This is a great recipe to use when serving a large group or picky eaters (toddlers especially!). Build a Pasta includes pasta and sauce (red, white or both!) as your base and then you add your favorite toppings to the top.

In order to keep this recipe frugal, I go to the produce department the day I am making it to find “manager special”/marked down produce. It is usually on manager special because it needs to be used within a few days. This is a great way to get marked down dairy products as well.

 

Remember, this is your dish- you can choose to make 2 sauces: 1 tomato and 1 alfredo. You can just buy jarred sauces or you can make your own! You could pick 2 different types of noodles to make. I tried to make this dish as frugally as possibly, so I only used a jar of marinara sauce and rotini noodles (because kids think these are so fun!)

Here is what I used for our toppings:

Sausage, cheddar cheese (shredded), parmesan cheese, mushrooms (manager’s special) and a pepper from our neighbor’s garden. The possibilities are really limitless for toppings. Buy as much or as little as you want to add to your pasta. Notice that most of my brands are generic. There really is not much difference in taste/quality branded or unbranded. It’s a great way to save $$$ on your bill! The texas toast is for a side. IF you are gluten free, you will want to buy gluten free garlic bread or make your own by toasting GF bread in the oven and buttering with garlic butter.

Step 1: Boil your Pasta. Add salt to the pasta water, this is the only time you can season your noodles.

Step 2: Chop your toppings, shred your cheese and prepare to build your pasta! I did not saute’ these, but added them to the pasta raw. They would also be great sauteed!

Step 4: Cook your pasta sauce and begin to cook your garlic bread

Step 5: Start with your base of pasta and sauce.

Step 6: Build your pasta with a few toppings. I liked to add mushrooms and peppers.

Step 7: Add shredded cheese

Step 8: Add garlic bread and a salad and you’ve built a pasta!

Just to show you how different each plate can be, here is my husbands’ build a pasta

and my daughter’s build a pasta She is 2 years old and LOVED this dish!

Cost of meal: $5.50 total (includes garlic bread and salad-also a manager’s special)
Cost per person (serves 4)- $1.35

I would love to hear what your “build a pasta” toppings included.

Leave a comment and let us know what toppings your toddler would add to your build a pasta!