Kid-Approved! Hearty Tomato Cheese Spaghetti
Easy Homemade Tomato Cheese Spaghetti Recipe
When the kids crave spaghetti, this quick and simple homemade Tomato Cheese Spaghetti is the perfect solution. Enjoy a restaurant-worthy taste right at home with this easy-to-follow recipe. The rich tomato sauce combined with gooey, melted cheese is a guaranteed hit with both children and adults!
Key Ingredients- Spaghetti noodles, 3 servings
- Sausages, 3 (choose your favorite kind)
- Onion, 1/2
- Garlic cloves, 5
- Sliced cheese, 3 slices
- Peperoncino, 8 (optional, for a hint of spice)
Sauce & Others- Store-bought tomato spaghetti sauce, 1 jar (approx. 500g)
- Canola oil or olive oil, a small amount
- Water, 1 liter (for boiling pasta)
- Store-bought tomato spaghetti sauce, 1 jar (approx. 500g)
- Canola oil or olive oil, a small amount
- Water, 1 liter (for boiling pasta)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, prepare all the ingredients for your delicious spaghetti. Peel and thinly slice the onion. Mince or thinly slice the garlic cloves. Slice the sausages into bite-sized pieces. If using peperoncino, you can leave them whole or cut them in half and remove the seeds for a milder heat.
Step 2
Wash the onion, remove the outer skin, and slice it thinly into half-moons. Slicing it this way ensures it blends well with the sauce and adds a pleasant texture when cooked.
Step 3
Peel the garlic cloves. You can either lightly crush them with the side of your knife or slice them thinly into slivers. Slicing them thinly will release more garlic flavor into the dish.
Step 4
Bring 1 liter of water to a rolling boil in a large pot over high heat. You can add a pinch of salt to the water if desired. Once the water is vigorously boiling, it’s ready for the spaghetti.
Step 5
Add the spaghetti noodles to the boiling water. To prevent them from sticking together, add about 1-2 teaspoons of olive oil or canola oil to the water. Cook the pasta for 1-2 minutes less than the package instructions suggest, aiming for an ‘al dente’ texture. This will allow the noodles to finish cooking perfectly when tossed with the sauce.
Step 6
If you’d like a subtle spicy kick in your spaghetti, prepare the peperoncino at this stage. You can add them whole, or for a less intense heat, remove the seeds before adding.
Step 7
Heat a large skillet or pan over medium heat. Add a generous drizzle of canola oil or olive oil. Add the sliced garlic and sauté until fragrant and lightly golden. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 8
Once the garlic is aromatic, add the prepared peperoncino to the pan and stir-fry them together with the garlic for another moment. This allows the spicy aroma of the peperoncino to infuse into the oil.
Step 9
Next, add the sliced onions to the pan with the garlic and peperoncino. Sauté until the onions become translucent. Once the onions are partially cooked, add the sliced sausages and stir-fry everything together until the sausages are lightly browned.
Step 10
When the ingredients are well sautéed, pour in the entire jar of store-bought tomato spaghetti sauce. Stir with a spatula to combine the sauce with the sautéed ingredients.
Step 11
Once the sauce begins to simmer, add the al dente cooked spaghetti directly from the pot. Toss the pasta with the sauce for about 1-2 minutes, ensuring every strand is coated. It’s important to let the pasta absorb the sauce flavors.
Step 12
After the pasta and sauce are well combined, turn off the heat. Arrange the 3 slices of cheese evenly over the top of the spaghetti. Let it sit for a minute to melt, or if you prefer it melted faster, place the pan in the microwave for about 30 seconds. The residual heat from the pasta will melt the cheese beautifully.
Step 13
Carefully plate your delicious Tomato Cheese Spaghetti. For a refreshing contrast, serve with a side of pickles to cut through the richness.
Step 14
For an extra touch, you can garnish with a sprinkle of parsley flakes or grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy your wonderfully homemade Tomato Cheese Spaghetti! ^^
