Description
Easy Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls transform pasta night! Learn my simple recipe for a fast, comforting dinner. Perfect for busy weeknights.
Ingredients
Scale
- Hearty Core:
- 8 oz spaghetti or your favorite long pasta
- 24 oz jarred marinara sauce
- 4 small crusty bread bowls (about 5–6 inches wide)
- Flavor Boosters:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Fresh Finishing Touches:
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional Extras:
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (for a kick)
Instructions
- Pasta & Sauce Prep:: This is where I always forget to salt the water enough, honestly. Don’t be like me! A good pinch of salt makes the pasta sing. Boil your spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. While that’s bubbling away, gently warm your marinara in a separate pot over medium-low heat. I like to let it simmer a bit so all those flavors really get to know each other, you know? It just makes the sauce taste richer.
- Garlic Butter Infusion:: Okay, this is the smell that makes everyone in my house suddenly appear in the kitchen. In a small saucepan, melt the butter slowly over low heat. Once melted, toss in your minced garlic. Let it cook for just a minute or two until fragrant, but whatever you do, don’t let it brown, or it gets bitter! I’ve learned that the hard way, thinking ‘a little more color will be good!’ Nope, just bitter, burnt garlic.
- Hollow Out the Bowls:: This part is surprisingly fun! Slice off the top of your bread bowls – save those tops, they’re great for dipping in any leftover sauce! Then, with your fingers or a spoon, gently scoop out some of the soft bread from the inside. You want a decent cavity for your spaghetti, but don’t go through the bottom, oops! I’ve done that, and it makes for a very messy, leaky dinner.
- Garlic Bread Bowl Assembly:: Now for the fun part! Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Brush the inside and outside of your hollowed-out bread bowls with that amazing garlic butter. Get it everywhere! Pop them on a baking sheet and into the oven for about 5-7 minutes until they’re just starting to turn golden and smell absolutely divine. This step makes them sturdy and extra flavorful, giving you that proper garlic bread experience.
- Fill & Top:: Drain your spaghetti – a little pasta water clinging to it is actually a good thing, helps the sauce adhere. Toss the spaghetti with your warm marinara sauce until every strand is coated. Then, carefully spoon that saucy spaghetti into your warm garlic bread bowls. Pile it high, I say! Top each one with a generous handful of shredded mozzarella cheese. Don’t be shy here, the more cheese, the better the melt.
- Final Bake & Serve:: Back into the oven they go, just long enough for that mozzarella to get all melty and bubbly and maybe a little golden around the edges, about 5-8 minutes. Oh, the smell at this point is just *chef’s kiss*! Once it’s perfectly gooey, pull them out, sprinkle with fresh parsley and a dusting of Parmesan if you like. Serve immediately, before anyone can resist those warm, cheesy Easy Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls!