Description
This homemade Spaghettios recipe offers a comforting, creamy tomato pasta dish made entirely from scratch. Featuring tender small pasta rings simmered in a flavorful tomato sauce enriched with dairy-free cream, this dish can be customized with optional lentils or vegan meat crumbles for added protein. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s a perfect quick and wholesome meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/4 cup finely diced onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato Sauce
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon nutritional yeast (optional, for cheesy flavor)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon sugar (optional, to taste)
- 1/8 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Finishing Ingredients
- 1/4 cup unsweetened dairy-free milk or cream
- 1 cup small pasta rings (or ditalini)
- Optional: 1/2 cup cooked lentils or vegan meat crumbles for added protein
Instructions
- Heat the aromatics: In a medium pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook for 2-3 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds to release their flavors.
- Prepare the tomato base: Stir in tomato sauce, water, tomato paste, nutritional yeast (if using), salt, sugar (if desired), onion powder, and garlic powder. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, allowing the flavors to meld.
- Cook the pasta: Add the small pasta rings to the pot and stir well to combine. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the sauce thickens, approximately 10-12 minutes.
- Add creaminess: Stir in the unsweetened dairy-free milk or cream to enrich the sauce and provide a creamy texture.
- Incorporate protein (optional): If using, add cooked lentils or vegan meat crumbles and heat through thoroughly to warm all ingredients evenly.
- Season and serve: Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning as needed. Serve the homemade Spaghettios warm for the best comfort food experience.
Notes
- You can substitute small pasta rings with ditalini or small elbow macaroni.
- For a cheesier flavor, nutritional yeast is optional but recommended.
- Adding cooked lentils or vegan meat crumbles boosts protein, making this dish more filling.
- Adjust the thickness of the sauce by varying the simmering time and amount of water.
- If you prefer a creamier texture, dairy milk or cream can be used instead of dairy-free alternatives.
