Use this Homemade SpaghettiOs with Meatballs recipe to make a healthier version of your childhood favorite. Skip the can and make a delicious one pot pasta with mini meatballs with simple ingredients.
I like to serve this comforting recipe with a side salad dressed with a simple dressing like this white balsamic vinaigrette and some soft bread like this easy no knead focaccia.
One-Pot
Easy Cleanup
Quick Look: Homemade SpaghettiOs with Meatballs
- ⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 👩🍳 Cook Time: 30 minutes
- 🕖 Total Time: 40 minutes
- 🍝 Servings: 6 servings
- ⚡️ Calories: 449 calories per serving (based on nutrition panel)
- 🔥 Cooking Method: Bake meatballs in oven and then cook on stove in one pot
- 🛒 Main Ingredients: beef, tomato puree, mini pasta rings
- ⭐️ Difficulty: With only one pot and simple ingredients, this is extremely easy!
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Aleks left this 5 star review ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
“Nostalgic healthy recipe that hit the spot!”
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Nostalgic family favorite – homemade spaghetti-os are a reliable family favorite that even the pickiest of eaters will love! It reminds me of the canned version I loved as a kid and my toddlers LOVE the mini meatballs.
- Only one pot – One pot approach makes for an easy clean up! Cook the noodles until al dente right in the a sauce. No need to dirty another pan for boiling the pasta
- Better for you ingredients with the same comforting taste – this homemade version of spaghetti Os is made with fresh ingredients plus a few pantry staples. The canned version includes high fructose corn syrup and preservatives that I don’t always want to feed to my family.
- Meal prep friendly – Make ahead on Sunday and enjoy throughout the week! Refresh leftovers and add a boost of flavor with some freshly grated parmesan cheese.
If you are looking for another family favorite pasta, try this old fashioned baked mac and cheese.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s a quick look at the ingredients you need to make these homemade SpaghettiOs. For a full list of ingredients and amounts please head to the full recipe.
- Ground beef -You can sub this for ground chicken or turkey if you prefer, but beef meatballs will make this recipe consistent with the nostalgic classic
- Egg – An egg is used to bind the meatballs together
- Parmesan cheese and cheddar cheese – Parmesan cheese adds a little bit of cheesy goodness to the meatballs, and cheddar cheese adds some creaminess to the pasta sauce
- Tomato puree – Makes the pasta sauce the comforting classic it is. You can use any tomato sauce you like just make sure that you reduce the amount of salt.
- Small ring pasta – I like to use Anellini pasta for this recipe, but you can use any small pasta shape like ditalini or farfalline
- Onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika – These three seasonings make the dish extra flavorful
- Milk – Along with the cheese, this adds a creamy element to the dish
Adults might like to add a little spice to this dish. Feel free to garnish with red pepper flakes or even stir some calabrian chili paste into this dish.
Love the idea of this dish? Try another meatball dish like this crockpot meatballs and sauce recipe.
How to make Homemade SpaghettiOs with Meatballs 🍝
Step 1: Take your meatball mix and roll into small mini meatballs. Repeat this process until you have used up all of the meatball mixture.
Step 2: Combine small ring pasta, tomato puree, water, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika to a large pot. Boil and simmer.
Step 3: Turn off the heat and while the pasta is still warm, mix in the milk and cheddar cheese.
Step 4: Mix the mini meatballs into the SpaghettiOs and serve hot!
If you are looking for other one pot pasta dishes, try this meat sauce one pot pasta or this one pot white cheddar mac and cheese.
Mad’s Expert Tips for the Best Homemade SpaghettiOs with Meatballs 🍝
- Use small pasta – the closest texture to classic SpaghettiOs comes from small pasta shapes. I like to use anelli (little rings) but ditalini or stelline are good backup options.
- Cook the pasta in the sauce – this makes the sauce the perfect texture since the pasta starch will thicken the sauce.
- Make sure to keep the meatballs small – smaller meatballs are best so that it is easy to eat them with a spoon!
- Turn the heat off before adding meatballs – since the meatballs are so small, make sure the heat is turned off before you add the meatballs. This will keep the meatballs from getting overcooked or breaking apart.
Another fun meatball dish to try is my easy oven baked mozzarella meatballs.
Recipe FAQs
What is SpaghettiO sauce made of?
The sauce consists of tomato puree, water, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika along with some milk and cheese for extra creaminess.
What pairs well with SpaghettiOs?
This would be great with some toasted bread on the side, such as sourdough.
Do SpaghettiOs have protein?
Yes, the beef meatballs add protein to this pasta dish! Each serving has over 25g of protein.
Storage and Reheating
Allow the SpaghettiOs to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container. Then, store the SpaghettiOs in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Check Out these other Easy Pasta Recipes
You can find the full recipe below. If you make this recipe, please rate and review it in the comments, or share it with me on Instagram!
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Recipe
Homemade SpaghettiOs with Meatballs
Ingredients
Mini Meatballs
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
SpaghettiOs
- 28 oz can tomato puree
- 4 cups water
- 1.5 cups dry mini ring pasta I used Anellini
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp paprika not smoked
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese Freshly grated mixes in best, but you can use 4oz cream cheese instead for a smoother texture.
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- Combine mini meatball ingredients in a mixing bowl
- Take 1 tsp of meatball mix and roll into a small mini meatball and lay on the baking sheet
- Repeat this process until you have used up all of the meatball mixture – if you don’t have time to roll all of the meatballs you can roll several large meatball and cut them into smaller pieces one they’re cooked
- Bake the mini meatballs at 350F for 14 minutes
- While the meatballs bake, combine small ring pasta, tomato puree, water, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika to a large pot or dutch oven
- Heat over high heat until the mixture boils – stirring regularly to prevent pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
- Once boiling, reduce to a simmer and simmer rapidly uncovered for 15-20 minutes. Pasta should be tender and cooked through.
- Reduce the heat to very low and mix in the milk and cheddar cheese. **If you want an extra smooth texture, use 4oz cream cheese instead of the freshly grated cheddar cheese.
- Stir until the cheese is fully melted. Mix the mini meatballs into the SpaghettiOs and serve!
Recipe Notes
- Use small pasta – the closest texture to classic SpaghettiOs comes from small pasta shapes. I like to use anelli (little rings) but ditalini or stelline are good backup options.
- Cook the pasta in the sauce – this makes the sauce the perfect texture since the pasta starch will thicken the sauce.
- Make sure to keep the meatballs small – smaller meatballs are best so that it is easy to eat them with a spoon!
- Turn the heat off before adding meatballs – since the meatballs are so small, make sure the heat is turned off before you add the meatballs. This will keep the meatballs from getting overcooked or breaking apart.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.
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