Enjoy the simplicity of Lil Smokies Spaghetti, a delicious, quick, and satisfying meal option. Spaghetti, a classic favorite paired perfectly with mini smoked sausages that kids will love, making it ideal for busy weeknights or to take along for work or school lunches.

If you've never had spaghetti with Little Smokies, try it. You will love it. Little Smokies go well with pasta recipes.

It is great to serve at gatherings, as a side for meal prepping, or as a rotation in your meals.

Spaghetti is a comfort food for me, and it's something I often crave. I make spaghetti at least once a month.

I am a big fan of spaghetti, and when I make it, I always prepare extra servings to last me a few days since it tastes much better after being cooked for a day.

Spaghetti with whole little smokies sausages garnished with grated cheese and chopped parsley on a platter.

What are lil smokies

Little Smokies are mini smoked sausages. Little smokies can complement various pasta recipes quite nicely.

Tips for a delicious spaghetti

Cook the pasta until it's al dente, meaning it's cooked through but still firm to bite. Overcooked pasta can become mushy.
Add salt to the pasta water before cooking the noodles.
You could slice the Smokies in half, but why go through that trouble? Kids love Smokies, and if they see them whole, it can motivate them to eat.
I prefer my spaghetti savory with a subtle sweetness. Adding a small amount of sugar can balance out the acidity from the tomato sauce.
Allow the cooked spaghetti to rest for a few minutes before serving. This helps the flavors meld together. To me, spaghetti is most flavorful the day after it's cooked. The pasta absorbs all the delicious herbs and spices from the sauce.
Garnish cooked spaghetti with grated or parmesan cheese for richness and chopped parsley for added depth of flavor.

Ingredient substitute

Tomato sauce - you can use chopped fresh tomatoes or canned dice tomatoes cooked down into a sauce. A jar of pasta sauce can work as a substitute too.
Lil smokies - substitute with ground beef or sausage.
Sugar - use honey, maple syrup or sweetener.

Spaghetti with whole little smokies sausages garnished with grated cheese and chopped parsley and a side of toasted garlic bread. A fork to pickup spaghetti.

Storing and reheating

Store leftover spaghetti in the refrigerator for up to 3 days in an airtight container. Reheat it for a minute or so in the microwave.

Alternatively, you can freeze it in a freezer-safe container or bag, removing as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. It can last for up to 2-3 months in the freezer.

Sides to serve

Garlic bread or garlic knots
Bruschetta
Burrata

Would You Like to Try Barbecue Little Smokies with Grape Jelly.

Recipe

Lil Smokies Spaghetti

Spaghetti is a classic favorite that you can make with lil smokies sausages.

Print Pin Rate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 2

Cook Time: 40

Total Time: 42

Servings:

Calories: 610kcal

Ingredients

2 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
⅓ cup ketchup
¼ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon dried basil
1 ½ tablespoons sweet relish
½ teaspoon sugar , add more to your liking
½ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
1 small onion chopped
3 cloves garlic minced
2 cups lil smokies
¼ cup cheese (parmesan, cheddar or mozzarella)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 box spaghetti 1 lb 454g
1-2 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Cook Lil Smokies for a minute.
Add onion and cook until soft.
Toss-in garlic. Cook until golden.
Pour tomato sauce and ketchup.
Stir-in oregano, dried basil, dried parsley, sweet relish, sugar, black pepper, garlic powder and salt.
Let it simmer over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until sauce is thick. Taste the sauce after 20 minutes to see if you need to add a little bit more sugar to your liking.
Meanwhile, cook spaghetti. Follow package instructions. Drain.
Once sauce is done, turn off heat and add cheese to thicken sauce but optional.
Pour sauce over spaghetti.
Garnish spaghetti with grated or parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley. Enjoy!

Notes

1. 1. Cook the pasta until it's al dente. Overcooked pasta can become mushy.
  2. Add salt to the pasta water before cooking the noodles.
  3. Adding a small amount of sugar can balance out the acidity from the tomato sauce.
  4. Do you know: Spaghetti is most flavorful the day after it's cooked. The pasta absorbs all the delicious herbs and spices from the sauce.
  5. You could slice the Smokies in half, but why go through that trouble?
  6. Garnish cooked spaghetti with grated cheese for richness and chopped parsley for added depth of flavor.
  7. Ingredient substitute below.
  8. Tomato sauce - you can use chopped fresh tomatoes or canned dice tomatoes cooked down into a sauce. A jar of pasta sauce can work as a substitute too.
  9. Lil smokies - substitute with ground beef or sausage.
  10. Sugar - use honey, maple syrup or sweetener.

Nutrition

Originally published on: April 6, 2020