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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
Could this be frozen?
Hi Cherry,
So sorry, I don’t think this would be the best option to freeze, the small noodles would probably become mushy:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Haha! So my 22yo son is homestarting after a distant summer internship, ready to start his last year at college. He and I were reminiscing about spaghetti O’s when he was little. This recipe popped up. Had all ingredients so made this for him for lunch. Substituted broken angel hair for the O’s. His response, ‘hmm, yum! Hmm, this is really good!’ Sending him off with recipe as it’s a poor college kids dream recipe! Inexpensive, healthy, and easy!!! Thank you!
Hey Judy,
Happy Friday!? Thanks a lot for trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it was a winner! Thanks for sharing this story:) xx
This is the best Tieghan! I can’t believe that one of my favorite meals as a kid was a can of spaghetti-os. I am so excited to try this homemade and much better-looking version.
Thanks so much Kim!! I hope you love this recipe, let me know how it turns out!! Happy Friday! xx
Hi Tieghan:
Your demonstration of this recipe on Instagram incorporated pesto, was this a sub for 1 TBSP of fresh oregano?
Hi Tracey,
I had a little extra pesto laying around so I just tossed some in, totally not needed, you can follow the recipe as written:) xx
Where do you find this pasta? It’s not available at my local grocery chain, or at the Barilla web site.
Hi Donna,
I order it from Amazon:
https://shopstyle.it/l/bKwNe
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
I am confused about the process. Do you pour the sauce ingredients over the boiling pasta water, and mix from there? Or do you make the sauce ingredients and pour 3 cups boiling water over that?
Hi AnnMarie,
Just follow everything as written…start with the sauce ingredients and then add the water. It all cooks in one pot:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I happened to have all the ingredients to
make this for dinner (including a bag of anelletti!) However, I got kind of tripped up on the “process” for this recipe. I mixed all of the sauce ingredients in a large skillet & then added a cup of the pasta water & then combined after the pasta was cooked & drained (instead of boiling the pasta in the sauce.) My family went wild over this & everyone had seconds!
Hey Liz,
Amazing!! I love to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for trying it out:) Next time, you can follow the recipe as written and make it all in one pot, I promise it works! xTieghan
OMG! I LOVED Spaghettios as a kid. Making this ASAP! Thanks Tieghan 🙂
LOL you bet! I hope you love the recipe Rachel! xTieghan
where do you find the “O’s”
Creamette has ring macaroni that comes in two sizes of rings. I’ve never seen it in stores outside of Minnesota or Wisconsin, but you could look online. It’s perfect for this recipe.
Thanks for sharing Jody!!
I found some on Amazon.
Thanks so much Lindsay! That’s where I got mine:)
Hey Lynne,
Here is the link for the ones that I used:
https://shopstyle.it/l/bKwNe
Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
How would this be with rotini or even capellini? We can’t eat gluten, and our alternatives are limited.
Hey Tara,
Any small noodle would be great to use, totally doesn’t have to be the O’s:) Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx
Wow, it’s been years or longer since I have seen or made to wonder about ‘spaghetti’Os’; amazing this recipe and not from the can but genuine. I only know it from the can. I have never seen or heard of ‘Anelletti’ and that’s spaghetti’ Os. Thank you for sharing.
You bet! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it:) xTieghan
I never liked the canned Spaghetti-o’s but this recipe sounds amazing. Making it tonight. As always your recipes never ever disappoint.
Thanks so much LeeAnn! Let me know how the recipe turns out:) xT
I’ve never eaten spaghetti O’s from a can in my life, but this homemade version would definitely work for me. Our granddaughters are home schooled, and we work with them 2 days a week. We plan on starting them doing some cooking this fall, and I think they would love making this. It’s an easy way to incorporate math, reading and following instructions, and they both love pasta. Thanks!
What a terrific idea. And it’s an easy way to incorporate chemistry. (Especially Tieghan’s recipes that cook the pasta by adding water to the sauce and cook everything in one pot. Genius!) Cooking for me is like chemistry class.
Hey Lyn,
That’s awesome! I hope your family loves this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xx
I was never one for Spaghetti O’s either. I had no idea you could buy these little pasta rings. HA!!
LOL right?! How cute are they!!
Thank you for metric conversion. It makes things much easier. Love from Frankfurt. Annette
Hi Annette,
You bet! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xx