Simple Spaghetti
Spaghetti, pasta sauce and grated parmesan cheese come together in this vegetarian — 55 minutes, 6 steps, and the kind of result worth repeating. Scroll down for the ingredient checklist, a serving scaler and unit converter, and the method broken into 6 steps.
You'll mainly reach for saucepan and pan. At easy difficulty across 6 steps, it's a good one for a busy evening. As written, it's meat-free.
What you'll need
Shopping list (3)
Pantry staples (you likely have these)
🔁 Unit converter
How to make it
- Bring the water to a rolling boil in a large pot and add the salt.
- Add the spaghetti, stirring to keep the strands separate, and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually 9 to 11 minutes.
- While the pasta cooks, pour the pasta sauce into a saucepan with the vegetable oil and warm it over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
- Reserve about half a cup of the starchy cooking water, then drain the spaghetti in a colander.
- Return the drained spaghetti to the pot and pour over the warmed sauce, tossing to coat every strand and adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if it needs loosening.
- Divide among four bowls and finish with grated parmesan to taste.
You'll use: Saucepan · Pan · Large pot
Ingredient substitutions
- Parmesan
- pecorino · grana padano · aged asiago
Tips & common questions
How long does Simple Spaghetti take to make?
About 55 minutes from start to finish — an estimate based on the 6 steps and 6 ingredients. Times vary with your kitchen and how much prep you do ahead.
What can I use instead of parmesan?
Try pecorino. See the substitutions section above for more swaps.
Can I scale this recipe up or down?
Yes — use the servings control above the ingredients and every quantity rescales automatically (fractions included). Cooking times stay roughly the same; very large batches may need a little longer.
Is Simple Spaghetti vegetarian?
Its ingredients contain no meat or fish, so it's suitable for vegetarians. Check any cheeses for animal rennet if that matters to you.
Related recipes
Simple Spaghetti is an original recipe developed in-house by Consomee. Photo: Liat Portal for Foodie Disorder - Spaghetti with Spinach and Cream Sauce.jpg by HaJunkiyada, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons. We add the serving scaler, ingredient tools, timing and structure on top — how we source recipes.