On Top of Spaghetti

By Monica Bhide
December 15, 2010
We've got more than just the standard meatballs topping our spaghetti dinners. Check out these great alternatives to the classic dish.
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Spaghetti and Meatballs... Again?

Credit: James Baigrie

Each time I tell my boys we're having spaghetti for dinner, they invariably break out into the spaghetti song: "On top of spaghetti, all covered in cheese, I lost my poor meatball... ."

This actually inspired me to find different types of toppings for spaghetti to make up for that lost meatball!

Parents.com offers a great selection of spaghetti recipes that not only taste good but are easy for an on-the-go mom to prepare. Oh, and the variety has helped me keep my kids entertained as we try to change the lyrics of the song to suit the dish!

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'Shroom Spaghetti

Credit: Monica Buck
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This healthy recipe uses whole- wheat pasta and gets its creaminess not from heavy cream but Greek yogurt! I often use the 2 percent yogurt for this dish. While you can use mushrooms of your choice, my kiddos prefer the small, white button mushrooms.

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Spaghetti & Turkey Meatballs

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In this super simple recipe, spaghetti is topped with baked turkey meatballs. I often make the meatballs in bulk and freeze them. When I'm ready to make the dish, I just defrost and reheat the meatballs and then proceed with the recipe.

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Spaghetti with Spinach

Credit: Tina Rupp
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This is our go-to dish when I forget to go to the grocery store and there's nothing in the pantry but spaghetti and nothing in the fridge but a few leaves of spinach. I like to top mine with extra red pepper flakes.

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Spaghetti Beef Stew

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This is a "make it and forget about it until dinnertime" dish. Use your slow cooker to make this simple, hearty meal.

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Spaghetti with Garlic & Clams

Credit: Mark Ferri
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This dish is a Mom-and-Dad favorite in our house. The kids don't really love clams and aren't allowed dishes with wine, so I make this when we're on our own without the kids in tow.

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Spaghetti with Tomatoes, Green Peppers, & Anchovies

Credit: James Baigrie
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I always end up having to divide this dish in two: Two of us like anchovies, and the other two don't. So half of the dish gets anchovies and the other half gets tuna.

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Spaghetti Carbonara

Credit: David Prince
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This is our family favorite, hands down. If you don't like pancetta, you can use diced cooked chicken, Italian sausage, or turkey. I always use whole wheat pasta to make this dish and throw in a few leaves of baby spinach for some added nutrition and flavor.

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Spaghetti Pepperoni Pie

Credit: Mark Ferri
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My kids were tickled to find that spaghetti can come in a pie! We pair this dish with crusty bread and a small green salad.

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Healthy Pasta Primavera

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This lovely vegetarian dish tastes best when served as soon as it is prepared. Also, don't overcook the vegetables, as they will lose their crunch and nutrition. I often add carrots and other vegetables to this dish.

Copyright &copy 2010 Meredith Corporation.

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