Spaghetti Nests

Spaghetti nests are coiled bundles of pasta baked in a muffin tin, crisp on the outside and tender inside, then topped with sauce and cheese. They hold their shape during baking because the coiled pasta supports itself. This is a fun way to portion pasta for a crowd or meal prep.

Ingredients for Spaghetti Nests

Spaghetti forms the structure of each nest, while butter helps the nests brown and hold together. Parmesan cheese crisps the exterior and adds savory depth. Salt and black pepper season the pasta itself. Marinara sauce coats the baked nests, and mozzarella cheese melts on top for richness. Fresh basil adds brightness just before serving.

Why This Spaghetti Nests Works

The pasta is cooked just short of tender, so it stays firm enough to coil into a nest shape without falling apart. When you toss it with butter and Parmesan before baking, the cheese crisps against the hot muffin tin and the butter helps the pasta brown.

The nests bake at high heat for a short time, which crisps the edges while the inside stays tender. Because the pasta is already mostly cooked, the oven time is brief and the nests don’t dry out or become gluey.

Topping each nest with sauce and fresh mozzarella after baking keeps the cheese from scorching and ensures it melts just enough to bind without becoming rubbery.

Mistakes To Avoid

Cooking the pasta all the way to tender makes the nests collapse and fall apart during baking. The pasta needs to have a slight firmness so the coil stays intact when it heats in the oven.

Skipping the butter and Parmesan coating means the pasta won’t brown or crisp, and the nests will stick to the tin. The fat and cheese are what give the nests their distinctive texture and golden color.

Topping the nests with sauce and cheese before baking causes the cheese to brown too much and the sauce to dry out around the edges. Add toppings after baking so they stay fresh and the cheese melts gently.

Filling the muffin cups too high makes the pasta spill over the edges during baking and creates an uneven nest. One coil per cup, layered loosely, leaves room for the pasta to settle as it cooks.

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Ingredients

• 8 ounces spaghetti
• 1 teaspoon salt, plus more for the pasta water
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 cups marinara sauce, warmed
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

Step-by-step Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Butter or oil six cups of a 12-cup muffin tin.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat.
3. Add the spaghetti and cook for one to two minutes short of the package time, stirring once. The pasta should bend without snapping but still feel slightly firm.
4. Drain the pasta in a colander and transfer it to a large bowl.
5. Add the melted butter, 1 teaspoon salt, black pepper, and Parmesan cheese to the warm pasta. Toss until every strand is coated.
6. Working quickly while the pasta is warm, use a fork to coil one bundle of pasta into each prepared muffin cup, pressing gently so the coil holds its shape.
7. Bake at 400°F (200°C) for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges of the nests brown and crisp and the tops feel firm to the touch.
8. Remove the tin from the oven and let the nests cool in the cups for 2 to 3 minutes so they set.
9. Run a thin knife around the edge of each nest and gently lift it out onto a plate.
10. Top each nest with 1/3 cup warm marinara sauce, 2 to 3 tablespoons mozzarella, and a pinch of fresh basil. Serve right away.