Best 2 School Cafeteria Spaghetti Recipes

School cafeteria spaghetti is a nostalgic dish that many people fondly remember from their childhood. It's a simple, yet comforting meal that is easy to make at home. The key to making school cafeteria spaghetti is to use good quality ingredients and to cook the pasta al dente. You'll also want to make sure to use a flavorful sauce and to top the spaghetti with grated Parmesan cheese. With a few simple steps, you can easily recreate this classic dish at home.

Check out the recipes below so you can choose the best recipe for yourself!

SCHOOL CAFETERIA SPAGHETTI

School Cafeteria Spaghetti image

There were only two things that created a buzz around school when I was growing up: upcoming teacher workdays and spaghetti day in the cafeteria. School spaghetti was one of my favorite dishes then, and it still is now! Try this simple, yet more grownup, version.

Provided by Michelle Marcos

Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta Spaghetti Recipes Baked

Time 45m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

cooking spray
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
½ green bell pepper, chopped
1 envelope dry Italian salad dressing mix (such as Good Seasons®)
1 ½ pounds ground beef
1 (26 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti
4 cups grated sharp Cheddar cheese

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
Heat oil in a wide pan over medium-high heat. Saute onion and bell pepper in the hot oil until soft, 5 to 7 minutes.
Mix Italian dressing mix into ground beef and add to the hot pan; saute until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain. Add spaghetti sauce and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 12 minutes. Drain and add beef mixture; mix well. Transfer to the prepared casserole dish and top with Cheddar cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven until cheese is browned, about 10 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 758.5 calories, Carbohydrate 57.3 g, Cholesterol 127.5 mg, Fat 39.9 g, Fiber 4.5 g, Protein 40.7 g, SaturatedFat 19.9 g, Sodium 994.6 mg, Sugar 11.1 g

SCHOOL CAFETERIA SPAGHETTI

School Cafeteria Spaghetti image

I have fond memories of our cafeteria food in school as a child and one of my favorite meals was the spaghetti. My great grand-mother was a cafeteria cook for 40 years and unfortunately I never got to twist her ear for some of the recipes. This is my rendition of my school's spaghetti. I know a lot of us loved school lunch and...

Provided by Melissa Turner

Categories Pasta

Time 2h

Number Of Ingredients 13

Ingredients

1 1/2 lb ground beef
3 Tbsp onion flakes, dehydrated
2 pkg spaghetti sauce mix (i use mccormick)
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp granulated garlic
1 tsp pepper
2 can(s) crushed tomatoes (28oz)
1 1/2 Tbsp chicken base
1 tsp worcestershire sauce
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
10 slice american cheese
1 lb spaghetti

Steps:

1. Brown ground beef. Drain fat; add onions, spaghetti sauce mix, pepper, oregano and garlic. Stir in tomato sauce, chicken base, Worcestershire, sugar and salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer 45 minutes. If sauce needs thickening, dissolve a little cornstarch in hot water and add to sauce.
2. Meanwhile cook spaghetti. Drain, but do not rinse. Stir cheese into sauce to melt, then stir in spaghetti. Transfer pasta and sauce to a baking pan and cover with foil. Place in a 225 degree oven for 1 hour.

Tips:

Use high-quality ingredients: The better the ingredients, the better the spaghetti will taste. Look for fresh, flavorful tomatoes, a good quality olive oil, and a flavorful cheese.
Don't overcook the pasta: Pasta should be cooked al dente, meaning it should have a slight bite to it. Overcooked pasta is mushy and unpleasant.
Use a large pot: Spaghetti needs plenty of room to cook properly. Use a pot that is at least 6 quarts in size.
Add salt to the pasta water: Salting the pasta water helps to flavor the pasta and prevent it from sticking together.
Don't rinse the pasta: Rinsing the pasta removes the starch, which is what helps the sauce stick to the pasta.
Use a flavorful sauce: The sauce is what really makes the spaghetti dish. Choose a sauce that is flavorful and that you enjoy.
Serve the spaghetti with grated cheese: Grated cheese is a classic topping for spaghetti. It adds flavor and richness to the dish.

Conclusion:

Spaghetti is a delicious and versatile dish that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a few simple tips, you can make spaghetti that is as good as or better than what you get at a restaurant. So next time you're in the mood for spaghetti, try making it at home using one of the recipes from this article. You won't be disappointed!