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    Home » Blog » Main Courses

    School Cafeteria Spaghetti

    Published: Apr 10, 2022 · Modified: Apr 14, 2022 by Karin and Ken · This post may contain affiliate links. Leave a Comment

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    This school cafeteria spaghetti recipe is loaded with all the flavor we remember about one of everyone’s favorite school lunches. Ground beef, homemade spaghetti sauce, and noodles. What could be better?

    Closeup shot of school cafeteria spaghetti on plate with a fork

    I know most people cringe when they think of cafeteria food, but I always loved pizza, hamburgers, and spaghetti. I decided I could make my own version, and it came out great.

    Cafeteria Spaghetti Recipe

    This was inspired by my other spaghetti recipe on this site, and pairs well with this amazing garlic bread recipe.

    Ingredients

    It only takes a few minutes to make this delicious spaghetti recipe. You’ll find everything at your local grocery store.

    • Ground beef
    • Minced yellow onions
    • Dry spaghetti sauce mix
    • Undrained canned whole tomatoes
    • Tomato paste
    • Sugar
    • Worcestershire sauce
    • Italian seasoning
    • Basil
    • Garlic powder
    • Salt
    • Pepper
    • Spaghetti
    • Shredded parmesan cheese

    See the recipe card at the end of the post for quantities.

    Instructions

    This is a very easy recipe, taking only a few simple steps to make.

    Step 1: Cook the Beef

    Brown the ground beef and onions in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking up the beef as you cook it. Then, drain.

    Step 2: Dice the Tomatoes

    Diced the canned whole tomatoes.

    Step 3: Combine All Sauce Ingredients Except Spaghetti Mix

    Add the diced tomatoes and their juice, tomato paste, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a large bowl and stir well.

    Step 4: Combine the Sauce

    In the same skillet, add the dry spaghetti sauce mix to the ground beef and mix. Then, add the tomato mixture and stir well.

    Step 5: Cook the Sauce

    Bring the sauce to a slow boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes until the sauce thickens.

    Step 6: Make the Spaghetti

    While the sauce is cooking, prepare the spaghetti according to the package directions.

    Step 7: Combine and Enjoy

    Stir the cooked spaghetti into the sauce. Serve with parmesan cheese sprinkled on top.

    Hint: Be sure you cook the noodles to al dente so they don’t get too soft when added to the hot spaghetti sauce.

    Closeup shot of tongs holding school cafeteria spaghetti

    Substitutions

    Don’t have the correct ingredients on hand or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this school cafeteria spaghetti recipe.

    • Any Noodles – If you don’t have spaghetti noodles, any noodle will work.
    • Crushed Tomatoes – If you don’t want to dice the whole tomatoes, use crushed tomatoes.
    • Ground Turkey – For a lighter dish, used ground turkey.

    Variations

    Want to personalize this school cafeteria spaghetti recipe? Here are some of my tried and true tips for changing up this recipe.

    • Spicy – Add red pepper flakes for a kick of heat.
    • Veggie Lovers – Add diced bell peppers and canned mushrooms.

    If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy (link similar recipe here)

    Equipment

    You only need a few pieces of basic kitchen equipment to make this recipe.

    • Measuring cups and spoons
    • Skillet
    • Pot
    • Spoon
    • Bowl
    • Knife
    • Cutting board

    Storage

    Store leftovers in an air-tight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.

    Tips

    I have a few tips here that will help you make this recipe the best that it can possibly be. They’re all easy, so give them a read before diving in.

    • Only cook your noodles to al dente so they don’t get too soft when you add them to the spaghetti sauce.
    • Be sure to break your meat up well as you brown it so it’s evenly distributed through the sauce.
    • Always add the spaghetti sauce dry mix to the beef first so you don’t get clumps.
    Closeup shot of fork in school cafeteria spagehtti on plate

    More Spaghetti Recipes

    Do you like spaghetti? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.

    • Spaghetti Verde Pasta
    • Mexican Chicken Spaghetti
    • Cheesy Spaghetti Pie

    FAQ

    Do you have questions about school cafeteria spaghetti? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about this school cafeteria spaghetti recipe.

    What is school cafeteria spaghetti?

    The spaghetti we remember was a mass-produced product consisting of a simple meat sauce and noodles.

    How long does spaghetti and meat sauce last?

    It will keep well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

    How do you reheat spaghetti?

    You can bake it in a foil-covered baking dish for 20 minutes at 350 degrees, warm it in a saucepan over medium-low heat, or microwave it.

    School Cafeteria Spaghetti

    Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.

    School Cafeteria Spaghetti

    This school cafeteria spaghetti recipe will have you recalling the flavor of childhood. This simple recipe tastes like lunch period!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Servings 8

    Ingredients
      

    • Ingredients:
    • ● 1 lb ground beef
    • ● ¼ cup minced yellow onions
    • ● 1 pkg dry spaghetti sauce mix
    • ● 2 – 28 oz cans whole tomatoes undrained
    • ● 6 oz can tomato paste
    • ● 1 tablespoon sugar
    • ● 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
    • ● 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • ● 1 teaspoon basil
    • ● 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • ● 1 teaspoon salt
    • ● ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ● 1 lb spaghetti
    • ● ½ cup shredded parmesan cheese
    • Directions:

    Instructions
     

    • Get out and measure your ingredients.
      Overhead photo of all the ingredients needed to make school cafeteria spaghetti.
    • In a large skillet over medium heat, brown ground beef with minced onions. Be sure to crumble the ground beef into small pieces as you cook it with wooden spoon.
      ground beef and minced onions added to a skillet.
    • While meat is cooking, prepare tomatoes by dicing them. (You can substitute crushed tor diced tomatoes but I prefer the texture of the whole tomatoes diced instead.)
      Fresh tomatoes diced on a wooden cutting board.
    • Add diced tomatoes and juice from tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, worcestershire sauce, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to a large bowl.
      Diced tomatoes and juice from tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, worcestershire sauce, oregano, basil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper added to a large mixing bowl.
    • Stir well.
      Tomato sauce mixed in a large mixing bowl.
    • When meat is done, drain any fat, if desired.
      Cooked ground beef and onions in a skillet.
    • Stir in dry spaghetti sauce mix.
      Dry spaghetti sauce mix added to the skillet.
    • Make sue mix is incorporated.
      Ground meat, onions and dry spaghetti sauce mixture on a large metal spoon.
    • Add tomato mixture to meat.
      Tomato sauce added to the skillet with the cooked ground meat.
    • Bring to a slow boil.
      Tomato sauce and ground meat mixture in a skillet.
    • Allow to simmer for 10-15 minutes or until sauce thickens.
      Prepared school cafeteria spaghetti sauce in a skillet with a metal spoon.
    • While meat/tomato mixture is simmering, prepare spaghetti noodles according to package directions and drain.
      Cooked spaghetti noodles in a strainer.
    • When sauce is thickened, stir cooked pasta in.
      Cooked spaghetti noodles added to the top of tomato sauce in the skillet.
    • Until blended.
      Spaghetti noodles and sauce mixed together in a skillet.
    • Sprinkle parmesan cheese on top.
      Prepared spaghetti topped with parmesan cheese and parsley.
    • Serve
      Closeup photo of metal tongs holding spaghetti.
    • With extra parmesan/
      School cafeteria spaghetti served in a round-white bowl.
    • Enjoy!
      Closeup photo of school cafeteria spaghetti in a white bowl. A fork is digging into the spaghetti.
    • Every bite!
      Closeup photo of a forkful of spaghetti. The fork is held above a bowl of spaghetti.
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Welcome!

    We are the kitchen divas: Karin and my partner in life Ken. We have been attached at the heart and hip since the first day we met, and we love to create new dishes to keep things interesting. Variety is definitely the spice of life!
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