Spaghetti and meatballs is delicious comfort food. Whether you’ve created a sauce that simmers on the stove all day or using a jarred sauce for a shortcut easy meal, put a plate on the table and there are instant smiles.
But don’t limit yourself to only spaghetti and meatballs. There are so many other uses for that box of spaghetti.
Jeanne Benavidez’s (Odessa, TX) Chicken Spaghetti is one of the most popular dishes on Just A Pinch for a reason… it’s wonderfully cheesy!
“This is a great, comfort dish,” says Jeanne. “Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and serve with a salad and hot garlic bread. You’ll be a hit with everyone.”
This has become a go-to recipe for member Jo Wilson (Tulsa, OK). “So much easier than an older recipe I had and so much cheesier! I haven’t had ANY complaints about it.” She tweaks it here and there but it always goes fast in her family. It will with yours too!
Easy to prepare and even easier to eat, Patti Smith’s (Calhoun, GA) Baked Spaghetti has become a staple on my menu. “This is one of my all-time favorites,” shares Patti. “It is fantastic to take to potlucks or to a friend who is under the weather.”
Layered with ground beef, spaghetti, a quick sauce and cheese, this is everything you love about spaghetti and meatballs, just in a casserole form. Patti likes it cold the next day and I’d have to agree. You can’t go wrong with this one.
“I came up with this recipe using a classic ratatouille recipe and adding hot Italian sausage and serving over spaghetti,” reveals Terri Rountree (Whitewright, TX) about how she developed her hearty and delicious Spicy Ratatouille with Sausage & Spaghetti recipe.
Packed with eggplant and zucchini this will be a great recipe to Pinch for when your garden is in full bloom (or the farmer’s markets are filled with produce). Terri’s addition of hot Italian sausage definitely gives the ratatouille a bit of a bite. Substitute sweet sausage for delicious results if you don’t like heat.
Silka Clark (Denver, CO) reinvents spaghetti leftovers for her Grandma LoLo’s Spaghetti Pie. “My mom taught me how to make this with my leftover spaghetti,” explains Silka. “It is the best way to take a leftover and turn it into something even better!”
Your family will never know this dish was made with leftovers. Putting a little garlic and oregano along a biscuit crust adds a punch flavor. Fresh mozzarella on top really makes this dish gooey and yummy. It’s a quick and easy family meal.
Josee Lanzi (New Port Richey, FL) makes spaghetti look extremely impressive, and puts a fresh twist on a classic recipe, with her Chicken Parmesan & Creamy Tomato & Basil Spaghetti. “It’s loaded with fresh ingredients,” says Josee. “My family loves it and so do my friends. They love the fresh taste of this Parmesan and spaghetti!”
It’s all the flavors of chicken Parmesan but lighted up. I love the fresh basil and tomatoes sprinkled on top. The perfect finishing touch.
You’ll definitely get oohs and ahhs when your family sees these delicious spaghetti recipes on the table. Grab that box from the pantry and see what you can create. Happy Pinching!