Fried Leftover Spaghetti

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Repurpose your leftover pasta by making this Pan Fried Leftover Spaghetti recipe. It's one of those dinner dishes that tastes even better the second time around!

I grew up in a household that never wasted food. Now that I have my own family, I repurpose dinner leftovers all the time.

In fact, I take pride in the fact that a leftover dinner can be even better the next day. This Italian spaghetti recipe is a perfect example.

This dinner brings back memories of eating leftover spaghetti at my Nana's house. We ate spaghetti with Sunday Gravy at almost every Sunday dinner and then sometime during the week she pan fried up the leftovers.

Once you make this fried leftover spaghetti, you will make sure to cook extra pasta every time you make an Italian pasta dinner. Trust me on this!

If you are a pasta lover like me , also try my Pasta al Forno, Pasta Fazool Soup or Cavatelli Pasta and Broccoli. Or if you want something super simple, try this quick recipe for Garlic Butter Noodles.

Ingredients Needed

Leftover spaghetti with sauce - Boil some spaghetti and add marinara sauce if you want to start without leftovers. I also like to fry up leftovers from my Spaghetti with Turkey Bolognese recipe.
butter - I use unsalted so I have more control over the saltiness of this pasta dish
seasonings - dried basil and crushed pepper is my choice but you can always add Italian seasoning, garlic powder or anything you like to spice things up. Here are some ideas for basil substitutes.
grated Parmesan cheese -feel free to substitute another hard Italian cheese like Romano or Asiago.
shredded mozzarella cheese

ingredients for fried leftover spaghetti

How to Fry Leftover Spaghetti

Melt butter in a non- stick pan.
Add leftover spaghetti, seasonings, and half of the Parmesan and shredded mozzarella cheese. Mix well.
Cook until mixture starts to slightly bubble. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Cover with lid or aluminum foil loosely and cook for a few more minutes or until cheese melts on top. (Full instructions and complete ingredient list in the recipe card below.)

Best Part of Fried Spaghetti

This fried spaghetti is cheesy but the edges of the spaghetti are crispy. The cheese also creates yummy pieces of browned cheese. I can't get enough of them in my bowl. The larger the pan you use, the more surface area to create those browned bits of goodness. I am getting hungry just thinking about it.

browned bits of cheese and sauce on a bowl of spaghetti

FAQ's

What if I don't have leftover spaghetti?

Not a problem. Just boil some spaghetti and toss it with marinara sauce. Now you have leftover spaghetti and it is ready to fry!

How much leftover spaghetti do I need?

Use whatever you have leftover. This recipe is very forgiving and the amount of other ingredients can be eyeballed and adjusted.

Am I using the right amount of ingredients?

Start out with 1 to 2 tablespoons of butter for about 2 to 3 servings of spaghetti. You can add a bit more butter if you have more leftovers. The amount of cheese you add is up to you. You can start with a small amount and add as you go along. Although my motto is the more cheese the better!

Can you use leftovers from a restaurant?

Yes! Spaghetti dinners from restaurants are usually large portions so there is plenty to take home in a doggie bag. However the dog is not getting my spaghetti (sorry pup). The leftovers can be made into this delicious fried spaghetti.

Does another type of pasta like ziti or penne work in this recipe?

You can really use any type of pasta you like however I prefer long strands of pasta like spaghetti, fettuccine or linguini.

Serving Suggestions

I prefer to serve a nice salad before or on the side of this spaghetti. It's definitely a higher calorie, comfort food meal so it's good to have a fresh salad with it.

If you like the ease of this fried spaghetti recipe, you might also love 25 more easy and quick meal ideas. I hope you spend less time over the stove and more time eating with your family!

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