Cheesy Grown Up SpaghettiOs

These Cheesy Grown Up SpaghettiOs are just like the version you loved as a kid except fresh and even more yummy. This easy homemade SpagghettiOs recipe is a flavorful blast from the past that you’ll love to make and eat!

Homemade Spaghettios

Remember eating spaghettios as a kid? I do! I have to say I don’t love them now as an adult, but I do love my “Cheesy Grown Up SpaghettiOs I’ve made for you today. 

Growing up, I remember and my dad making a bowl of pasta, then adding butter and tomato sauce (with lots of black pepper) for lunch on a number of occasions. It is the simplest of ingredients and for some reason is so good! I re-created that lunch I remember him making so many times as a kid with a few little additions of my own. The family will go nuts over this recipe. My kids even polished off all of the leftovers throughout the week. 

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Cheese, cans of tomatoes, shredded chicken, pasta and ranch mix

What You’ll Need

Here’s your simple ingredient list.

  • Pasta – I used Ditalini shaped pasta, it looks similar to the traditional spaghettio shape.
  • Butter – I prefer unsalted butter for this recipe
  • Tomato sauce
  • Ranch seasoning – One of the dry seasoning packets.
  • Shredded chicken – You could also use rotisserie chicken
  • Black pepper
  • Shredded cheese – I recommend cheddar
Cheesy Grown Up SpaghettiO's 2

How To Make Homemade Spaghettios

Make the pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions then drain under cold water to stop cooking.

Making sauce

Combine butter and tomato sauce. Melt butter into a large dutch oven or pot over medium heat. Add tomato sauce, stirring to combine.

Cheesy Grown Up SpaghettiOs 4
adding chicken
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Time to add the remaining ingredients. Add your cooked pasta to the sauce along with the shredded chicken, 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. Once cheese is melted, serve.

adding cheese
Cheesy Grown Up SpaghettiOs 8

Yes! Cheesy and perfect. Now it’s time to eat. Is this an easy SpaghettiO’s recipe or what?

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

You can store extras in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat you can either spoon the amount you want to eat into a microwave-safe bowl and reheat for a few minutes in the microwave, or you can reheat the pasta on the stovetop. The noodles will expand in the fridge which is totally normal, they are just absorbing some moisture from the pasta sauce.

Cheesy Grown Up SpaghettiOs 1t

Enjoy! ….I even added a few shakes of hot sauce to mine. Give that a try too.

Image of Cheesy Grown Up SpaghettiOs

Cheesy Grown Up SpaghettiOs

These Cheesy Grown Up SpaghettiOs are just like the version you loved as a kid except fresh and even more yummy. A flavorful blast from the past that you'll love to make and eat!
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 9 servings
Calories: 278kcal
Print Pin

Equipment

  • Stove

Ingredients

  • 1 lb pasta small and circular
  • 1 stick unsalted butter
  • 45 oz tomato sauce
  • 1 tbsp dry Ranch Dressing seasoning packet
  • 2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese finely shredded

Instructions

  • Cook pasta according to package directions then drain under cold water to stop cooking.
  • 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, 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. Once cheese is melted, serve.

Nutrition

Calories: 278kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 950mg | Potassium: 594mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 740IU | Vitamin C: 9.9mg | Calcium: 120mg | Iron: 2.2mg
Keywords: homemade spaghettios, spaghettios recipe

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59 Responses
  1. Brittany

    Think I could do this in a crock pot? Having a “Back to School” potluck at work Monday and this would be perfect! Thanks 🙂

  2. CJ

    What size Le Creuset Pan do you use in this recipe, I have been trying to decide which one to purchase for the most versatility. This looks like what I would want. 4 qt or 5 qt Round? Also, love the site and recipes!

  3. Tina Larson

    Could I ude hot dogs instead og chicken. This sounds aloy like a dish my mothrt in law tsught me to makr called macaroni and tomatoes

  4. Doni

    Did anyone try it with hamburger instead of chicken? I love chicken, but it seems like spaghettios would lend itself to beef instead. Thanks!

  5. love2sign

    We made the pasta with butter and tomato soup and of course lots of black pepper! This was a quick and cheap way to make lunch for us without the preservatives! 🙂 Thanks for your website!

  6. Amanda J

    Made this for the first time tonight. Just finished a bowl……divine! Thanks for sharing this recipe!

  7. jenn

    Yum, Making this for dinner tonight. I will use my own homade ranch mix though! Also what do you serve this with? Salad and bread?

  8. Elizabeth @ The Collegiate Baker

    This sounds so good! I was never a big fan of spaghettios has a child, but I’m pretty sure your version would be my new favorite thing. 🙂

  9. Colleen

    Thank you for sharing! This recipe saved the day yesterday. My husband randomly wanted spaghettiios and I wanted chicken. Perfect!

  10. barbara

    hey jenny, i saw this recipe yesterday and thought it looked intriguing so i made it. holy cow, it was delish! i sent a bowl up for my sister to taste and she ate the whole thing (after supper). don’t hesitate this is a great recipe that looks like it would be nothing. even the kids like it. good job!

  11. Brian @ A Thought For Food

    I’m about to head down to my parents’ house where they’re observing Passover. I better get my pasta fix in before that happens… and this might just do the trick.

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