The best canned pasta is very hard to find. I have such fond memories of cracking open a can of noodles in sauce as a child, but this taste test showed us that canned pasta should remain a memory.
We were looking for the best Chef Boyardee flavors and interesting Spaghettios flavors, but we mostly just found out that pasta does not belong in a can. The texture is not good and, for some reason, these canned pasta manufacturers also can’t seem to make the flavor enjoyable. All that being said, we found the three best canned pasta options if your heart is set on pasta in a can.
- Chef Boyardee Beefaroni
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The beef in Beefaroni is a godsend. It breaks up the monotony of the shockingly sweet Chef Boyardee sauce, making it a little more savory. The noodles, like the noodles in all canned pasta, are majorly overcooked, but they’re definitely not as bad as some of the other options we had during this taste test. There’s enough meat without there being an upsetting amount of meat (I’m looking at you, Chef Boyardee Overstuffed Beef Ravioli). This is easily the best out of all the Chef Boyardee flavors.
Credit: Merc / Instacart
- Campbell’s SpaghettiOs & Meatballs
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I was really sad when I found out that SpaghettiOs are not as good as I remember. They were such an easy and filling afternoon snack. If you, an adult, have a hankering for SpaghettiOs but want the best version, buy a can of SpaghettiOs & Meatballs. The tiny meat spheres that pepper this can actually taste pretty decent! Like with the Beefaroni, the meatballs add some savoriness that is very welcome. Plus, the SpaghettiOs noodle shape is so fun. Out of all the SpaghettiOs flavors, this is really the only one you should buy.
Credit: Merc / Target
- Annie’s Organic Bernie O’s
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If you’re looking for the best canned pasta, look no further! These are actually good. The noodle isn’t too soft and has that same SpaghettiOs shape we all love. The real star is the sauce. It’s not as sweet as the other canned pasta sauces we tried. That hint of saltiness made this the best canned pasta (and you can trust us because, as you’ll see below, we ate a lot of canned pasta).
Credit: Merc / Instacart
Best Chef Boyardee
Best Campbell’s
Best of the Best
Other Products We Tried: Annie’s Organic All Stars Canned Pasta, Great Value Macaroni & Beef In Tomato Sauce, Campbell’s Canned Pasta with Meatballs, Chef Boyardee Mac and Cheese, Chef Boyardee Chicken Alfredo Pasta, Chef Boyardee Cheese Ravioli in Tomato Sauce, Campbell’s Original Canned Pasta Spaghettios, Campbell’s Franks Red Hot Spaghettios Great Value Spaghetti Rings in Tomato Sauce, Annie’s Organic Cheesy Ravioli in Tomato & Cheese Sauce, Chef Boyardee Overstuffed Beef Ravioli, Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli, Chef Boyardee Mini Ravioli, Chef Boyardee Lasagna, Campbell’s Canned Spaghetti, Chef Boyardee Pasta in Butter Sauce, Campbell’s Canned Pasta with Chicken Meatballs, Campbell’s Canned Pasta with Franks, Chef Boyardee Spaghetti and Meatballs, Chef Boyardee Mini Beef Ravioli and Meatballs
