Sometimes 5 p.m. rolls around and we find ourselves asking, ‘What’s for dinner?’ If you’re out of energy and ideas, check out these five easy recipes that call using spaghetti as the base. This pantry staple and versatile starch works with all kinds of ingredients to make filling, flavorful meals the whole crew will enjoy.
Spaghetti provides steady energy from complex carbohydrates, making it a great fuel for the long day ahead. It has a low glycemic index, meaning it digests slowly rather than creating sharp blood sugar spikes and crashes. It’s also often fortified with nutrients like iron and B vitamins.
Check out these five ways to use spaghetti from Nourish PA:
Cheesy Baked Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef, or ground turkey
- 1 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
- 2 cups chopped fresh spinach leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano, or Italian seasoning (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 8 ounces whole wheat spaghetti, cooked and drained
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Chopped fresh parsley, or 1 teaspoon dried parsley or dried basil (optional)
Method
- Set broiler to low. Heat olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat.
- Add ground beef and cook, breaking up into small crumbles, until cooked through and browned, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in tomato sauce, spinach, oregano, salt and pepper and bring mixture to a simmer. Cook about 5-7 minutes to allow flavors to develop.
- Add spaghetti and toss well to coat in sauce. Top evenly with cheese and broil until cheese is melted and bubbling, about 2-3 minutes.
- Garnish with parsley and serve.
Other easy ways to use spaghetti:
Creamy Lemon and Tuna Spaghetti: This bright, creamy lemon and tuna dish is made with simple pantry items and frozen peas. Combine olive oil, cream, garlic, Parmesan and tuna in skillet and fold in the cooked spaghetti for a bright, luxurious meal in just 30 minutes.
Mini Meatloaf Parmesan: This recipe combines to classics: meatloaf and meatballs Parmesan in a low-effort recipe using less than 10 ingredients. These mini meatloaves take a fraction of the usual time while still delivering the comforting, crowd-pleasing flavors.
Creamy Butternut Squash Spaghetti: This creamy pasta dish is both satisfying and healhty with mashed squash offering a creaminess to this comforting dish.
- Photos and recipes: Dish Works
