I Made the Viral TikTok Spaghetti, and It’s Too Good to Be This Easy
Updated: Dec. 06, 2023
When you're in need of a quick and easy dinner, look no further than this TikTok spaghetti.
Move over Dalgona coffee and step aside Jennifer Aniston salad, because there’s a new viral recipe in town: TikTok spaghetti.
This easy, cheesy, saucy pasta recipe has taken social media by storm. Made with everyday ingredients, ready in under 60 minutes and perfect for feeding a whole family, we had to put this tantalizing TikTok recipe to the test!
What Is the Viral TikTok Spaghetti?
This simple pasta features store-bought staples. It begins with a base of creamy, rich Alfredo spaghetti, followed by a layer of hearty meat sauce and plenty of gooey mozzarella cheese. Baked in the oven to bubbly, melty perfection, it’s no wonder why everyone on TikTok is raving over this saucy mashup.
Who is the mastermind behind TikTok spaghetti? While nobody is sure who the first TikTok user was to share this recipe, one of the earliest creators to feature this dish was @mamapeaches5, whose recipe started trending in 2022.
Since going viral, many users have pointed out the recipe’s similarities to million-dollar spaghetti. That recipe can be traced back to 2011 on the blog Ashley Kaitlin and has been reimagined by countless others since then. The main difference between the two is that most million-dollar spaghetti recipes add ricotta, sour cream or cream cheese to the dish, while TikTok spaghetti relies solely on Alfredo sauce to make the creamy base.
Also, know what to add to spaghetti sauce make it taste homemade.
How to Make TikTok Spaghetti
This recipe makes 6-8 servings.
Ingredients
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon chili flakes, optional
- 1 (32-ounce) jar pasta sauce
- 1 (15-ounce) jar Alfredo sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella, shredded
- Fresh basil, crushed red pepper flakes and grated Parmesan, for serving
Directions
Step 1: Cook the pasta
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions. Drain and toss to coat with the Alfredo sauce.
Editor’s Tip: Since this recipe is finished in the oven, cook your pasta just before it’s al dente, so it doesn’t become overcooked once baked.
Step 2: Brown the meat
While the pasta cooks, add the ground beef, diced onion, garlic and dried Italian seasoning to a skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have softened, and the beef is no longer pink.
Step 3: Stir in the pasta sauce
Reduce the heat to low, pour in a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce and stir to combine. Let simmer for 5-10 minutes.
Editor’s Tip: Looking for made-from-scratch taste? We imagine you could make TikTok with any homemade red sauce. Try our Sunday gravy recipe or this Sicilian meat sauce for a fun twist.
Step 4: Layer and assemble
Transfer the Alfredo pasta to a lightly greased 13×9-in. baking dish. Spread the meat sauce evenly over the top of the pasta and sprinkle generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
Step 5: Bake
Bake the pasta in a preheated oven for 15-20 minutes until the sauce is bubbling and the cheese is melted.
Editor’s Tip: Not ready to bake? At this stage, you can cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 days. When ready to bake, allow the pasta to sit at room temperature for 1 hour and then bake as directed.
Step 6: Serve
Remove from the oven and let stand for 5-10 minutes, then serve garnished with chopped fresh basil, chili flakes and grated Parmesan, if desired. Enjoy!
Here’s What I Thought
Holy yumminess! This easy pasta recipe is perfect for when you can’t choose between Mom’s Hearty Spaghetti or rich and indulgent Homemade Fettuccine Alfredo. It’s truly the best of both worlds. After one bite, my whole family requested that I add this semi-homemade recipe to our regular recipe rotation.
Tips for Making TikTok Spaghetti
Stick to the original recipe or experiment with one of these tasty ideas to make this dish your own creation.
- Swap the ground beef for lean ground turkey or add zip with mild or spicy Italian sausage.
- While the convenience of jarred Alfredo keeps prep and cleanup simple, try preparing TikTok spaghetti with copycat Olive Garden Alfredo sauce for a special treat.
- Saute bell peppers, wilt some spinach or toss in some grilled zucchini, eggplant or mushrooms.
- For a deeper, more robust sauce, add sliced kalamata olives, roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes to the sauce as it simmers with the beef.
Originally Published: June 13, 2023
