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Transform a nostalgic childhood favorite into a healthier, more wholesome, low-budget, vegan meal with quick & easy homemade SpaghettiOs in 15 minutes!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
For those of us who grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, mass-produced, processed, pre-packaged foods like canned SpaghettiOs in tomato sauce were part of the ‘normal childhood diet’ and are still an (occasional) craving-worthy nostalgic comfort food to this day. Fortunately, while the canned version is packed with preservatives and dairy, it turns out it’s easy peasy to make homemade vegan SpaghettiOs!
By making your own homemade SpaghettiOs, not only do you get to skip the additives, but they’re actually healthier, more affordable, easy to throw together in just 15 minutes, and taste much better than the canned version. This version is also naturally egg-free, dairy-free, vegan, and can be made gluten-free.
Once cooked, they’re perfect for kids and adults alike on busy weeknights and for back-to-school season. Enjoy them with vegan cheese, over crusty no-knead bread, with a side of tofu fried chicken and veggies, vegan Caesar salad, and more.
Ingredient and Substitute Notes
You can make this simple spaghettiOs recipe with only seven inexpensive kitchen and pantry staples, including:
Recipe Variations
- For smokiness: Add about ⅛ tsp smoked paprika.
- To add spice: Add a pinch of chili powder, cayenne pepper, or chili flakes.
- More acidity: Add ⅛ tsp (or to taste) of apple cider vinegar or lemon juice.
- Tomato paste: Add 1-2 tbsp for a slightly deeper, concentrated tomato flavor. Sauté it with any added herbs for 1-2 minutes in the veegan butter for the best flavor.
- Garlic: Save time with garlic powder OR use sautéed minced garlic.
- Herbs: Add about a teaspoon of dried oregano, thyme, or Italian seasoning.
- Fresh basil: Finely chopped and added at the end for extra flavor.
- Gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta.
- Vegan meatballs: (mini) Use store-bought or homemade vegan meatballs (mock meat or lentil meatballs). Sliced vegan hotdogs or sausages would also work.
How to Make Homemade SpaghettiOs
Step 1: First, cook the pasta according to its package instructions.
Step 2: When tender, drain it and return it to the pot, then stir in all the sauce ingredients, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Enjoy!
FAQs
Original SpaghettiOs contain several forms of dairy including cheese, butter, AND skim milk. Even UK ‘Heinz Spaghetti hoops’, which don’t contain dairy aren’t vegan because of non-vegan sourced ‘vitamin D’ added to fortify it.
Luckily, homemade SpaghettiOs can be easily veganized without anyone knowing the difference.
Sugar will help create the classic sweet flavor of canned spaghettiOs, but it isn’t technically necessary.
Original SpaghettiOs could be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. However, they aren’t particularly nutrient-dense and contain high levels of sugar (high fructose corn syrup) and fat. In comparison, these homemade SpaghettiOs are made with wholesome ingredients, lower fat, and can even be made free of added sugar.
Pro Recipe Tips
- Adjust the sweetness: Just a little sugar balances the tomato acidity and makes it taste similar to the canned version – but the type you use and how much are entirely adjustable.
- For a thinner sauce: Optionally add some of the pasta cooking water until you achieve your desired consistency.
- For the best sauce: Simmer it for 10-15 minutes before adding the pasta. This isn’t necessary, but it helps bring everything together for a deeper, more complex flavor.
- For a ‘plain’ version: If you don’t want ‘cheesiness’, omit the nutritional yeast.
For a more full-bodied flavor, simmer the sauce in a separate pan for 10-15 minutes, tasting and adjusting it at the end. Then stir in the pasta.
Storage Instructions
Leave the vegan SpaghettiOs to cool, then store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Usually, I wouldn’t recommend freezing pasta since it becomes mushy. However, undercooking the pasta by 2-3 minutes can help. Freeze it for up to 3 months.
Reheat the pasta, either in a saucepan on the stove or in the microwave in 30-second increments, until piping hot. If it’s thickened, add a splash of extra water.
Quick Homemade SpaghettiOs
Equipment
Ingredients
- 7 ounces of uncooked Os, or alphabet pasta, or star pasta
- 16 ounces of tomato sauce (2 smaller cans)
- 3 tablespoons of vegan butter
- 3 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- ½ teaspoons of salt
- 1 ½ teaspoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon of onion powder
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, cook pasta according to the package instructions.
- When tender, drain and return to pot. Stir in tomato sauce, vegan butter, nutritional yeast, salt, and onion powder. Taste for seasoning.
Notes
- Adjust the sweetness: Just a little sugar balances the tomato acidity and makes it taste similar to the canned version – but the type you use and how much are entirely adjustable.
- For a thinner sauce: Optionally add some of the pasta cooking water until you achieve your desired consistency.
- For the best sauce: Simmer it for 10-15 minutes before adding the pasta. This isn’t necessary, but it helps bring everything together for a deeper, more complex flavor.
- For a ‘plain’ version: If you don’t want ‘cheesiness’, omit the nutritional yeast.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: Although plantbasedonabudget.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, kindly note that these are only estimates. Nutritional information may be affected based on the product type, the brand that was purchased, and in other unforeseeable ways. Plantbasedonabudget.com will not be held liable for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information. If you need to follow a specific caloric regimen, please consult your doctor first.
I’ll be. This actually does taste like spaghetti o’s. lol 10/10
Love to hear that! It’s the best vegan version! 🙂
This is super. Not much harder than opening a can, even if you simmer the sauce, which I did. Made a double batch for lunch for myself and my six homeschooled kids, just now. It was universally loved, from me down to the toddler, who held her plate out for more and said, “peeeese!,” with a huge grin on her face. I was planning to eat something else, but tasted for seasoning before serving, and changed my mind. A simple green vegetable and some fresh fruit on the side, and what (from the can) would have been a nostalgic but lowbrow & unhealthy meal was actually something lovely, to feel good about, in the realm of quick, easy, cheap, picky-child-pleasing options. I made as written, adding a little garlic powder, as I think was mentioned in the text. This will go on our regular lunch rotation. Thanks so much!
That is so awesome to hear! So glad you all enjoyed this yummy recipe 🙂 It’s the best and so so easy!
Is the calorie count for the entire recipe or one serving? Seems really high if for one serving? Can’t wait to surprise my partner with their favorite childhood recipe
The calorie count is for 2 servings 🙂 Hope you guys enjoy it!
These spaghettios are the best!