Pasta is a student’s best friend. It’s quick, easy and versatile. If you want to level up your cooking skills and earn your place as your uni halls’ chef, then this recipe will do just that. Giving more than penne and pesto, this baked cheesy delight will bring everybody to the kitchen. Here’s the TikTok million dollar spaghetti recipe for you to whip up yourself.
If you’ve finally got a night where all of your flatmates are in or your drawer in the freezer is ready for bulk cooking, then this is the next recipe you need to try. Using up a lot of leftovers, cupboard bits and bobs with the other stuff cheap and cheerful — you’d think TikTok spaghetti had come straight from a restaurant.
Full of cheesy, tomato-y goodness, whilst packed full of veggies, your mum would be proud to know you’d been having this for dinner.
We understand if your mouth is watering already, then you’re just like everyone else who helped this recipe go viral on TikTok. And it’s easy to see why.
The Million Dollar Recipe Went TikTok Viral
Insanely popular on TikTok, the million dollar spaghetti hashtag has a huge 11.6 million views, with hundreds and hundreds of videos attached to it.
The recipe has been popular for a little while, but anything this good just doesn’t go out of style. It’s not tied to any season, although it’s definitely warm and comforting.
What’s really great about it is how versatile it is. Sure, every aspect of it can be homemade and fresh, but if you don’t have the right pasta or cheese that one recipe specifies, it’ll work just as well with something else.
Plus, it’s great for those who aren’t a fan of vegetables. Hidden within the cheese and meat sauce, you know you’re getting that goodness without the earthy taste.
TikTok is full of different variations of it, so if the one we suggest doesn’t;t quite work for you and your uni flatmates, then there will be a version that does.
The Student Version Of TikTok Spaghetti
Lots of people use lots of fresh ingredients and seasonings when making the recipe, but that’s not exactly student-friendly. We recommend using some seasoning for taste, but the dried jar stuff works perfectly as well.
Pretty important, you’ll need to start by cooking your pasta. Of course, spaghetti is pretty synonymous with the recipe, but honestly, any type will work. Just don’t use lasagne sheets otherwise you’ll just be making lasagne. Cook enough to cover those in the flat, or for a few portions in the freezer. The pasta will be going into the oven, so it doesn’t; matter if it gets cold whilst preparing everything else.
Next, prepare the meat. Though you’ll need it to be ground/minced, it can be whatever you prefer (or whatever is cheapest! The TikTok spaghetti recipe doesn’t have to have meat in it for vegetarians, but you’ll probably what an alternative for substance. Season to taste (salt and pepper, obviously), but for extra flavour we recommend some chilli powder or paprika and some Italian seasoning. These are great staples for a student household; you’ll definitely use them again if you don’t already have them. Add in your garlic, because we all know it’s a necessity.
This is when you add your vegetables: onions, peppers carrots — and anything else that needs using up that you can throw it to! The more the merrier. Mix in thoroughly and then add your tomato sauce. You could use tinned tomatoes and puree, or a sauce in a jar if easier. Turn down the heat and leave it to simmer for 15 minutes.
Now, you’ll make your cheese sauce. Making it from scratch is a little tricky and requires a few ingredients. So, you’ll be absolutely fine using a store-bought white lasagne sauce. You can always jazz it up with some extra seasoning and extra cheese whilst waiting for your meat sauce.
Time To Combine And Cook
Once everything is ready, it’s time to put it in the oven. Put the oven on to preheat whilst you get the food ready.
Mix your pasta with your cheese sauce so that it’s thoroughly covered. Grab a casserole dish or something just as deep and first put in a layer of your cheesy pasta goodness and a couple of generous spoonfuls of your meat sauce. Add another sprinkle of cheese and repeat until you’ve run out of food.
On the top laugh, add the rest of the cheese. This recipe works really well with different types of cheese (especially mozzarella and parmesan), so if you’ve got a few different ones about, then chuck it into the sauce or on top. If you don’t, you and your uni friends could chip in for a cheeseboard from the supermarket and use a little bit of that. We’re sure none of it would go to waste.
All that’s left to do is chuck your TikTok spaghetti in the oven for 15 minutes so all the cheese is melted and it’s piping hot all the way through. Serve with some garlic bread and you’ll have a new favourite meal.
They’ll be plenty to go around and everyone will be asking for seconds. We hope you like your new title as university chef!
