Emma Martinez Sutton

If you ever watched the classic Nickelodeon show “iCarly” growing up, then you certainly remember the famous spaghetti tacos. The seemingly absurd combination was invented by Spencer Shay (played by Jerry Trainor) who is the older brother and guardian of protagonist Carly Shay (played by Miranda Cosgrove). Spaghetti tacos were a staple in “iCarly”, appearing at regular dinners and in cooking segments on Carly’s web show “iCarly” that the series is named for. What started as a recurring joke grew into a meal so well-recognized that it was featured in The New York Times. 

Below is a basic recipe for spaghetti tacos, but you can use pre-made tomato sauce for ease or add in other ingredients to make it to your liking. In terms of taste, there’s nothing wrong with spaghetti tacos. The mix of taco shell and noodles, on the other hand, does create an odd texture that made the recipe a little less appetizing. I probably won’t add spaghetti tacos to my rotation of recipes, but if you’re looking for a little nostalgia, this is the perfect meal. 

Ingredients:

4 oz. spaghetti

8-12 corn taco shells

2 cups canned crushed tomatoes

1/2 tablespoon taco seasoning mix

2/3 cup diced onion

Parmesan cheese to top spaghetti

Optional: meatballs or ground beef

Instructions:

Boil water and prepare pasta per package instructions. Heat taco shells in the oven until warm and crisp. Mix crushed tomatoes, onion, and taco mix in a saucepan and cook until hot. At this stage, ground beef or meatballs can also be added. Drain pasta and add to saucepan, stirring until coated in sauce. Fill taco shells with pasta (tongs are easiest). Top with parmesan cheese.