TikTok Spaghetti

TikTok Spaghetti is a layered delight with robust flavors – pasta is first tossed in a creamy Alfredo sauce boasting notes of garlic and Parmesan, then topped with a hearty layer of Italian sausage in rich marinara sauce. The dish is crowned with melted mozzarella and Parmesan, for a combination of creamy and savory flavors with a cheesy finish–perfect for a hearty, satisfying meal.

Why Is It Called Tiktok Spaghetti?

The name “TikTok Spaghetti” comes from this recipe on TikTok, the social media platform. TikTok has become a hotbed for viral food trends and recipes, (like these TikTok Baked Oats) and this has been one of my all-time favorites!

While the recipe may not have been originally created on TikTok, it certainly garnered its popularity there. The core idea of this dish involves spaghetti tossed in Alfredo sauce, then topped with a meaty marinara sauce and cheese before being baked. I’ve customized this concept by using my preferred homemade Alfredo sauce (which is so much better than store-bought!).  I’ve also replaced the typical beef with Italian sausage–this enhances the overall flavor and reduces the need for additional seasonings. To strike a balance between taste and simplicity, I’ve opted for a high-quality packaged marinara sauce. 

And this dish is seriously amazing! It’s a company-worthy meal, similar to lasagna, but it is significantly easier to prepare! So, let’s get into it!

TikTok Spaghetti Ingredients

• Spaghetti: Your pasta will continue cooking when you bake it in the oven, so cook it for a couple of minutes less than the package instructions. This way, you won’t have mushy pasta!
• Unsalted butter: Using unsalted butter allows you to control the salt content in your sauce. 
• Onion powder and garlic powder: These add a burst of flavor to the Alfredo sauce. Always make sure your spices are fresh for the best flavor. You can, of course, use fresh onions and garlic if preferred, but this will add to prep time.
• Heavy whipping cream: This adds richness and creaminess to your Alfredo sauce. Be sure to use full-fat cream for its flavor and texture. Otherwise, this sauce won’t thicken properly.
• Parmesan cheese: The Parmesan cheese significantly impacts the overall flavor of this dish. While this recipe is meant to be straightforward, don’t cut corners with the cheese! Canned or pre-shredded Parmesan won’t melt properly, leaving you with a clumpy sauce. Instead, invest in a block of Parmesan and finely grate it using the small side of a grater or a microplane.
• Italian sausage: You can choose between sweet and hot Italian sausage based on your taste preference. If you want to make the dish lighter, turkey sausage makes a good substitute.
• Marinara sauce: The marinara sauce can make or break the flavor of your dish, so pick a high-quality brand. Rao’s® is our favorite and recommended brand; feel free to use your favorite one.

How To Make Tiktok Spaghetti (Tips):

• Choose quality ingredients: This recipe requires top-notch ingredients to deliver delicious results. Freshly grated Parmesan and mozzarella cheese melt better and taste much better compared to pre-packaged shredded cheese. And the quality of the marinara sauce can make or break this dish. It’s worth investing in higher-end products to bring out the best flavors.
• Adjust seasonings: Don’t forget to taste your Alfredo sauce after adding the Parmesan cheese. You might need to adjust the seasoning with a bit more salt and pepper.
• Use a large pot: Make sure your pot is large enough to mix the pasta and sauce together. This will make it easier to evenly distribute the sauce.
• Salt the pasta water: This is your only opportunity to season the pasta itself, so don’t skip this step. The pasta needs to be well salted as it cooks; otherwise, the whole dish may taste under-seasoned.
• Add more pasta water as needed: The Alfredo sauce should be silky and stick to the pasta. If it becomes too thick or grainy, add a bit more of the reserved pasta water and toss the pasta again. This should help you achieve a smooth and velvety sauce.

QUICK TIP

The secret to crafting superior pasta dishes lies in the process of emulsification! By tossing the hot pasta with the Alfredo sauce and the reserved pasta water, you achieve an emulsified mixture. This results in a rich and flavorful sauce that beautifully clings to the pasta strands, rather than sinking to the bottom of the pot.

What To Serve With Tiktok Spaghetti

TikTok Spaghetti is a hearty dish on its own, but you can certainly complement it with various sides to create a balanced and complete meal. Here are some suggestions:

• Salad: A light, refreshing salad can be a great counterpoint to the rich and hearty spaghetti. A simple green garden salad with a vinaigrette, a classic Caesar salad, or even a Caprese salad could work well.
• Bread: Crusty French bread, garlic bread, or breadsticks are classic accompaniments to spaghetti. They’re perfect for mopping up any extra sauce.
• Roasted Vegetables: Roasted or grilled veggies like zucchini, bell peppers, eggplant, or asparagus can add a nice variety of texture and flavor to the meal.
• Soup: A light soup, like a minestrone or tomato basil, will make the meal even more filling.
• Fresh fruit: Try our favorite Fruit Salad Recipe or Creamy Fruit Salad.

More Pasta Recipes:

• Pesto Pasta Salad with cherry tomatoes
• Orecchiette, Sausage, and Broccoli Pasta with Parmesan
• Summer Pasta with corn, cherry tomatoes, and Italian sausage
• Caprese Pasta with mozzarella and a balsamic glaze
• Ragu straight from Italy

FOLLOW ALONG! Subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for the latest updates, recipes and content.

TikTok Spaghetti

5 from 3 votes

- Review this recipe

This TikTok Spaghetti is a layered delight with robust flavors. The pasta is first tossed in a creamy Alfredo sauce boasting notes of garlic and Parmesan, then topped with a hearty layer of Italian sausage in rich marinara sauce. The dish is crowned with melted mozzarella and Parmesan, for a combination of creamy, tangy, and savory flavors with a cheesy finish-- perfect for a hearty, satisfying meal.

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

TikTok Spaghetti

5 from 3 votes

- Review this recipe

SAVE TO RECIPE BOX

Print Recipe

This TikTok Spaghetti is a layered delight with robust flavors. The pasta is first tossed in a creamy Alfredo sauce boasting notes of garlic and Parmesan, then topped with a hearty layer of Italian sausage in rich marinara sauce. The dish is crowned with melted mozzarella and Parmesan, for a combination of creamy, tangy, and savory flavors with a cheesy finish-- perfect for a hearty, satisfying meal.

Course Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword tiktok spaghetti

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes minutes

Total Time 55 minutes minutes

Servings 6 -8 servings

Chelsea Lords

Calories 1121kcal

Author Chelsea Lords

Cost $14.68

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 pkg. (16 oz) spaghetti, PLUS pasta cooking water
• ▢ 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
• ▢ 1 teaspoon each: onion powder & garlic powder
• ▢ 1¼ cups heavy whipping cream (Note 1)
• ▢ Fine sea salt and pepper
• ▢ 2 ¼ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese, divided (Note 2)
• ▢ 1 pkg. (19 oz.) Italian sausage (Note 3)
• ▢ 1 jar (24 oz) good marinara (like Rao's) (Note 4)
• ▢ 1½ cups freshly grated mozzarella cheese

Instructions

• PREP: Generously grease a 9x13-inch pan with cooking spray and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• PASTA: Bring 12 cups water in a large pot of water to boil. Once boiling, add in 2 tsp salt. Add in all the spaghetti and boil, stirring occasionally. Boil for 2 mins less than lowest time on package. Before draining, remove and reserve 1 cup of pasta water. Drain.
  
• ALFREDO SAUCE: Meanwhile, melt butter in a very large pot (big enough to hold all the pasta later) over medium-high heat. Once melted, add onion and garlic powder plus salt and pepper (I add ¼tsp of each) and sauté for 20 seconds. Pour in the cream. As soon as the mixture begins to bubble, turn the heat down to medium low. Simmer until thickened (can leave a clear track on the back of a wooden spoon), about 1-3 minutes. Once thickened, remove the pan from the heat. Stir in 1½ cups grated Parmesan cheese until melted and sauce is mostly smooth.
  
• FINISH PASTA: Dump drained pasta right on top of the sauce, along with ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Return pan to heat. Turn to medium and toss gently with tongs until the pasta and sauce emulsify nicely (sauce sticks to pasta instead of falling to pan). This takes about 1-4 minutes. Add more pasta water if needed (if it's looking dry). Scrape every bit of this saucy pasta into the prepared 9x13-inch pan. Cover with foil to keep warm.
• RED SAUCE: Quickly rinse out pan and return to stovetop over medium-high heat. Add 2 tsp oil. Add sausage, season with salt and pepper (I add ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp pepper); brown, crumbling with a wooden spoon until browned through. Drain off the grease and add the jar of marinara sauce and mix through. (Taste and add more salt/pepper if needed). Spoon over the sauced spaghetti in an even layer.
  
• BAKE: Top with mozzarella and remaining ¼ cup Parmesan. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake 5 more minutes or until cheese is nicely melted. Remove and serve. (I like to use tongs to twist a scoop together, lift and serve.) Best enjoyed right out of the oven!
  

Video

Recipe Notes

Note 1: Heavy cream: It's crucial to use real, full-fat cream in this recipe. Otherwise, the Alfredo sauce won't reach the proper thickness. Milk or milk alternatives cannot deliver the same results.

Note 2: Parmesan: This ingredient makes the biggest difference to the overall flavor of this recipe. And while this recipe is intended to be quick and easy, don't try to short-cut the cheese. Do not use canned or pre-shredded/grated Parmesan--the cheese doesn't melt smoothly and you'll be left with a big clump. Instead, use a block of Parmesan and freshly and finely grate on the small sides of a grater.

Note 3: Italian sausage: Depending on personal preference, use mild or spicy sausage. For more heat (and flavor), use spicy sausage, and if you're sensitive to spice use a mild or sweet sausage instead. Remove sausage casings before adding to the skillet.

Note 4: Marinara: The quality of the marinara sauce can make or break this dish. It's worth investing in a higher-end brand, Rao's® is our favorite!

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 1121kcal | Carbohydrates: 67g | Protein: 45g | Fat: 75g | Saturated Fat: 39g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 25g | Trans Fat: 0.5g | Cholesterol: 202mg | Sodium: 1990mg | Potassium: 849mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2052IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 670mg | Iron: 4mg

We do our best to provide accurate nutritional analysis for our recipes. Our nutritional data is calculated using a third-party algorithm and may vary, based on individual cooking styles, measurements, and ingredient sizes. Please use this information for comparison purposes and consult a health professional for nutrition guidance as needed.

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

I love hearing from you when you've made one of my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @ChelseasMessyApron or leave me a comment below.