Fried Spaghetti with Leftover Pasta
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Fried spaghetti with leftover pasta is the perfect way to use your leftover pasta and marinara sauce in an easy, under 30 minute meal. This fried spaghetti is crispy on the exterior and soft on the interior, is flavored with a homemade tomato basil sauce, and is topped with plenty of parmigiano and mozzarella cheese for a cheesy finish!
Looking for more easy pasta recipes? Try my spaghetti aglio e olio and easy angel hair pasta!
Quick Look: Fried Spaghetti with Leftover Pasta
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Servings: 4-6 people
- Dietary Info: Vegetarian (if made without Parmigiano cheese); can be made Gluten Free
- Method: Stovetop & Oven
- Technique: Let the spaghetti and sauce cool a bit before combining with the egg mixture so you don’t get scrambled eggs.
- Flavor & Texture: This fried spaghetti has tender noodles, flavorful sauce, and a crispy cheese topping, which makes it an irresistible dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Here’s a secret: Italians aren’t huge fans of leftover pasta. We like fresh pasta the minute it is made! When we were growing up, my Nonna Laura used to make this fried spaghetti dish (spaghetti frittata) to get us to eat leftover pasta the next day.
This humble dish is the perfect example of resourceful Nonna recipes! It is one of those childhood meals that always reminds me of her.
Now, everyone in the family loves when we have extra spaghetti so we can make this the next day. It’s a delectable take on a typical spaghetti dish that will soon be one of your go-to recipes!
It is now a favorite comfort food meal! Try other comfort food recipes like Italian Pasta Carbonara, Italian Lasagna Bolognese with Bechamel, or Pappardelle Pasta with mushrooms.
Made With Amore,
“Delicious!”
– Raphael
Table of Contents
- Quick Look: Fried Spaghetti with Leftover Pasta
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients
- Variations & Substitutions
- How to Make Fried Spaghetti with Leftover Pasta
- Fried Spaghetti with Leftover Pasta FAQs
- Serving Suggestions
- Expert Tips
- More Italian Pasta Dinners You’ll Love
- Fried Spaghetti with Leftover Pasta Recipe
Simple Ingredients
This recipe repurposes leftover spaghetti. Besides that as the main ingredient, you only need a few pantry staples. Use quality ingredients for best results!
- Leftover Marinara Sauce: I recommend making one recipe of my Classic Italian Tomato Sauce (Sugo al Pomodoro), or use your favorite jarred marinara.
- Leftover Pasta: Precooked regular spaghetti (or other long shapes such as angel hair pasta, linguine, bucatini, or fettuccini) work in this recipe. You can use short pasta as well if that is what you have. Here’s my tips for how to boil spaghetti or pasta perfectly every time.
- Eggs: You’ll need two eggs at room temperature to help bind the ingredients together.
- Freshly Grated Cheese: I highly recommend using Parmigiano Reggiano (or Parmesan) cheese in the filling and mozzarella cheese on the top for a crispy, golden finish. (Here’s why you should grate your own cheese!)
See recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Variations & Substitutions
- Spicy: Add red pepper flakes to the tomato sauce (marinara sauce) to add spice, or add hot sauce before serving.
- Deluxe: Add fried eggs on top to add extra protein.
- Protein: Add a ground beef sauce such as Italian Ragu instead of your tomato sauce, or toss in cooked Italian sausage to the tomato sauce. You can also make it with leftover Bucatini all’Amatriciana (25 Minutes!).
- Garlic and Spices: In my traditional and classic tomato sauce recipe, I do not use garlic or spices. Feel free to add chopped garlic cloves, fresh parsley, or Italian spices if you wish (it is not traditional, but do as you please).
How to Make Fried Spaghetti with Leftover Pasta
Making homemade fried spaghetti with leftovers and a few eggs is super easy.
- Make sugo al pomodoro sauce (classic Italian tomato sauce) as directed in the recipe. Set aside.
- Boil water in a pot, add salt, and cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Use a spaghetti stirrer for best results!
Mix with your spaghetti with your prepared sauce. Let cool a bit, so you don’t get scrambled eggs when adding the egg mixture.
- Make your egg mixture by combining the parmigiano cheese (Parmesan) and eggs in a small mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth and combined. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Next, add the egg mixture to the cooked spaghetti and sauce. Gently toss to combine. Set aside.
Heat oven safe skillet to medium- high heat. Add olive oil and heat for a few minutes until oil is hot. Add spaghetti, sauce, and egg mixture to skillet.
- Before baking, sprinkle parmigiano and mozzarella cheese on top of the pasta.
- Transfer the skillet or baking dish into the oven and bake for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melty and bubbling.
- Once your fried spaghetti is ready, take it out of the oven and sprinkle with fresh basil (if desired).
- Flip the spaghetti out of the skillet so the crispy bottom is on top. Cut in slices and enjoy. Mangia! (Eat!)
Fried Spaghetti with Leftover Pasta FAQs
The eggs act as a binder, helping the pasta hold together while creating that delicious contrast between the crispy exterior and tender interior. When mixed with Parmigiano cheese, the eggs also add richness and help form the classic spaghetti frittata texture that Italians love.
For the crispiest results, make sure the skillet and olive oil are hot before adding the pasta mixture. I also recommend using a cast iron skillet if you have one, since it retains heat beautifully and helps create those irresistible golden, crispy edges. Avoid stirring once the pasta is in the pan so the crust has time to develop.
Yes! While spaghetti is the traditional choice, you can use almost any leftover pasta you have on hand. Linguine, bucatini, fettuccine, and even short pasta shapes work well.
If you do have some leftover spaghetti, just transfer everything to an airtight container, and it will last in the fridge for up to 5 days.
For reheating leftovers, you can use the microwave, stovetop, or oven. For the best results, here’s what you can do to warm it up each way without drying out the pasta.
Reheat in the Microwave: Transfer the fried spaghetti to a microwave-safe bowl with a couple of tablespoons of water. Microwave it for 3-5 minutes until warmed and the cheese has melted.
Reheat on the Stovetop: Place everything in a frying pan with a little water. Cover the pan and cook on low for 5-10 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the pasta is heated.
Reheat in the Oven: Place the fried spaghetti in an oven-safe dish, again adding a tablespoon or two of water.
Serving Suggestions
This fried spaghetti dish is a filling main dish with the addition of the egg and parmigiano. Serve it upside down after baking it in the skillet to expose the delicious crispy bottom. I recommend serving with a side of sautéed zucchini and onions, Italian zucchini fritters, a goat cheese salad with lemon dressing, or No Knead Ciabatta Bread.
If you want to add more protein, top it with Italian sausage and peppers skillet or our famous breaded chicken cutlets.
My Pro Tips
Expert Tips
- Let the spaghetti and sauce cool a bit, so you don’t get scrambled eggs when adding the egg mixture.
- Add olive oil to hot pan before baking the spaghetti to ensure crispy edges!
- If you are using leftover spaghetti with tomato sauce, you can skip making the sauce and cooking the pasta. You will want to heat your leftover pasta about 30 seconds in the microwave to soften it enough to mix with the egg mixture.
More Italian Pasta Dinners You’ll Love
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Fried Spaghetti with Leftover Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Classic Italian Tomato Sauce, or your favorite jarred marinara
- 12 ounces spaghetti pasta
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano, or Parmesan cheese, plus more for topping
- ½ cup freshly gated mozzarella cheese
- black pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped; for garnish
Instructions
Making Sauce & Cooking Pasta
- If you are using leftover spaghetti with tomato sauce, you can skip the next two steps. Simply reheat the leftover pasta for about 30 seconds in the microwave to soften it enough to mix with the egg mixture.
- Make the sugo al pomodoro sauce or, classic Italian tomato sauce, as directed in the recipe. Set aside.
- Next, boil water in a pot on your stovetop. Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Mix with your spaghetti with your prepared sauce. Let cool a bit, so you don't get scrambled eggs when adding the egg mixture.
Assembling the Fried Spaghetti
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Make your egg mixture by combining the parmigiano cheese (Parmesan), black pepper, and eggs in a small mixing bowl. Whisk until smooth and combined.
- Next, combine the egg mixture to the cooked spaghetti and sauce. Gently toss to combine. Set aside. Heat oven safe skillet to medium- high heat. Add olive oil- heat a few minutes until oil is hot. Add spaghetti and egg mixture to skillet.
- Before baking, sprinkle with extra parmigiano and the mozzarella cheese on top of the pasta. Then transfer the skillet or baking dish into the oven and bake for about 15 minutes until the cheese is melty and bubbling.
- Once your fried spaghetti is ready, take it out of the oven, sprinkle with fresh basil, and serve hot. Mangia! (Eat!)
Notes
- Let the spaghetti and sauce cool a bit so you don’t get scrambled eggs when adding the egg mixture.
- Add olive oil to hot pan before baking the spaghetti to ensure crispy edges!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
deliziosa !
Grazie! Happy you enjoyed it.
How long do you keep mixture in frying pan on stove before putting it in oven?
Put it in the oven after you place it in the pan. It will get a crust from the cast iron pan in the oven. Enjoy!
Nostalgic childhood meal that everyone loves! Highly recommend. Super easy to make.