Fried Spaghetti (Made From Leftovers!)
Cheesy, saucy, with perfectly crisped edges, fried spaghetti is just the best way to enjoy leftover spaghetti! Made with leftover spaghetti with sauce or plain spaghetti noodles, this Italian dinner recipe is quick, easy, delicious, and cheap!
🍝 What Makes This Recipe So Good
- Fried spaghetti is such a fun and delicious way to enjoy leftover spaghetti! Frying it up in the skillet gives the dish a deliciously crisp texture, and the combination of crispy, cheesy, and saucy is absolutely irresistible.
- Whether using leftover spaghetti with sauce, or just plain spaghetti noodles, it’s packed with tons of flavor! Even the pickiest of eaters will love this dish. Plus it’s totally foolproof, and sure to become a new go-to!
- It’s an affordable way to make the most out of your weekly dinners. Instead of heating up your leftovers in the microwave, hoping for evenly heated spaghetti, fried spaghetti is a guaranteed winner!
- It’s super easy to make, requiring only a few steps on the stovetop. Ready in 30 minutes or less, it’s great for busy weeknights when you need a delicious and comforting meal ready in no time.
👩🏼🍳 Chef’s Tips
- Keep an eye on the fried spaghetti once you add the cheese. The cheese should melt – too long and it’ll burn, which is definitely not the desired result!
- If you want to add more flavor, you can totally add garlic powder, Italian seasoning, or any other seasonings you love. Prefer more spice? Follow the recipe card, then taste the sauce and add another pinch of crushed red pepper flakes.
🥖 More Delicious Italian Dishes You’ll Love
- Lemon Pepper Pasta
- Pasta Napoletana
- Spaghetti Alfredo
- Firebirds’ Chicken Pasta Copycat Recipe
- Creamy Rotel Pasta with Ground Beef
- Buffalo Chicken Alfredo
- Shrimp Carbonara
- Eggplant Lasagna
- Tomato Florentine Soup
- Shrimp Parmesan
Fried Spaghetti (Made From Leftovers!)
Equipment
- large non-stick skiller (with lid)
- silicone spatula (or large wooden spoon)
Ingredients
For the Fried Spaghetti
- 2 tablespooons salted butter
- 4 cups cooked spaghetti (without sauce)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic (approximately 2 large cloves)
- 1 24-ounce jar spaghetti sauce (or 5 cups leftover spaghetti with sauce)
- crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (at room temperature)
- ¼ cup grated parmesan (at room temperature)
Toppings
- ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese (at room temperature)
- ¼ cup grated parmesan (at room temperature)
- chopped fresh parsley (or chopped fresh basil, optional)
Instructions
- Place skillet on stovetop over medium heat. When pan is warm, add 2 tablespooons salted butter and continue heating pan until butter is melted.
- Add 4 cups cooked spaghetti to skillet and stir to coat in melted better. Cook spaghetti until edges begin to crisp slightly, approximately 5 minutes.
- Add 1 tablespoon minced garlic to skillet and stir to incorporate. Sauté garlic and spaghetti noodles, stirring constantly, approximately 30 seconds or until garlic is fragrant.
- Add 1 24-ounce jar spaghetti sauce and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir to incorporate, then bring sauce to gentle simmer.
- When sauce begins to simmer, add ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup grated parmesan to pan. Stir until cheeses are fully incorporated and melted completely.
- Spread fried spaghetti into one even layer. Top spaghetti with remaining ¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese and ¼ cup grated parmesan, sprinkling cheeses evenly over top of pasta.
- Place lid on skillet and cook 1 to 2 minutes or until cheese on top of spaghetti is melted.
- Once cheese has melted, uncover pan and portion spaghetti into serving bowls as desired. Top with chopped fresh parsley or basil (optional) and serve immediately.
Notes
- Spaghetti: If you don’t have leftover spaghetti noodles on hand, you can cook some specifically for this recipe. Boil 8 ounces of dry spaghetti noodles in heavily salted water until just al dente, then drain the pasta of all excess water. Follow instructions for fried spaghetti as written.
Recipe costs provided are approximate. Actual cost per recipe & serving will vary by location, store, brand, etc. Approximate cost shown does not include costs for any optional ingredients.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes. Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used. To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
