Weeknight Dinners Are Easier Than Ever With These Quick and Simple Spaghetti Recipes

Now that the kids are back in school and you need some easy weeknight dinners, it might be helpful to learn several spaghetti recipes for those busy nights when you need an idea! Everyone craves comfort food after a hectic day and spaghetti certainly fits the bill as the best comfort food. Mom’s spaghetti sauce is always a favorite to top hot spaghetti noodles and spaghetti with three-tomato sauce and meatballs is a big-time favorite too. So we’ve gathered the best spaghetti recipes for you!

You can liven up a simple spaghetti dish by using different sauces, flavorings, proteins and even spices. You can make it creamy with alfredo sauce or a simple butter and garlic. Actually, there are so many possibilities. You can take this simple quick dish and easily make it a special meal for an otherwise hectic night with the family using any of the easy spaghetti recipes below.

Related: 101 Easy Pasta Recipes That Are Worthy of Dinner Tonight

Is spaghetti healthy?

The short answer? Yes! The more complicated one: It depends. As with all things, spaghetti is great for you in moderation. Pasta, whole grain in particular, has protein, fiber and vitamins and is often enriched with iron. Plus, it’s cholesterol-free and has a low glycemic index. Spaghetti is also a slow-digestible starch, which means that it releases carbs slowly and keeps you full longer.

That being said, one cup cooked is 220 calories. And when you add on everything you top it with—like sauces, meatballs and cheese—that number can multiply pretty quickly. Want an even healthier option? Go for a veggie noodle substitute, like spaghetti squash or spiralized zucchini.

How long does spaghetti last in the fridge?

You’ll want to eat your refrigerated cooked or home-made spaghetti within three to five days. Remember to use all your senses, though. If it’s been a full week and the pasta still looks, smells and tastes fine, it should be alright and you can try using it in new a spaghetti recipe to clean out the leftovers.

Related: 30 Types of Pasta to Give Just a Taste of All the Delicious Varieties Out There

How much spaghetti per person?

According to Barilla Pasta, the proper serving size of spaghetti per person is two ounces dry. You can measure it without a scale by looking at the circumference of a bundle. Two ounces should be 2 1/8 inches around. When it’s cooked, the spaghetti will be about the size of a baseball, or around a cup of pasta.

And here’s an insider tip. You know your spaghetti spoon in the drawer? The one with all the prongs and the hole in the middle. That hole is actually a gauge for a single serving of spaghetti. Stick enough dry pasta through the hole so it’s filled, and there’s your serving!

Related: 60 Tortellini Recipes—the Most Versatile Pasta In Our Humble Opinion

Can you freeze spaghetti?

Yes! Once you’ve cooked your spaghetti recipe and everyone is done eating, throw the whole thing into the freezer. When you’re ready to reheat it, use the oven for the best results. You can also freeze spaghetti without sauce on it. To reheat that, put it in boiling water until it’s cooked through. Keep in mind, though, that your spaghetti’s consistency will change after you freeze and reheat it. Try to keep it al dente with the first cook—otherwise it could become mushy after heating it up again.

Related: 50 Easy Penne Pasta Recipes for a Weeknight Dinner Win

Best Spaghetti Recipes

These easy spaghetti recipes provide the perfect comfort food on busy nights—from classic spaghetti and meatballs to creative adaptations, you'll find something to love.

Here are a few more dinner recipe links you might enjoy:

• 10 Recipes to Make for Dinner Again and Again

• 10 Classic Italian Dinner Recipes to Make at Home

• 20 Easy, Family-Friendly Dinner Recipes for Busy Weeknights