighton loved them. I only recall eating them maybe once a year and always with a grilled cheese that my dad would make.
So I can’t say that I was a true fan. But we all know I love a homemade “dupe” and spaghetti O’s needed to happen this week. It’s been thundering and storming all week, and this is back-to-school comfort food at its best.
Details
For starters, this is almost as easy as dumping out a can of spaghetti o’s and heating. Simple, simple and so much better.
I start by cooking the butter together with a splash of olive oil, lots of garlic, some oregano, and chili flakes. Then add in tomato paste, which is the base of our sauce. I prefer to use tomato paste over jarred pasta. It brings a more intense tomato flavor that tastes as though the sauce has been cooking all day. It’s kind of my “secret”.
Next, pour in the water, this is for cooking the pasta. Then, add the Spaghetti O’s or in correct Italian, Anellini pasta. Any shortcut pasta will work, but using the Anellini makes this feel like a legit Spaghetti O’s copycat. It’s fun!
Next, add in some onion powder and paprika. Then just cook away until the pasta has the perfect bite. Stir in lots of cheese – both parmesan and pecorino, and finish with fresh basil.
Excited to have this recipe in my back pocket. It’s pretty perfect any time of the year. Everyone really loves it. Like really loves it. Oslo is actually eating a bowl out of my lap as I type this. It’s UMMY as Oslo says!
Looking for other one pot recipes? Here are my favorites:
French Onion Pasta with Crispy Prosciutto
One Skillet White Chicken Chili Bake
Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
Lastly, if you make this Super Easy Homemade Cheesy Spaghetti O’s, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Super Easy Homemade Cheesy Spaghetti O’s
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 262 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano
- chili flakes
- 1/3 cup tomato paste
- 2 cups Anellini or other small pasta
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup grated pecorino cheese
- 1/2 cup fresh basil
Instructions
- 1. Melt together the butter, olive oil, garlic, oregano, and chili flakes in a large pot over medium heat. Cook until the butter turns golden, about 5 minutes. 2. Reduce the heat to low, stir in the tomato paste. Cook 1-2 minutes, then pour over 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta, onion powder, paprika, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the pasta is al dente, about 12 minutes.3. Stir in the parmesan, pecorino, and basil until the cheese is melted. 4. Serve immediately topped with fresh basil. Eat!
This post was originally published on August 17, 2022
Flavor was delicious! However I had to add a lot more water and cook for a lot longer because pasta was still hard and water was almost gone after 12 minutes. Texture wasn’t quite right at the end but may try again with more water at the start. I used anellini pasta.
Hi Terri,
Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback! If you want to make again, I would turn your heat down slightly so the liquid doesn’t absorb too fast. Thanks again!
Delicious and easy! Chef boy r d who?😂 very simple and lots of flavor from the cheeses, did have to add a little bit more water to the pot for the pasta,
Hey Lori,
I appreciate you giving this recipe a go, great to hear it turned out well for you!
This was so good and such fun to make! My husband was so intrigued when I told him what I was making. I didn’t get to have Spaghetti O’s when I was a kid; and I tried them once I moved out and thought they were so gross, lol! But these. These were awesome.
Hey Kerrie,
Wonderful! I appreciate you making this recipe and your comment, love to hear it was enjoyed!🎄
I tweaked this just a little bit to suit personal tastes, but overall I’d say it turned out pretty good. It was nice and robust and I enjoyed the cheesy flavor. I think using beef broth (like I did this time) makes it ideal for pairing with meatballs (though I didn’t this time). Chicken broth or water might make it a bit lighter (something I’d like to try next time). I like that there’s plenty of room to play with this and get it just right for your own family or the way you prefer to serve it on different occasions. One thing to mention, though – I adjusted the recipe to 3 serving instead of 6, but when it came time to add the liquid, the amount was only listed in the directions and not in the ingredients, so I accidentally ended up doubling and adding the amount of liquid meant for making 6 servings. I had to rush to add more of all the other ingredients once I discovered it was too much liquid. Yikes! Just keep that in mind if you’re adjusting the recipe to a different size than what’s published.
Hi Michelle,
Happy Monday! I’m thrilled to hear this recipe turned out well for you!
Thanks for making it and your comment:)
This recipe is amazing. It’s a good meal to make with little kids, I just have to watch how much chili flakes I use. I use the Barilla Ditalini pasta.
Hey Chelsea! Thank you SO much for trying out the recipe! So glad you loved these homemade spaghetti os! xT
My pasta kept burning to the pot and it cooking through quick enough so it was also drying out. Any tips?? I’d love to try again!
Hey Melanie! So sorry to hear that happened! A couple tips that might help next time: make sure there’s enough liquid in the pot—if things start to look too dry before the pasta is cooked, it’s totally okay to add a splash of water or broth as it simmers. Also, try keeping the heat at a low simmer and stirring often to prevent sticking or burning at the bottom. Every stove is a little different, so small adjustments can make a big difference. I really hope you give it another go—it’s such a fun and cozy recipe! xT
Is there a way to make this without the cheese? My daughter tends to not like so much cheese in her food
Hi Crystal! You can omit the cheese if you’d like and just add more tomatoes to the sauce for flavor! xT
How well do you think this recipe would hold up freezing for easy grab lunches?
Hey Tara,
I think that would be a great idea for this recipe! Please let me know if you have any other questions! xT
Really liked this recipe. I held off on adding salt because the cheese and butter were already salty. Overall very good, even my toddler liked it!!
Hi Emilie,
Awesome! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it! Have a great rest of the week:) Xxx