Tasty Cheesy Spaghetti Sandwich

This pasta grilled cheese turns your extra spaghetti into an amazing grab-and-go treat that blends two comfort food favorites. The buttery, garlicky outside breaks open to reveal a stretchy middle filled with pasta, meat sauce, and gooey mozzarella—giving your lunch routine a tasty upgrade.

I came up with this sandwich while trying to jazz up my leftover spaghetti. My folks weren't sure about it at first, but now they ask me to cook extra pasta on purpose so we can munch on these sandwiches the day after.

Ingredients

• Soft Italian Bread: Gives you just the right combo of sturdiness and squish to hold everything while getting nice and toasty
• Butter: Makes everything richer and helps your sandwich turn that beautiful golden brown
• Basil: Adds that pop of garden freshness that makes the Italian flavors sing
• Garlic: Flavors the butter with that can't-resist smell that works its way into every bite
• Finely Grated Parmesan: Forms a tasty, crispy layer on the bread's outside
• Bolognese Sauce: Brings deep flavor and keeps the pasta stuck together
• Angel Hair Pasta: Works wonders here since its thin strands mix perfectly with melted cheese
• Fresh Mozzarella: Gives you that awesome stretchy cheese pull and soft flavor that works great with the bold sauce

Step-by-Step Instructions

Create the Garlic Herb Butter:

Stir softened butter with chopped garlic and basil in a small bowl until everything's mixed well. This fancy butter takes your sandwich way beyond basic grilled cheese territory.

Prepare the Bread:

Smear the garlic herb butter on one side of each bread slice. Scatter half tablespoon of Parmesan on each buttered side, lightly pushing it into the butter. This makes an amazing crunchy, cheesy outside when it cooks.

Cook the Pasta:

Get some water boiling with plenty of salt. Toss in the angel hair pasta and cook until it's just firm to the bite. Go a little undercooked since it'll soften more in the hot sauce.

Mix Pasta and Sauce:

Shake all the water off the pasta and right away mix it with half cup of warm meat sauce, making sure all the pasta gets coated. You want the pasta covered in sauce but not swimming in it.

Assemble the Sandwich:

Put one bread slice Parmesan-side down on your counter. Place three slices of fresh mozzarella to cover it. Spread your saucy pasta evenly across, then add another layer of mozzarella. Top with the other bread slice, Parmesan-side up.

Cook the Sandwich:

Warm up a pan over medium-low heat without any extra butter. Put your sandwich in and cover with a lid. Let it cook for 5 to 6 minutes without touching or pressing until the bottom turns nicely golden. Carefully flip it over, cover again, and toast the other side until it's golden too and all the cheese has melted completely.

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The garlic butter Parmesan crust is really the magic trick in this sandwich. I stumbled on it by chance trying to copy a sandwich I had at a restaurant, and that crispy, savory outside turns this sandwich from just okay to absolutely amazing. My kids now call it "pizza sandwich" and beg for it every week.

Perfect Pairings

This spaghetti grilled cheese stands on its own as a meal, but goes really well with a basic green salad with lemon dressing. The tangy freshness cuts through the richness. If you're extra hungry, try it with tomato soup for the ultimate comfort food combo. The zingy soup balances out the cheesy, garlicky sandwich perfectly.

Variations to Try

While we're using angel hair and meat sauce here, you can try this idea with pretty much any leftover pasta and sauce. Maybe use fettuccine alfredo for a creamy white version, or penne with marinara for something lighter. You can throw in some cooked spinach or roasted red peppers between the cheese layers too. If you love meat, try adding some thin slices of pepperoni or prosciutto for a pizza-style twist.

Make-Ahead Tips

For crazy weeknights, get stuff ready early. You can make the garlic herb butter up to a week before and keep it in the fridge. Just let it warm up before using. You can also cook the pasta and mix it with sauce a day ahead, storing it in a sealed container in the fridge. When you're ready for sandwiches, just warm up the pasta mix in the microwave before putting everything together.

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This fresh take on grilled cheese comes together fast, shows off your creativity, and tastes amazing—just right for any lunch or dinner.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use different pasta shapes for this sandwich?

You sure can, but thin angel hair works best because it bends easily. Regular spaghetti or slim linguine are good options too. Don't try big shapes like penne or rigatoni as they'll make the sandwich hard to bite into.

→ What can I substitute for bolognese sauce?

Tomato sauce, spicy arrabbiata, or creamy vodka sauce all work great. You can even grab a tasty store-bought pasta sauce for a quicker version. Just make sure it's not too runny so your bread stays firm.

→ Can I prepare any elements ahead of time?

You can cook the pasta and sauce earlier and keep them in the fridge. The garlic-herb butter can be made beforehand too. But for the best results, put together and grill your sandwich right before you want to eat it so it's crispy with melty cheese.

→ Why is cooking 'low and slow' important for this sandwich?

Cooking it slowly on low heat makes sure all the cheese gets properly melty while giving the bread time to turn golden without burning. It also warms up the pasta filling all the way through.

→ What sides pair well with this sandwich?

A light green salad with tangy dressing balances out the rich sandwich nicely. Tomato soup makes a great partner that goes well with the Italian flavors. If you're feeling extra hungry, some garlic cheese fries would hit the spot.

→ Can I make this sandwich vegetarian?

You definitely can! Just swap in a veggie pasta sauce instead of meat sauce. You can also throw in some cooked mushrooms, wilted spinach, or sweet roasted peppers to add more flavor and texture to your pasta mix.