Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (2024)

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By Lynette Rice | Published | 4 Comments

Reinvent dinner with leftover spaghetti pie! This classic recipe is a cinch to pull together using a layer of noodles topped with Ricotta (or cottage cheese) and then spaghetti sauce. All ingredients can be new – or repurposed which is why this recipe is a must-have in your recipe box!

Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (1)

I am terrible at measuring how many spaghetti noodles we need. I know there are those fancy tools – but who has room for them in their drawer? Instead, when I have leftover spaghetti noodles I turn to this classic recipe from my mother’s recipe book.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Create a completely new dinner with leftover ingredients.
  • The noodles stay soft below the cheese and sauce, but the edges get a little bit crispy perfect for a crunchy bite.
  • Use ricotta or cottage cheese as the middle layer. Either one works great!
  • This recipe is adaptable to whatever leftovers you have! Use different cheeses, pasta sauces, and even noodles!
Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (2)

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Ingredients

Most ingredients you’ll have after making spaghetti, but you’ll want to make sure to have a few extras.

  • 8 oz cooked spaghetti noodles – After making spaghetti, store any leftovers in the refrigerator in a sealed container to use in this recipe. Spaghetti, fettuccini, or angel hair work bests.
  • Butter – The margarine helps to keep the spaghetti noodles from sticking together and creating one big noodle.
  • Eggs – While the butte helps to separate each individual noodle, the eggs are a binding agent as the pie is baked to create that unique thick noodle “crust”.
  • Parmesan Cheese – This ingredient gives a bit of a “bite” to the other ingredients.
  • Ricotta or Cottage Cheese – This layer of cheese melts into the spaghetti crust to form a delicious cheesy center. I prefer Ricotta but cottage cheese is equally delicious. It’s really a matter of which texture you prefer.
  • Pasta Sauce: This as with all Italian dishes is the star of the recipe. Use meat sauce or marinara. Any pasta sauce you have on hand will work.
  • Mozzarella Cheese – The perfect cheesy topping that melts into the sauce to add that flavor you love when paired with tomato sauce.
Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (3)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Preheat the oven and prepare the deep dish pie plate. Prep the pie plate by spraying it with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 350˚ F.

  1. First Layer: In a large bowl, combine the leftover pasta, beaten eggs, butter, and parmesan cheese. Stir until the pasta is coated. Spread in the deep dish pie pan and spread up the sides.
  2. Second Layer: Spread the ricotta or cottage cheese over the middle area of the noodle crust.
  3. Top Layer: Pour the leftover spaghetti sauce on top. Sprinkle with a few tablespoons of parmesan cheese.
  4. Bake in a 350˚ F oven for 20-25 minutes or until the edges are bubbly. Top with mozzarella cheese and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

Let cool for 10 minutes and then serve.

Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (4)

Variations and Substitutions

Cheese: Use cottage or ricotta cheese, but other Italian cheeses would also make a great second layer. Use what you have on hand. This is a leftover spaghetti pie after all.

Parmesan Cheese – I prefer freshly grated parmesan with this recipe. It lasts a long time in the refrigerator and is excellent in many Italian recipes.

Double the Recipe: If you have a large family, you can easily double this recipe and use a 9×13 baking pan. Bake for 10 minutes longer.

Other Pastas to Use: Use whatever pasta you have left over. Bow ties, rigatoni, and other noodles will work with the flavor. They won’t look as much like a pie as you can’t create that “crust” look – but the dish will be equally delicious.

Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (5)

FAQ and Expert Tips

How long can leftover spaghetti noodles last in the refrigerator?

Store any leftover pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Use within 3 days.

What’s the best way to store leftover spaghetti sauce?

Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. If not used within that time, it does freeze well up to 3 months.

Can you freeze leftover pasta?

Yes! Store in a sealed plastic bag and freeze for up to 3 months. Let thaw and use in recipes like this spaghetti pie.

What kind of pie plate do I need to make this recipe?

A deep dish pie plate is the best for this recipe! A regular pie plate will be too shallow to get enough noodles into the base layer.

Other Tomato Sauce-Based Recipes

  • Homemade Sloppy Joes – Delicious dinner that comes together quickly!
  • Easy Lasagna Recipe (Made with Bowtie Pasta!) – a twist on traditional lasagna that is very cheesy!
  • Classic Lasagna Recipe with No-Boil Noodles – make dinner the night before to pop into the oven!
  • Skillet Lasagna Recipe – late on time? You can make lasagna in less than 30 minutes on the skillet.

More Dinner Ideas

  • Roasted Cherry Tomato Pizza Sauce (Family Favorite!)

  • Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe

  • Homemade Spaghetti Sauce from Fresh Tomatoes

  • Easy Pizza Dough Recipe

Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (10)

Created by: Lynette Rice

Easy Spaghetti Pie Recipe


Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Cooling Time 10 minutes

Servings 8 slices

8 slices

Reinvent dinner with leftover spaghetti pie! This classic recipe is a cinch to pull together using a layer of noodles topped with Ricotta (or cottage cheese) and then spaghetti sauce. All ingredients can be new – or repurposed which is why this recipe is a must have in your recipe box!

Equipment

  • 9" Deep Dish Pie Plate

Ingredients

  • 8 oz Cooked Spaghetti
  • 2 Tablespoons Melted Butter
  • 1/2 Cup Parmesan Cheese + 1 Tablespoon for top
  • 2 large Eggs beaten
  • 1 Cup Ricotta or Cottage Cheese
  • 2 Cups Spaghetti Sauce
  • 1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

  • Spray a 9" deep dish pie pan with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350˚ F.

  • In a large bowl, mix together cooked spaghetti, butter, parmesan cheese, and beaten eggs. Spread the mixture in greased pie pan pushing it up onto the sides to form the crust.

  • Spread the Ricotta onto the base layer of noodles. Top with leftover spaghetti sauce and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

  • Bake for 20 – 25 minutes in the preheated 350˚ F. oven until the edges are bubbly. Remove from the oven and top with mozzarella cheese and bake for an additional 10 minutes.

  • Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Make Ahead: Create the recipe as directed using leftovers after a delicious spaghetti meal. Cover and store in the refrigerator to bake the next day.

Freezer Instructions: Can be made and frozen. Store in the freezer well covered for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight and bake as directed.

Variations: You can use any kind of pasta in this recipe. Angel hair, fettuccini, and spaghetti work best to form the pie-like crust. However, any pasta can be used and it will taste equally delicious.

Double Recipe: Follow instructions and use two 9″ pie plates, or can use a 9×13 baking pan. Allow extra baking time if using the large baking pan.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 224kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 554mg | Potassium: 267mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 706IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 208mg | Iron: 1mg

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This recipe was originally published in December 2013. It has been updated with new pictures and instructions to make it easier to follow the recipe. The recipe remains the same.

Reader Interactions

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    Comments & Reviews

  1. Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (11)Tina Sifuentes says

    Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (12)
    Amazing! It’s my family’s favorite! Thank you!

    Reply

    • Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (13)Lynette says

      Yay! So glad you enjoyed it!

      Reply

  2. Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (14)Barbara Karr says

    I have been trying an discarding Spaghetti Pie recipes forever! I wanted it to be like one I used to order years ago in an Italian Bistro. By cracky this is IT! You have made me sooo happy. Now I can have it any time!!!!! Thank You. Happy Easter! Barb

    Reply

  3. Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (15)Carrie says

    Another variation on this,is to make the filling of cream cheese,sour cream and parsley. I also use shredded cheddar cheese on top

    Reply

Leftover Spaghetti Pie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What to use leftover spaghetti sauce for? ›

7 Ways to Use Up Leftover Pasta Sauce
  1. Use it in a vegetable casserole: ...
  2. Make a potato gratin: ...
  3. Use the sauce as a dip: ...
  4. Make a soup: ...
  5. Serve over polenta: ...
  6. Use as a bread topper or pizza sauce: ...
  7. Add it to other pasta dishes:
Mar 22, 2022

How long is leftover spaghetti good for in the fridge? ›

According to USDA guidelines, you should use most cooked leftovers within 3-4 days if it is properly stored. Spaghetti needs to be stored in a refrigerator that is 40 degrees F or below. Food should be refrigerated at room temperature within 2 hours of serving and placed in a shallow airtight container.

Can you eat 5 day old spaghetti? ›

As we discussed above, most cooked spaghetti should be consumed within 5 days. If your leftovers have passed that mark, they're no longer safe to eat even if they look good.

How long can spaghetti with meat sauce last in the fridge? ›

Homemade pasta sauce can be kept in the fridge for three to four days and store-bought sauce can last for up to four days. Homemade pasta should last in the fridge for one to two days and cooked pasta should keep in the fridge for three to five days.

What can I do with an open jar of spaghetti sauce? ›

Once opened, jarred pasta can be frozen for longer storage. "You can freeze any unused sauce in an airtight container. Use it within six months for the best quality experience," says Birmingham. Homemade pasta sauce can also be frozen as long as it doesn't contain cream or cheese.

Why is leftover spaghetti so good? ›

A report from BBC Science Focus says that when your bolognese, stew or curry is sitting on the shelf in your fridge, it's getting more flavoursome by the minute even though it's no longer on the stove, because the ingredients are still marinating and breaking down like they would in a super slow cook.

Can I eat 5 day old leftovers? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Is it OK to eat cold leftover spaghetti? ›

However, because pasta is a simple carbohydrate, many people limit it in their diet. It turns out that pasta can become a healthier food by chilling and eating it as leftovers. Changing the temperature is an easy way to convert simple starches like rice and pasta into foods that are higher in fiber.

Is it safe to eat spaghetti that was left out overnight? ›

Bacterial growth: Leaving pasta out at room temperature provides an ideal environment for bacteria to multiply. Bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes under favorable conditions [2]. Therefore, if the spaghetti was left out overnight, there is a high possibility that bacteria have already started to grow on it.

When should you not eat leftover spaghetti? ›

Different varieties of pasta can also spoil faster than others. Store-bought, fresh pasta is only good for 1 to 3 days, according to Healthline, while homemade fresh pasta is good for 4 to 5 days. However, once cooked, most pasta spoils in about 3 to 5 days.

How do you know if spaghetti is spoiled? ›

If your refrigerated pasta has begun to smell, then it's time to throw it out. If it's slimy, if it's gooey, or if it's become discoloured and just doesn't look right, then don't risk it, dump it!

Can you eat 2 week old spaghetti sauce? ›

Saunier recommends following the FDA's Food Keeper app guidelines for jarred spaghetti sauce. She says that, in general, leftovers should be eaten, discarded, or frozen within four days, giving you plenty of time to find out what to do with the remaining contents of a bottle of Rao's.

Does tomato paste go bad? ›

Tomato paste lasts in the fridge for five to seven days in a covered glass or plastic container. When stored in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag, tomato paste will maintain its best quality for three to four months in the freezer and remain safe to consume after this time.

How long does cooked hamburger last in the fridge? ›

USDA recommends using cooked beef within 3 to 4 days, kept refrigerated (40°F or less). Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth. USDA recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days.

What to do with marinara sauce besides pasta? ›

Five Brilliant Ways to Make the Most of Marinara Sauce
  1. Baked Feta-Marinara Dip.
  2. Spiced Shrimp with Garam Masala.
  3. Quick Spicy Vegetarian Chili.
  4. Chicken-and-Polenta Puttanesca Melts.
  5. Pork-Meatball Skillet Bake.
Apr 12, 2021

How long is leftover jarred spaghetti sauce good for? ›

Frequently Asked Questions. How long do other jarred sauces stay fresh in the refrigerator? While pasta sauce stays fresh for about five to six days after opening, sauces that contain dairy, such as Alfredo, are best used within three or four days.

Can I freeze leftover spaghetti sauce? ›

The answer is, “Yes! And you should!” Whether you make a batch of homemade spaghetti sauce or have leftover sauce in a jar from the store, freezing spaghetti sauce is a great way to avoid food waste, save money, and have a yummy pasta sauce ready and waiting for your next craving.

Can I reuse leftover sauce? ›

Sometimes they can be reused as is or with the addition of fresh herbs or an acidic element such as chopped cornichons. Sauces or gravies can be used to enrich other sauces as well, so long as the old dish and the new are not dissonant.

References

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