Sharing my favorite Spaghettios recipe today! 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!
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. Hope you enjoy!
Try my Weeknight Creamy Sausage Pasta too! Follow Picky Palate on Instagram for daily recipe inspiration.
Here’s your simple ingredient list. I used Ditalini shaped pasta, it looks similar to the traditional spaghettio shape.
How To Make Homemade Spaghettios
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.
Time to cook the pasta!
Once your pasta is cooked, make sure to rinse it under cold water. Keeps it nice and al dente.
Here’s the magical sauce inspired by my dad. Melt a stick of butter than add your tomato sauce. Can you handle the difficulty?
Add your cooked pasta back to the sauce.
Give a little stir and add some cooked shredded chicken.
Add a tablespoon of Ranch mix.
Top with some lovely shredded cheese then close with a lid to melt.
Yes! Cheesy and perfect. Now it’s time to eat.
Enjoy! ….I even added a few shakes of hot sauce to mine. Give that a try too.
Cheesy Grown Up SpaghettiOs
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.
Pasta and tomato … What else ?? 🙂
I did the same kind of easy to do and “kids-esay-eating” recipe yesterday with “coquillettes” pastas, tomatos, minced meet, origan and worcestershire sauce. Can’t wait till diner to enjoy leftovers !
Oh yum! This looks so good! And easy! I have never had spaghetti-os! But I will be trying this out for dinner (and next day lunch!!!) soon!
Okay, I have to admit that spaghetti-o’s were a guilty pleasure in my teens. I can’t touch the stuff now, but this homemade version looks like a great alternative!
This looks like cheesy perfection!! Now you have me craving pasta and cheese at 9am! haha 🙂
YUM, YUM, YUM! I love this grown up version!!
OMG — I still love Spaghetti O’s (embarrassing) and I cannot WAIT to try these!!!
Now that is a tasty sounding pasta!
But Mr Kevin it is missing Bacon….
My family are already nuts but could be nuttier 🙂 I have good spaghettio memories too!!
Looks wonderful. I always cringe when I serve my kids the ones out of the can. I can’t wait to try this.
Is there anything I can replace the ranch dip with as we dont have that here? I just used herbs like basil,oregana, garlic and a little chopped onion instead.
Hi Nancy, yes a mix of those herbs would work just fine 🙂 Hope you enjoy!
My kids saw the picture and were sold. They can’t wait to try these. I am NOT a spaghetti o’s fan, but I will be making them these to try! Great recipe, thank you!
I’ve never been a big fan of spaghetti-os, but I know I’d love this!!
My coworkers and I were literally just talking about the kid foods we still crave yesterday and the consensus was Spaghetti O’s were the stuff childhood was made of! I’m so trying this new “adult” version. STAT!
I want this for lunch!
omgggggggggggggggggggggggg I’m dying.
This will be going on my menu for next week. Thanks!!
oh wow. this looks like a meal my kids would flip for!
Sounds fantastic!
I think I can handle how easy this meal is to make 🙂
Love this recipe, but will leave out the ranch dressing as it contains MSG.
This looks great. It’s hard to find something that both my kids and I will truly enjoy. 🙂
I love recipes that take me back to being a kid! Cant wait to try this one 🙂
Such a smart idea and waaaayyyy better than the ones on a can 😉
I was obsessed with spaghettios growing up – I was so excited to see this recipe today!
I love spaghettios! And I’m loving this grown up version, definitely be adding this to my “to make” list 🙂
Mmm, that looks really yummy!
This looks so yummy! I believe it will go on my menu for next week. Thanks for sharing 🙂
The little kid in me is kinddaaaa freaking out right now. This looks SO mouthwatering!
my hubby still eats spaghettio’s from the can…it kills me. so this will be fun to try a homemade version for him.
This looks so simple yet so perfect and comforting!
Much to my Mom’s dismay, I am 45 years old and can still eat Spaghettios – and do a couple times a year just for old times sake – served with toasted Butternut white bread with butter on the side.
I too made a grown up version of spaghettios and meatballs – let me know what you think!
http://mybizzykitchen.com/2011/10/10/another-grown-up-spaghettios-and-meatballs/
What a fantastic idea!!!
I think this is what we need for dinner, comforting and simple. Thanks Jenny!
THAT. LOOKS. DELICIOUS.
Oh my goodness! Looks SO good!!
Nothing like a little butter to make everything better! 😉
this looks really tasty! can’t wait to try it. have to admit… started eating spaghetti-o’s again when my boyfriend’s kids were eating it. hmmmm (:
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.
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!
Perfect comfort food that reminds us of our childhood 🙂
Thank you for sharing! This recipe saved the day yesterday. My husband randomly wanted spaghettiios and I wanted chicken. Perfect!
Nutritional info, please!
Hi Anne, I don’t post nutritional information, however you can easily copy and paste information to this website to give you an idea. Thanks! http://www.laveem.com/parser
Making this tonight with cheese filled breadsticks!
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. 🙂
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?
Yes, salad, bread and a vegetable if you’d like 🙂
Made this for the first time tonight. Just finished a bowl……divine! Thanks for sharing this recipe!
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!
Do you think it wold work with less butter? I am TRYING to lose weight! 🙂
Oh this is a must make. Looks delish! Thank you.
Did anyone try it with hamburger instead of chicken? I love chicken, but it seems like spaghettios would lend itself to beef instead. Thanks!
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
Love the recipes – thank you. Happy New Year!
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!
Think I could do this in a crock pot? Having a “Back to School” potluck at work Monday and this would be perfect! Thanks 🙂
Oh man. Not to be a troll but so much no. This was yuck.