26 spaghetti recipes (2024)

Now try our creamy pasta recipes and sausage pasta recipes.

Easy spaghetti recipes

Spaghetti bolognese

With our best ever spaghetti bolognese being the ultimate midweek comfort food, we've perfected a true family-favourite including tips on how to easily make it in a slow cooker. Looking for a meat-free sauce? Try our lentil bolognese and vegan mushroom bolognese.

Spaghetti carbonara

Creamy, classic spaghetti carbonara is a real crowd-pleaser. We love it with parmesan and lots of freshly ground black pepper. Try our other quick and easy pasta recipes.

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Healthy spaghetti bolognese

This spaghetti bolognese has slightly less meat in than usual but no less flavour, and is bulked out with lentils for healthy fibre. You could also use vegetarian mince, if you like.

Spaghetti and meatballs

Packed with plenty of flavour and topped with nutty parmesan this classic Italian recipe is a great weekend dish for the family. Check out our extra tips from the olive cookery team to make this the best spaghetti and meatballs you'll ever try...

Spaghetti alle vongole

Vongole or clams make a classic Italian supper tossed with linguine and herbs. The clams are cooked in dry white wine, which combined with the natural clam juice make a lovely rich sauce for the pasta. Serve as a smart main for 2 or a starter for 4. For another variation, try our spaghetti alle vongole with samphire.

Prawn spaghetti

Need a speedy midweek pasta dish? 20 minutes is all it takes to make this prawn spaghetti with tomato, chilli and basil. It's flavoured with all the good things: white wine, butter, olive oil and prawns. For more seafood inspiration, check out our prawn pasta recipes.

Spaghetti pomodoro

Ripe tomatoes, garlic, decent extra-virgin olive oil, fresh basil and a little black pepper is all you need to make a rich and fragrant slow-roast pasta sauce. It's perfect for twirling up in long strands of spaghetti and serving with a sprinkling of Parmesan.

Vegan carbonara

Looking for a hearty spaghetti carbonara but without the meat? Check out this super easy vegan carbonara recipe with cauliflower and pine nuts. Ready in under an hour and less than 450 calories. Also try our summery vegetarian carbonara with asparagus and peas.

Seafood spaghetti

A simple yet elegant spaghetti dish for two with clams and anchovies in a rich tomato sauce. This recipe would work equally well with linguine.

Sardine spaghetti

Tinned sardines are a great source of protein, omega-3 fatty acids and essential oils. Let them shine in this quick and easy storecupboard spaghetti dish.

26 spaghetti recipes (10)

Chorizo spaghetti with pangritata

Check out this super simple spaghetti recipe with crunchy chorizo and crispy sourdough breadcrumbs. Use sourdough that’s a day or two old for extra-crunchy pangritata.

Spaghetti with anchovies and cauliflower

Make the most of cauliflower and punchy anchovies in this low-calorie pasta with lightly toasted pine nuts and sweet smoked paprika.

Healthy spaghetti and meatballs

Change up classic beef for turkey mince in this comforting midweek meal ready in under an hour.

Vegetarian spaghetti recipe with Ajvar sauce

Try our fresh and simple vegetarian spaghetti recipe with creamy mozzarella, smashed olives and ajvar. Ajvar, a sauce traditionally from the Balkans and made up primarily of red peppers, is super quick and easy to whip up, perfect for summer.

Garlic spaghetti with kale and chilli

This healthy, quick vegetarian meal uses only five ingredients and is ready in 15 minutes. Check out more quick, healthy recipes.

Spaghetti pie

When it comes to the ultimate comfort food, this baked spaghetti and three-cheese pie will not disappoint! A crisp, crunchy crust with an oozing, melting middle. What’s not to like? Great for an alternative weekend pie recipe

Spaghetti arrabiata

This spicy tomato pasta dish calls for only the simplest of ingredients. Ready in 25 minutes, it's the perfect meat-free midweek dinner

Tuna spaghetti with capers and chilli

A great after work supper. The only thing you need to cook is the spaghetti, then toss with the tinned tuna, capers, chilli, red onion, garlic and herbs.

Wholewheat spaghetti with broccoli

Use wholewheat spaghetti for a healthier pasta sinner, served with long-stemmed broccoli, chilli and lemon (it's a great vegan dinner idea for guests).

Harissa spaghetti

Stir rose harissa through spaghetti and juicy cherry tomatoes for a high-fibre, low-calorie vegetarian dinner.

Crab cacio e pepe

Try our special twist on the cult classic pasta dish above, with a spike of briny shellfish.

Gazpacho sauce spaghetti

Ready in just 15 minutes this simple pasta recipe is tossed in a smooth yet fiery gazpacho sauce.

Caponata spaghetti

Fancy a big-on-flavour, easy-on-the-waistband pasta dinner ready in under an hour? Us too! Try our Sicilian veggie caponata spaghetti with aubergines, capers and olives.

Cottage cheese alfredo

Make a low-calorie, smooth and creamy pasta sauce in 15 minutes using just cottage cheese, milk, garlic granules and a little cornflour... magic!

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Creamy sprouts and pancetta spaghetti

Pair earthy brussels sprouts with plenty of cream, pancetta, garlic, white wine and lemon for a genius spaghetti tea for two.

26 spaghetti recipes (2024)

FAQs

How much spaghetti do I cook for 25 people? ›

1 pound feeds 4 people. 6 pound feeds 24 people and a quarter of a pound will feed the 25th person. Six and a quarter pounds of pasta is needed.

What is the secret to the best spaghetti? ›

For best flavor, use certified San Marzano tomatoes. Add Parmesan cheese into the sauce while cooking. Use no salt added tomatoes. Use ground beef to cut down on sodium content.

How many people will 3 lb of spaghetti feed? ›

Most recipes call for one pound of pasta — which is a standard box or bag — to serve four to six people. It's far easier to eyeball this than fuss over specific measurements. I find that half the box, or a half-pound (eight ounces) of pasta, serves two to three people, depending on sauce and hunger level.

How much spaghetti sauce for 35 people? ›

When calculating how much sauce for pasta per person, generally about 2 to 4 ounces (1/4 to 1/2 cup) of sauce for each 2 ounce (about 1 cup cooked) serving of pasta would be needed.

How to cook spaghetti for large group? ›

Learn how to cook spaghetti for huge crowds with stress-relieving, time-saving tricks.
  1. Prep and Store Key Ingredients. ...
  2. Cook Enough Noodles. ...
  3. Use Less Water for the Noodles. ...
  4. Store Cooked Noodles in the Freezer. ...
  5. Use a Slow Cooker. ...
  6. Freeze Your Spaghetti Sauce. ...
  7. Prep Toppings a Day Before. ...
  8. Pre-Soak Spaghetti Noodles.

How many people will a 1 lb box of spaghetti feed? ›

If you want to be sure each of your guests are eating the same amount, just grab a measuring cup so you know exactly how much you're making. Brandwein says most boxes of dried pasta are about 1 pound and offer four large individual servings.

What not to do when cooking spaghetti? ›

5 Things We Never Do When Making Pasta
  1. Use a small pot to boil the pasta. Pasta needs room to breathe. ...
  2. Neglect to salt the water. Salting the water is the only opportunity you have to season the pasta itself. ...
  3. Forget to give the pasta a stir or two as it cooks. ...
  4. Cook it past al dente. ...
  5. Dump out all of the pasta water.
May 1, 2019

What gives spaghetti more flavor? ›

Dried herbs: Dried oregano, basil, and parsley are all classic Italian herbs that go well in spaghetti sauce. Add 1/2 teaspoon of each to the sauce. Red pepper flakes: If you like a little heat, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the sauce. This will give the sauce a bit of a kick.

How much pasta do I need for 30 adults? ›

When you cook pasta, 2 ounces of dry pasta per person is a good rule of thumb to follow. What does 2 ounces of dry pasta look like?

How much spaghetti do I need for 30 adults? ›

It's simple: Pasta Side Dish: You need 2 ounces of uncooked spaghetti noodles or 2 ounces of uncooked pasta (shells, wheels, etc) per person if pasta is a side dish. Pasta Main Course: You need 3 to 4 ounces of uncooked spaghetti noodles or uncooked pasta if this is the main course.

Can you cook spaghetti noodles the day before? ›

With a bit of oil, a Ziploc bag, some water, and your favorite pasta, you can cook noodles a day in advance and forget about them until a few minutes before serving.

Do Italians put sugar in tomato sauce? ›

"A pinch of sugar is a Southern Italian trick that was used when the sauce was made with end-of-season tomatoes that did not get ripe, or the tomatoes were so tart they needed to be balanced," Chiarello explained to Epicurious.

What gives spaghetti sauce depth of flavor? ›

Olives and capers add a punch of briny goodness and give tomato sauce some real personality. Toss in some chopped or whole, pitted olives and/or a handful of drained capers after heating the sauce for several minutes. Or, if you're adding garlic or sautéed vegetables, add to the sauté just before you pour in the sauce.

How many people does 5lbs of spaghetti feed? ›

Figure 8 servings per dry pound of spaghetti. For 35 servings, then, you'd need 8 servings x N pounds = for 35 people N = 4.375 lbs. of spaghetti So you need to buy 5 pounds of spaghetti to serve 35 people.

How much pasta do I need for 20 adults? ›

If you're having pasta as your main meal, we'd suggest the following quantities: 100g of dried pasta per person. 120g of fresh pasta per person.

How do you measure spaghetti for people? ›

Take your pointer finger and thumb and make a circle, then shrink it small enough that it's roughly the size of a quarter. Push the pasta in between your fingers, and whatever fits is a single serving.

How many cups of dry spaghetti per person? ›

How much pasta is in a portion? A single serving size of pasta is typically about 2 ounces of dry pasta—amounting to about a cup of cooked pasta. Measuring out 2 ounces of dry pasta can get tricky when dealing with smaller pasta shapes like bow tie and macaroni.

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