This fried spaghetti recipe is so easy to make with spaghetti noodles tossed in marinara sauce and topped with parmesan cheese and fresh basil. This dinner dish is sure to be a crowd-pleaser and can be on your table in just 30 minutes!
Contents
🌟 Why this recipe is the best
Fried spaghetti is a popular dish in Italy like, chicken tetrazzini casserole, chicken spaghetti, chicken and shrimp carbonara, and other pasta dishes.
It consists of spaghetti that is fried in a pan with olive oil, garlic, and other spices. The dish is then served with marinara sauce and cheese on top.
The delicious marinara sauce mixed with the twirled golden-brown spaghetti makes for a dish that is not only flavorful but also visually appealing, and the combination of parmesan cheese and basil adds an extra zing to it.
This recipe is a great option for weeknight dinners as it is quick and easy to make. It is also a good choice for large gatherings or parties as it can be easily doubled or tripled.
Fried spaghetti is one of the perfect lazy Sunday dinner ideas dish that can be customized to your liking and combined with other delicious Italian dishes.
It's the perfect lunch or dinner recipe to warm your family up during the fall, and just like our other comforting fall recipes that includes our taco spaghetti, they use minimal ingredients and are perfect for home cooks.
🍽 Key Ingredients
All you need is a few pantry staples and basic kitchen utensils for this simple cheesy fried spaghetti recipe.
Dry spaghetti - We're using dried spaghetti for the fried pasta. You can any color and size for this recipe. Learn more about different types of Pasta you can use for any meal.
Sauce ingredients - The fragrant tomato sauce is a mixture of minced garlic, salt, dried oregano, black pepper, red pepper flakes, and a jar of marinara sauce. If you have a few minutes spare, you could make a homemade marinara sauce for a more authentic flavor.
Cheeses - The cheeses used in this recipe are mozzarella and parmesan. The mozzarella melts perfectly, and the parmesan cheese gives it a nice flavor.
For frying - Butter is used for frying the spaghetti and olive oil is used to fry the garlic.
For serving - The dish is garnished with fresh basil and parmesan cheese shavings.
Substitutions
Basil
If you can't get basil leaves, fresh parsley or cilantro would also work well as a substitute.
Cheese
You could use cheddar cheese, Monterrey Jack, or even cream cheese instead of mozzarella.
Spices
If you don't have dried oregano, you could use Italian seasoning or any other herbs you like. And if you want to learn more about spices, I invite you to read my article on Southern seasonings that you must have in your pantry.
Uncooked pasta
Dried or fresh spaghetti will work fine in this recipe. if using fresh spaghetti, you don't need to boil it first before frying.
🔪 How to make crispy fried spaghetti
This easy-fried spaghetti recipe takes just 30 minutes to prepare, and the results are simply amazing! Follow the step-by-step instructions below to get started.
Preparations
- Finely mince the fresh garlic cloves.
- Grate the block of parmesan cheese.
- Coarsely chop the fresh basil leaves.
Cooking instructions
Step 1
First, you will need to cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Once it is cooked, drain it and set it aside.
Step 2
Next, heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Then, add the garlic and sauté for a minute until it becomes fragrant. Add the salt, oregano, fresh cracked pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes and mix well.
Step 3
Now, add the marinara sauce to the pan and stir until it is well combined. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes.
Step 4
After that, add the cooked spaghetti to the pan and toss it with the sauce until it is evenly coated. Then, add the mozzarella cheese and grated parmesan cheese and mix well.
Step 5
Now, it's time to fry the spaghetti. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add the butter. Once the butter has melted, twirl the cooked spaghetti with a fork into several batches.
Step 6
Add the spaghetti to the frying pan and pan fry for about 5 minutes until it is golden brown, then flip the crispy spaghetti rounds to brown the other side.
Step 7
Transfer the fried spaghetti noodles to a plate and garnish with fresh basil leaves and parmesan shavings. Enjoy!
💭 Cooking tips
Long spaghetti noodles
If your spaghetti is too long, cut it in half before frying.
Fry in batches
Do not overcrowd the frying pan when frying - cook in batches to create perfectly crispy spaghetti.
📖 Recipe Variations
If you're looking to add something extra to your homemade fried spaghetti dish, you can make it creamy, meaty, and spicy.
Creamy fried spaghetti
Add ¼ cup of heavy cream to the sauce for an ultra-rich and creamy dish.
Add Italian sausages or ground beef
Sauté ½ pound of sausage or ground beef in the pan before frying the spaghetti for a heartier dish.
Spicy fried spaghetti
Add 1 or 2 chopped chipotle chili peppers and ½ teaspoon of chili powder to the sauce for a spicy kick.
🥗 What to serve with
Fried spaghetti is delicious on its own, or you can pair it with some simple side dishes and entrees. I highly recommend to serve this dish with my easy tiramisu as a dessert! Here are a few Italian favorite combos:
Tomato and mozzarella salad
If you want a classic Italian side dish to serve with you fried spaghetti, tomato, basil, and mozzarella salad is the way to go. It's fresh, flavorful, and goes perfectly with the crispy noodles.
Bruschetta
No Italian meal is complete without some bread on the side, and bruschetta or focaccia are Italy's favorite choice. Lightly toasted bread with tomato, basil, garlic, and mozzarella on top is the perfect accompaniment to fried spaghetti.
Tomato soup
For a lighter option, serve your fried spaghetti with a bowl of piping hot roasted tomato soup. It's the perfect comfort food for a chilly evening.
As a dessert I recommend you to serve with my delicious tiramisu and a slice of reese's pie.
🙋 Frequently asked questions
Do you have to boil pasta before frying?
Yes, if you are using dried spaghetti. If you are using fresh spaghetti, you don't have to boil them.
What type of spaghetti noodles are best for making fried spaghetti?
The long thick spaghetti noodles are best, as they add a nice bite and chew to the dish, but thin angel hair pasta will also work.
🧊 Storing and ♨️ reheating
Leftover fried spaghetti is great for storing and reheating later on! For more ideas check out my leftover pasta recipes.
Fridge - Mix the leftover pasta with a bit of oil so that it doesn't stick together, and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days.
Freezer - Mix the pasta with a bit of oil and store the leftover spaghetti in a freezer container or bag in the freezer for 4 months.
Reheating - When ready to reheat, preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and bake the pasta for 10 minutes until hot.
🍳 Related recipes
If you're looking for more delicious Italian recipes, check out the 18 best pasta recipes with few ingredients or the 50 best Italian comfort food recipes. With so many recipes to choose from, you're sure to find the perfect dish for any occasion!
👪 Serving size
This fried spaghetti recipe yields 4 servings and can be easily doubled or tripled to feed a larger crowd.
There you have it! A delicious and easy recipe for Fried Spaghetti that everyone will love. Whether you're looking for a quick weeknight meal or something to feed a crowd, this dish is sure to please. So what are you waiting for? Give it a try today!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page.
Try one of my comfort dinner recipes for your next family meal! And if you have any questions, I'm here to help!
📋 Recipe
Fried Spaghetti (Easy 30-Minute Meal!)
Ingredients
Spaghetti
- 8 ounces Spaghetti
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 3 cloves Garlic - minced
- ½ teaspoon Kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon Dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon Coarse ground black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon Red pepper flakes
- 24 ounces Marinara sauce - I use Rao's
Cheeses
- 5 ounces Mozzarella - shredded
- 3 ounces Parmesan - I buy a block then shred my own for better flavor
For frying and finish
- 2 tablespoons Unsalted butter
- ¾ ounces Basil and chucks of parm cheese for serving
Instructions
Preparations
- Finely mince the fresh garlic cloves.
- Grate the block of parmesan cheese.
- Coarsely chop the fresh basil leaves.
Cooking instructions
- First, you will need to cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Once it is cooked, drain it and set it aside.
- Next, heat a large pan over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Then, add the garlic and sauté for a minute until it becomes fragrant. Add the salt, oregano, fresh cracked pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes and mix well.
- Now, add the marinara sauce to the pan and stir until it is well combined. Let the sauce simmer for about 10 minutes.
- After that, add the cooked spaghetti to the pan and toss it with the sauce until it is evenly coated. Then, add the mozzarella cheese and grated parmesan cheese and mix well.
- Now, it's time to fry the spaghetti. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add the butter. Once the butter has melted, twirl the cooked spaghetti with a fork into several batches.
- Add the spaghetti to the frying pan and pan fry for about 5 minutes until it is golden brown, then flip the crispy spaghetti rounds to brown the other side.
- Transfer the fried spaghetti noodles to a plate and garnish with fresh basil leaves and parmesan shavings. Enjoy!
Janice Ellen Beck
I am going try to make the taco spaghetti tonight.
Admin
Great! Let me know how it turns out 🙂
Marie Brown
I had leftover spaghetti from the other night and I was about to toss it until I saw this recipe on Facebook. It saved my day! Kids loved it and my husband didn’t even notice it was made with leftover pasta 😉 (he is so picky) Thanks for this recipe!
Admin
Your welcome Marie. So happy your family enjoy this easy meal 😉