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As a child, nothing tasted quite as gourmet to me as a bowl of canned pasta, especially if it came with meatballs. Over the years, I outgrew my love for mini pasta rings in fun shapes and graduated to boxed pasta, but the sight of this food in the grocery store has always sparked nostalgic memories.When I first met my husband, it was endearing to see that he still loved two canned pasta brands, and they’ve been a regular staple in our house ever since. So when Parade asked me to do a taste test of several popular canned pastas, I knew it’d be a fun assignment.Chef Boyardee and SpaghettiOs have always been my husband’s go-tos, and they’re arguably the most well-known canned pasta brands on the market. But there are also a few other brands that make canned pasta, including some generic store brands.With the help of my husband, I set off to test nine different canned pastas from a variety of brands. We were curious to see if any of the other brands we tasted could measure up to the sense of nostalgia Chef Boyardee and SpaghettiOs offer, and we were pleasantly surprised by several of them. How did the experiment go? Read on to hear our honest thoughts.
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How I Chose the Canned Pastas
Courtesy Chrissy Callahan
When it comes to canned pasta, Chef Boyardee and SpaghettiOs are the two most established brands on the market. But they’ve definitely got some competition—for example, Annie’s also has several varieties, and both Walmart and Aldi have their own canned pastas as well. Since Chef Boyardee has the most extensive collection, I included four different canned pastas. Annie’s has three varieties, but two of them are quite similar, so I included only two from the brand. Then, I featured a can from SpaghettiOs, Aldi and Walmart.Related: I Tried 8 Pure Leaf Tea Iced Flavors—Here’s the One I’d Buy Again
Methodology: How I Tested Them
Typically, you can cook canned pasta one of two ways: in the microwave or on the stovetop. My husband always heats them up in the microwave, so I figured if that method was good enough for him, it’d work well for me too.
I poured each can into a bowl then microwaved it in 30-second intervals, cooking each for a total of one minute and 30 seconds. Then, I let them cool before tasting them.
I judged each canned pasta on the taste and texture of the pasta, the flavor of the sauce and the consistency of the meatballs (if applicable).
Related: We Asked 4 Chefs Their Favorite Pasta Dish, and We Can’t Wait to Make Them Ourselves
Parade
9 Canned Pastas, Ranked Worst To Best
Here’s my ranking of these nine popular canned pasta options.
9. Walmart Great Value Pasta Rings & Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, $1.08
Chrissy Callahan
Shop It at WalmartHow the brand describes it: “This delicious dinner or hearty snack, consisting of round pasta rings, tender meatballs, and rich, savory tomato sauce, has been a favorite of kids for decades. The perfectly al dente pasta rings result in less mess than long, slippery spaghetti noodles, and the meal is ready in less than 5 minutes,” the website reads.My experience: Out of all the canned pastas I tested, this one’s savory sauce was the most bland. In terms of flavor, it needed more salt or seasoning to jazz it up a bit. However, the pasta’s texture was nice and soft. The meatballs are made of a mixture of beef, pork and breadcrumbs. Similar to the other pastas, they are equal parts soft and firm.Nothing about this canned pasta particularly impressed me. It wasn’t bad, but it didn’t have the flavor I expect from other canned pastas.?? SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter ??
8. Aldi Bon Italia Pasta Rings with Meatballs in Tomato Sauce, $1.09
Aldi
How the brand describes it: Aldi’s website doesn’t list a specific product description for this canned pasta. However, the can describes the product as featuring pasta rings and meatballs in a tomato sauce. The meatballs are made of a mixture of beef, pork, water and breadcrumbs.My experience: One of the first things I noticed about Aldi’s Bon Italia Pasta Rings with Meatballs was how easy it was to pour into a bowl. From watching my husband cook SpaghettiOs and certain varieties of Chef Boyardee regularly, I’ve noticed that he often has to spoon some of the remaining product out of the can. But this was a clean pour.Compared to SpaghettiOs, the flavors in Aldi’s canned pasta were a bit more muted. The sauce is slightly sweet, like SpaghettiOs, but the pasta rings were slightly softer than SpaghettiOs. The Aldi meatballs were a bit softer than SpaghettiOs meatballs, which are a bit firmer.If you grew up eating SpaghettiOs, you’ll notice the subtle differences in flavor and will probably prefer the real deal. However, if you aren’t partial to SpaghettiOs, it’s a solid alternative.Related: I Tried Every Item on Pizza Hut’s New Throwback Value Menu (Starting at $3)—Here’s How They Rank
7. Annie’s Organic Cheesy Ravioli in Tomato and Cheese Sauce, $2.48
Chrissy Callahan
Shop It at WalmartHow the brand describes it: “Certified USDA Organic and non-GMO, this Annie’s canned food is made with cheese from cows raised without antibiotics or synthetic hormones, so you can feel good about serving it to the whole family. And like all Annie’s organic food, it’s made with goodness. That means no artificial flavors or synthetic colors,” the website reads.My experience: On the Annie’s website, cheese ravioli is the lowest-rated canned pasta, so I wasn’t sure what to expect before trying it. However, I was instantly impressed with how soft the raviolis were. My husband, who swears by Chef Boyardee’s Beef Raviolis but doesn’t like the brand’s Cheese Raviolis, was also happy with the pasta’s soft texture.The cheese inside the raviolis was very subtle and not overwhelming. The sauce is slightly tangy, but tasty. However, I did wish that it had a bit more seasoning.
6. Annie’s Organic Bernie O’s, $2.49
Chrissy Callahan
Shop It at TargetHow the brand describes it: “Annie’s Organic Bernie O’s are delicious and tons of fun to eat. This canned pasta meal addition is non-GMO and made with certified USDA Organic pasta in a savory tomato and cheese sauce full of scrumptious flavor. There are no artificial flavors or synthetic colors,” the product description reads.My experience: While pouring this canned pasta into a bowl to heat it up, the contents dropped right out, with no scooping involved. The cute bunny shapes are so fun and they’re ultra soft.The sauce has a slight sweetness to it, but it’s not overwhelming, and it’s quite good. Similar to many canned pastas, the sauce is slightly watery, but there’s a nice balance of sauce and pasta to make up for it. Since there’s a generous amount of pasta, the can is definitely filling.This particular canned pasta is certified USDA organic, with no artificial flavors or synthetic colors. While eating it, you definitely feel cleaner, like you’re eating a high quality product.Related: 7 Keto Pasta Brands, Ranked Worst to Best
5. Chef Boyardee Mini ABC’s and 123’s with Meatballs, $1.19
Chrissy Callahan
Shop It at WalmartHow the brand describes it: “These Mini ABC’s and 123’s are more than just a meal; they are an interactive dining experience for children and a quick, reliable solution for busy parents. Each 15 oz. can is packed with tender alphabet and number-shaped pasta, paired with savory, bite-sized meatballs crafted from a blend of pork, chicken, and beef,” the product description reads.My experience: Similar to several other canned pastas I tested, this one offers up pint-sized pasta with meatballs. The pasta is shaped like numbers and letters, making it fun for kids, and it’s very soft.The sauce is slightly sweet, but pleasantly so. The bite-sized meatballs are soft, but have a nice bite to them, and they’re seasoned well.
4. Chef Boyardee Mini Pasta Shells & Meatballs, $1.50 (originally $1.73)
Chrissy Callahan
Shop It on InstacartHow the brand describes it: “Enriched pasta in a hearty tomato sauce and mini meatballs made from beef, chicken, and pork give Chef Boyardee Mini Pasta Shells and Meatballs the timeless flavor that everyone loves,” the product description reads.My experience: I’ve always loved mini pasta shells. In fact, I regularly make baked ziti, but with mini pasta shells. For a canned pasta, this is pretty good. The pasta is very soft and the savory sauce is flavorful. It also smells good.The meatballs are a nice addition, and they’re seasoned well. Overall, it felt like a satisfying “adult” version of a canned pasta.
3. SpaghettiOs Super Mario Bros Canned Pasta with Meatballs, $1.69
Chrissy Callahan
Shop It at TargetHow the brand describes it: “Each delicious bite of this canned pasta with meatballs features Super Mario pasta shapes to add some fun to lunchtime. This canned pasta puts a yummy spin on original SpaghettiOs with the addition of savory meatballs, making it a delicious part of any meal. One cup of SpaghettiOs with meatballs contains 1/2 cup of vegetables, as well as 9 grams of protein as part of a lunch,” the product description reads.My experience: Out of all the canned pastas I tested, this one’s sauce was the sweetest, but in a pleasant way, kind of like when you have a pizza with a slightly sweet sauce. My husband is a huge Mario fan so he loved the fun pasta shapes, which were soft and chewy. The meatballs are made of a mixture of chicken, beef and bread crumbs, and they’re soft and well-seasoned.The portion is filling and I love that the brand often offers fun collaborations with different popular characters like Mario. It’s perfect for picky kids!
2. Chef Boyardee Beefaroni, $0.98 (originally $1.34)
Chrissy Callahan
Shop It at WalmartHow the brand describes it: “Made with enriched pasta smothered in rich, Italian-flavored tomato and meat pasta sauce, this canned food has the timeless flavor everyone loves,” the product description reads.My experience: When poured out of the can, most of the pasta comes right out, but you do need to scoop a little bit out. The meat sauce gives this canned pasta a great flavor profile. The sauce is thick and features small pieces of meat throughout. Typically, I like a more heavy-handed meat sauce, but it’s great if you don’t want a ton of meat.The thick, tubed pasta is soft but has more of a bite to it than the spaghetti that took our number one spot below. There’s also no twirling required, so it’s a great, hearty alternative if you’re looking for something similar to the number one spot but without extra effort.Related: I Tried Every Olive Garden Soup and Ranked Them Worst To Best
1. Chef Boyardee Spaghetti & Meatballs, $1.49
Chrissy Callahan
Shop It at TargetHow the brand describes it: “Made with enriched pasta noodles, rich, Italian-flavored tomato sauce, and tasty meatballs made with pork, chicken and beef, this canned food has the timeless flavor everyone loves,” the product description reads.My experience: It’s been a few decades since I dug into a can of Chef Boyardee Spaghetti & Meatballs, but the minute I caught a whiff of it, I felt like a kid again. The sauce is a bit thicker than the other cans I tested, and it has a nice savory flavor with a kick of tangy seasoning.The meatballs are perfectly seasoned and soft. They’re also more filling than the smaller meatballs in some Chef Boyardee varieties. The noodles were just like I remembered them: soft, filling and full of flavor. There’s also a generous amount of them in the can.Chef Boyardee Spaghetti & Meatballs gave me a welcome dose of nostalgia, but it also felt like the most filling option for adults, hence why it earned the number one spot on this list.
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I Tried 9 Canned Beef Stews and the Winner Won by a Landslide I Tried 12 Hippeas Flavors—Here’s the One I’d Buy Every Time I Tried 15 Popular Canned Chilis and the Winner Totally Surprised Me I Tried 11 Different Brands of Canned Baked Beans and the Winner Had a Surprising Secret IngredientFinal Takeaways
It’s been many years since I tried a canned pasta, but this taste test was a fun, nostalgic experiment. I still prefer boxed pasta or fresh pasta from a restaurant, but I can understand why my husband likes to keep a few canned pastas in the house for a quick, easy and tasty meal.
None of the pastas I tried were bad. I simply ranked them based on how much flavor they offered. It’s important to note that you can always add your own seasoning/salt to enhance the flavor.
Overall, I was impressed with how many brands now offer canned pasta that’s free of preservatives and artificial flavors. Plus, you can’t beat the price of them.
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