Description

This homemade Spaghettios recipe offers a comforting and delicious twist on the classic canned pasta, made entirely from scratch using simple, wholesome ingredients. Featuring a rich and creamy tomato sauce simmered with aromatic onions and garlic, small pasta rings, and optional plant-based protein additions, this dish is perfect for a quick, satisfying meal that can be easily customized to your taste preferences.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup finely diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 cup water
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional, for cheesy flavor)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional, to taste)
1/8 teaspoon onion powder
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup unsweetened dairy-free milk or cream
1 cup small pasta rings (or ditalini)

Optional Protein Additions

1/2 cup cooked lentils or vegan meat crumbles

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Instructions

Sauté Aromatics: In a medium pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until it softens and becomes translucent. Then add the minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
Create the Sauce: Stir in the tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, nutritional yeast (if using), salt, sugar (if desired), onion powder, and garlic powder. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the flavors to meld together.
Cook the Pasta: Add the small pasta rings to the pot and stir well to combine. Let it simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 10-12 minutes or until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened to your preference.
Add Creaminess: Stir in the unsweetened dairy-free milk or cream to enrich the sauce, giving it a smooth and creamy texture.
Incorporate Optional Protein: If you’re including cooked lentils or vegan meat crumbles, add them now and heat through until warmed evenly.
Final Seasoning and Serve: Taste your homemade Spaghettios and adjust the seasoning as needed. Serve warm for a comforting meal.

Notes

Using nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor without dairy; omit if vegan cheese taste is not desired.
For added protein, cooked lentils or vegan crumbles are excellent plant-based options.
Adjust the amount of water to achieve your preferred sauce consistency—less for thicker sauce, more for thinner.
Small pasta rings like ditalini work best to mimic the classic Spaghettios texture.
This recipe can easily be doubled for more servings and reheats well.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American