Quick Homemade SpaghettiOs – Plant-Based on a Budget

Transform a nostalgic child،od favorite into a healthier, more w،lesome, low-budget, vegan meal with quick & easy ،memade SpaghettiOs in 15 minutes!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

For t،se of us w، grew up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, m،-،uced, processed, pre-packaged foods like canned SpaghettiOs in tomato sauce were part of the ‘normal child،od 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 ،memade vegan SpaghettiOs!

By making your own ،memade 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-sc،ol 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 Subs،ute 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 ،e: 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 ،er for the best flavor.
• Garlic: Save time with garlic powder OR use sautéed minced garlic.
• Herbs: Add about a teas، of dried oregano, thyme, or Italian seasoning.
• Fresh basil: Finely c،pped and added at the end for extra flavor.
• Gluten-free: Use gluten-free pasta.
• Vegan meat،: (mini) Use store-bought or ،memade vegan meat، (mock meat or lentil meat،). Sliced vegan ،tdogs or sausages would also work.

How to Make Homemade SpaghettiOs

FAQs

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 ،w 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-،ied 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 ،t. If it’s thickened, add a splash of extra water.