Air-Fried Spaghetti: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Making spaghetti in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to cook a tasty meal. You can make spaghetti in an air fryer with or without meat, and you can use fresh or leftover pasta. If you're making it with meat, you'll need to form meatballs and cook them in the air fryer before adding the pasta. You can also add a variety of cheeses, vegetables, and spices to your air fryer spaghetti for extra flavour.

Pre-cooking spaghetti for 10 minutes

Choosing the Right Spaghetti:

Select a classic dry spaghetti for this recipe. Avoid using chickpea or lentil pasta as they have different textures and cooking times. You can find dry spaghetti at your local grocery store or online.

Preparing the Spaghetti:

Take a large pot and fill it with water. For every 4 ounces (125 grams) of spaghetti, use about a gallon of water. Add a pinch of salt to the water; this will enhance the flavour of the spaghetti. Cover the pot and place it on your stovetop over high heat. Once the water reaches a rolling boil, carefully add the spaghetti. You can break the spaghetti in half to make it fit, if needed. Stir the spaghetti gently with a spoon or fork to separate the strands and ensure even cooking.

Cooking the Spaghetti:

Allow the spaghetti to cook for about 10 minutes in the boiling water. During this time, the spaghetti will absorb the water and soften. Stir it occasionally to prevent it from sticking together. After 10 minutes, your spaghetti should be partially cooked and slightly softer but still have a bite to it. It should not be fully cooked at this stage, as it will continue cooking in the air fryer.

Draining and Rinsing:

Once the 10 minutes are up, carefully pour the cooked spaghetti into a colander in your sink. Rinse the spaghetti with cold water to stop the cooking process and remove excess starch. This will help prevent the spaghetti from becoming overcooked and sticky. Shake the colander gently to remove as much water as possible. Your spaghetti is now ready to be used in the air fryer recipe of your choice!

Tips for Perfect Pre-Cooked Spaghetti:

• Always use enough water: Using a large pot and ample water ensures that the spaghetti has enough space to cook evenly.
• Don't overcook: Pre-cooking spaghetti for 10 minutes is just the right amount of time to achieve a perfect al dente texture. Overcooking will make your spaghetti mushy.
• Salt the water: Adding a pinch of salt to the cooking water enhances the flavour of the spaghetti.
• Stir occasionally: Stirring the spaghetti while it cooks prevents it from sticking together and ensures even cooking.

Preparing the air fryer

First, ensure your air fryer is large enough to fit a cake pan or baking dish. You will need a pan or dish that is around 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter and deep enough to accommodate the spaghetti. If your air fryer is on the smaller side, you may need to adjust the quantities of the ingredients or accept that the layering won't be perfect.

Next, it is recommended to use a silicone liner at the bottom of your air fryer to protect the non-stick coating, especially if you are using metal pans. You can also use a set of silicone pot holders to lift the hot pan out of the air fryer, as it can be challenging to remove if it's a tight fit.

Preheat your air fryer to the desired temperature. If you are cooking the spaghetti fresh, preheat it to 320°F (160°C). If you are using leftover spaghetti, preheat it to 250°F (121°C).

Once your air fryer is preheated, you can move on to the next steps of preparing your spaghetti and assembling the dish before placing it in the air fryer.

Making the sauce

To make a tomato-based meat sauce, start by adding olive oil to a large, deep skillet or saucepan on medium-high heat. After a few minutes, add a yellow onion and cook until tender, stirring frequently with a spatula. You can also add some salt and ground pepper at this stage.

Next, add your choice of ground meat to the skillet. This could be beef, chicken, turkey, or Italian sausage. Break up any meat lumps with a spatula and brown the meat.

Now it's time to season the meat and onions. Add in your chosen tomato sauce, along with garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Stir everything together until well combined. You can also add other spices like ground black pepper to taste.

At this point, you can also add in any vegetables you like. Spinach or zucchini are great options, and you can either add them raw or blend them first if you want to hide them in the sauce.

Finally, carefully add your cooked spaghetti to the sauce and stir until the pasta is well coated. Cook for an additional 5 minutes or until the pasta is heated through. Then, you're ready to move on to assembling and air-frying your spaghetti!

Layering the bake

Firstly, prepare your ingredients. You will need cooked spaghetti, tomato pasta sauce, ricotta cheese, cream cheese, parmesan or vegetarian hard cheese, and mozzarella. You can use freshly cooked spaghetti or leftover spaghetti for this recipe.

Now, let's begin layering!

First Layer: Start by adding half of the cooked spaghetti to your cake pan or baking dish. It is recommended to use an 8-inch (20 cm) cake pan or a 13 by 9-inch baking dish.

Second Layer: Spread a creamy mixture over the spaghetti. To make the creamy layer, mix ricotta and cream cheese together in a bowl. If you are using only cream cheese, it might not be very spreadable, so simply add dollops of it over the spaghetti.

Third Layer: Sprinkle half of the parmesan cheese over the creamy layer.

Fourth Layer: Add the remaining spaghetti on top.

Fifth Layer: Finish it off with the remaining parmesan cheese and slices of mozzarella.

Once you have completed the layering process, carefully place the baking dish into the preheated air fryer basket. It is ideal to use a silicone liner mat at the bottom of the air fryer to protect the non-stick coating when using metal pans. Additionally, silicone pot holders can be useful for lifting the hot pan out of the air fryer.

Now, you are ready to air fry! Set the temperature to 320°F (160°C) and air fry for approximately 15 minutes, or until the cheese on top is bubbling and browned.

And that's it! You have successfully layered and air-fried your spaghetti. Enjoy your delicious, cheesy creation!

Cooking the spaghetti bake

Now that you have prepared your ingredients, it's time to cook your spaghetti bake in the air fryer! Here is a step-by-step guide:

Sauté the Onion: Start by heating some olive oil in a large, deep skillet or saucepan over medium-high heat. After a few minutes, add your chopped onion and cook until it becomes tender, stirring frequently with a spatula.

Cook the Meat: Add your choice of ground meat (beef, turkey, or chicken) to the skillet along with salt and ground pepper. Make sure to break up any meat lumps with a spatula as it cooks.

Season the Mixture: Add in your tomato sauce, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Stir everything together until it is well combined and seasoned.

Cook the Spaghetti: Carefully add your spaghetti noodles to the sauce and stir until the pasta is well-coated. Continue cooking for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Then, transfer the cooked pasta to a baking dish.

Preheat the Air Fryer: While your spaghetti is cooking on the stovetop, preheat your air fryer to the appropriate temperature (refer to your specific air fryer's instructions).

Assemble the Bake: In a 13-by-9-inch baking dish, spread out your cooked spaghetti. Cover the pasta generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.

Air Fry: Carefully place the baking dish inside the air fryer basket. Air fry your spaghetti bake for approximately 15 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and started to brown. Keep an eye on it to avoid overcooking.

Serve: Remove the baked spaghetti from the air fryer and place the baking dish on a cooling rack for at least 5 minutes to let it cool down. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and serve with garlic bread for a complete meal.

Your air-fried spaghetti bake is now ready to be devoured! Enjoy the comforting flavours of this quick and easy dish, perfect for a busy weeknight or a casual Sunday dinner.

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