Name: Homemade Spaghettios (The Original Recipe)
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons butter; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 3 garlic cloves (minced); 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning; 1 teaspoon onion powder; 6 ounce can tomato paste; 4 cups water; 2 cups Anellini pasta; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Recipe

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.

An easy recipe for homemade Spaghettios that's healthier and better tasting than the can!

If you can boil pasta and stir, you can make these homemade spaghettios with a few simple ingredients. They’re so good, they’ll disappear.

bowl of homemade spaghettios next to a large dish of spaghettios

Healthy Spaghettios at Home

I first published this healthy spaghettios recipe in 2012, when my kids were young, and I wanted an easy replacement for the kid-favorite food out of a can.

From time to time, I update this post with new pasta recommendations, where to get them, and new tips since this recipe continues to be a favorite at my house to date!

Honestly, I didn’t get the appeal since I’ve always found that they had a metallic aftertaste -the original and even the organic bunny ones; but alas, this recipe is all you need from now on!

Ingredients

A few basic ingredients are all you need to make these Spaghettios. The amounts are in the recipe card but a few notes on why each is needed here:

Butter & Olive oil: used to sautee the garlic, spices, and tomato paste. A little butter gives this recipe a richer, creamier flavor without adding cream.
Garlic: I recommend fresh garlic cloves for better flavor. however, powder can also be used (amounts below).
Italian seasoning: adds flavor to the tomato base. You can also use oregano, basil, even pesto.
Onion powder: using powder ensures a smooth sauce without finding onion bits that kids complain about.
Tomato paste + water: a more concentrated flavor than using tomato sauce. You’ll find the amount in the recipe if you want to use sauce.
Anellini pasta: the name of the pasta that’s shaped like an O. If you use another pasta, the cooking times will change.
Parmesan cheese: balances out the sweetness of the sauce without adding salt and a delicious flavor kids love.

Where to Buy Round Noodles

If you’re lucky, you can find round pasta under the name Anellini at the grocery store; however, I prefer to skip the search and order a couple of packs on Amazon and call it a day. One pack yields two batches of this recipe.

How to Make Spaghettios

If you can boil pasta and stir sauce, you can make Spahettios at home. Here are a few tips on each step:

Sauté
Sautéeing the seasonings (garlic, Italian seasoning, and onion powder) toasts them and brings out the flavors.
Make the tomato sauce
Tomato paste needs 15 minutes to cook, which is the perfect amount of time to cook the pasta too! The water is added to dissolve the concentrated sauce and is also absorbed by the pasta during cooking.
Cook the pasta
The pasta is cooked directly in the sauce, no need for another pot. If you’re using a different shape, adjust the cooking time and add it to the pot after the sauce has been simmering for at least 10 minutes. More on this below.
Make it epic
When the pasta is tender, add the Parmesan cheese and stir to combine it with the cooked Spaghettios, and then it’s ready!

Using Other Pasta Shapes

If you can’t find Anellini pasta you can also use stars, letters, or other small pasta shapes. The tomato paste-based sauce needs to cook for a total of 15 minutes, so if you’re using pasta with a shorter cooking time take that into account – for shorter cooking times, I usually simmer the sauce for 10 minutes and then add the pasta and cook it as stated in the package.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Now that I have teens, I often double this recipe and store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge. Reheating is simple, about 1 minute in the microwave or in a small pot on the stove.

What to Serve with Spaghettios

Spaghettios make a terrific starter meal for kids of all ages. I often serve it with my easy crusty bread, a simple side salad, pan-seared chicken, or even a rotisserie chicken. They pair great with everything!

More Homemade Kid-Favorites

When it comes to kid-favorite foods, I’ve been recreating better-for-you versions since 2010! They include all of these healthy lunchables for school, my copycat Chick-fil-A nuggets, and even this hidden veggie pasta sauce.

Homemade Spaghettios (The Original Recipe)

Servings: 6

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 15

Total Time: 20

An easy recipe for homemade Spaghettios that's healthier and better tasting than the can!

5 from 16 votes

Print Pin

Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon onion powder
6 ounce can tomato paste
4 cups water
2 cups Anellini pasta
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Heat a medium pot (about 4-5qt) over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the olive oil and butter and stir. Add the garlic, Italian seasoning, and onion powder and sauté to toast the garlic and spices for 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Add the tomato paste and stir to combine with the spices. Add the water and stir, until the tomato paste is fully dissolved. Bring the tomato mixture to a simmer.
Add the pasta to the tomato mixture and stir to combine. Reduce the heat to medium-low, and simmer the pasta with the sauce for 15 minutes, stirring frequently to ensure none gets stuck at the bottom of the pot.
When the pasta is tender, add the Parmesan cheese and stir to combine it with the cooked Spaghettios.
Ladle the pasta into bowls and serve.

Notes

Use butter + olive oil as noted in the recipe or all butter or all olive oil.
Swap the fresh garlic cloves for ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
If using tomato sauce instead of tomato paste, omit the water. Then, measure 6 cups (48 ounces) of marinara or tomato sauce.
The tomato paste needs to simmer for a total of 15 minutes. If you’re using another pasta that takes less time to cook, add it later into the cooking process after the tomato sauce has been simmering for at least 10 minutes.