
Remaking old classics is always fun. Especially if it involves pasta! This copycat recipe is mostly hands off because your pressure cooker does the work for you. In the end you have a fun meal that took very little effort to make. It is perfect for lunch or add a few meatballs to make it a great dinner entree!
I didn't grow up on things like spaghettios. Being one of six kids, it was easier for my mom to make a meal that open that many cans!
In fact the idea of pasta in a can kind of weirds me out. It just doesn't seem quite right.

My husband on the other hand still loves the stuff. If he is left to his own devices for dinner, heating up a can of ravioli seems like a great idea to him.
Little Dude has inherited that like from his dad and occasionally wants a can for lunch on the weekends. I guess we all have our things!
Anyway, I thought it would be fun to try to make something similar, but homemade. Now strange slop sounds while emptying the can!
I like doing pasta in the instant pot. It is super simple and there are no worries about boiling over.
I have to say it turned out really well! I cooked some meatballs to throw on top to make it a more complete meal and we all gobbled them up.

Tips for making spaghettios in the instant pot
Put the water and the pasta in the bottom of the pot and the tomato sauce on top of that. If the tomato sauce is under the pasta, you are more likely to get a burn warning.
If you do get a burn warning, don't worry too much. The cook time is so short, it is likely done anyway. If the pasta needs a little more time, just put it on slow cook and keep an eye on it.
I didn't add much seasoning to mimic the stuff in the cans. If you want to add onion powder, oregano etc. feel free!
If you can't find the rings shaped pasta, any small pasta shape will do. Small shells would be fun too.
The cheddar helps round out the flavor, but shredded mozzarella would be a great mild option as well!
When venting the pressure of starchy liquids in the instant pot, I like to place a damp rag over the vent. That will catch any potential splatters.

Ideas for serving your homemade spaghettios
- Just as they are is great!
- We liked ours with meatballs and a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese.
- Place some hot spaghettios in a thermos and they'd make a perfect lunch for school or work.
- You could also stir in some shredded veggies to add some nutritional value.

More great family friendly pasta recipes:
- Creamy Spaghetti and Meatballs in the Instant Pot is basically a dump and go kind of meal. It is ready in no time with basically no effort.
- Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole is a fun twist on the classic. Layers of pasta, cheese, sauce and meatballs that don't roll off when somebody sneezes! ;-)
- MiMi's Baked Ziti is a classic in our family. We like ours with meat, but we make it meat free sometimes as well. It is a great take and bake for families with new babies as well.
Yield: 8 servings

Copycat Spaghettios in the Instant Pot
Make homemade Spaghettios in your instant pot. This easy meal will make you relive your childhood in the tastiest kind of way!
prep time: 5 Mcook time: 15 Mtotal time: 20 M
ingredients:
- 2.5 cups water
- 1 cup milk
- 16 ounces small pasta
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 40 ounces canned tomato sauce
- 2 cups shredded cheddar
instructions:
How to cook Copycat Spaghettios in the Instant Pot
- Spray 6 or 8 quart instant pot liner with nonstick cooking spray.
- Put water in the bottom of the pot, then the pasta. Pour milk over that.
- On top of the pasta, add the tomato sauce, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- Cook on high pressure for 1 minute, then do a quick release.*
- Stir in cheese until melted then serve.
NOTES:
*Place a damp rag over the vent when releasing pressure to prevent splatters.
Calories
259.02
259.02
Fat (grams)
10.99
10.99
Sat. Fat (grams)
5.86
5.86
Carbs (grams)
28.68
28.68
Fiber (grams)
3.42
3.42
Net carbs
25.26
25.26
Sugar (grams)
5.92
5.92
Protein (grams)
12.80
12.80
Sodium (milligrams)
1062.30
1062.30
Cholesterol (grams)
30.42
30.42
Copyright: Cooking With Carlee 2019

Homemade Spaghettios, yes! What an easy and flavorful way to make them too.
ReplyDeleteSuper easy and fun too!
DeleteI just pinned this one and I can't wait to make it. I always love when the kids would have Spaghettios then I could have some, I love them! Thanks so much for sharing your awesome post with us at Full Plate Thursday,447 this week. Hope you have a great Labor Day Weekend and come back to see us real soon!
ReplyDeleteMiz Helen
Thank you!
DeleteThis is such a great idea! Like you, we did not grow up on things like Spaghettios. And I didn't feed them to my kids either, but some of my grandkids really like them. I love the idea of making homemade Spaghettios. Anything homemade is better than something out of a can I think!!! Thank you for the idea and the recipe!
ReplyDeleteHomemade is definitely better and customizable too! But it's fun to be able to mimic the canned stuff too.
DeleteSo cook time says a minute but what should it actually be like 5 or 10?
ReplyDeleteIt only takes one minute of pressure. The pasta will cook as it is coming up to pressure.
DeleteI got the burn notice twice. Anyone else have this issue?
ReplyDeleteThat can happen if the tomato sauce gets to the bottom of the pan. Luckily by then the pasta is usually mostly cooked. A few minutes on slow cook should finish it off nicely. I hope that helps!
Delete