One of the Octopus Spaghetti pieces

Our family enjoys having fun in the kitchen.  We have done this recipe a few times especially when the kids are a little younger.  It was one of those days when we had spaghetti on the menu, but instead I decided to alter it to make it more fun for the kids.  The normal spaghetti and meatballs for dinner turned into Octopus Spaghetti which included hotdogs instead of meatballs.

It really is easy.  While the noodles were still hard I stuck them through pieces of hotdogs.  The hotdogs cooked while the spaghetti noodles were boiling.  I added a little bit of spaghetti sauce, a side dish or two (garlic bread and / or a fresh salad are good ones) and dinner is ready.  The kids love it and enjoy helping with this recipe too.

Octopus Spaghetti Recipe:

• 1 package Hotdogs
• 40 Spaghetti Noodles
• 1 jar Spaghetti Marina Sauce (store bought or homemade)

Place a pot of water on the stove and begin heating it up until boiling.   While you are waiting for your water to boil cut each of the 10 hotdogs into 4 equal pieces.  Put 4 dry spaghetti noodles through each piece of hotdog (this allows you to have 4 octopus arms on each side of the hotdog, therefore giving you 8 octopus arms total).  It may take a couple extra spaghetti noodles because you may break a couple when poking them through the hotdogs.  Once the water is boiling place the hotdogs and noodles into your pot and boil until noodles are thoroughly cooked.

While the hotdogs and noodles are cooking place your spaghetti sauce into a smaller sauce pan and heat until it is hot.  Place the hotdogs and noodles on your plate first and put the spaghetti sauce on top.

Our kids think the hotdogs and noodles tastes good even without the spaghetti sauce.  You can do it either way.  It is a fun meal, especially for the kids.

A pile of Octopus Spaghetti on that plate.

Spaghetti marina sauce added on top of the Octopus Spaghetti