14 Canned Pastas That Are Worth Buying, According To Reviews

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The love affair between pasta and the United States dates all the way back to the country's colonial days. Many credit Thomas Jefferson with bringing home arguably the best souvenir from a European trip: the macaroni maker. Since then, generations have enjoyed billions of pasta dishes, in every conceivable form. How could this versatile, delicious, and (relatively) easy to make food get any better?

They put it in a can. Sixty years after the first U.S.-based pasta factory began production in Brooklyn, Ettore Boiardi launched the Chef Boyardee brand — the rest is history. Households across the country took the foodstuff to their hearts, relishing the convenience of a near-instant meal that was filling and tasty. Although it hasn't always had the best nutritional profile and not all store-bought brands are brilliant, we still can't get enough of it in cans.

Today, canned pasta is as commonplace as its fresh and dried counterparts, and millions of households have a tin or two in their pantries. As well as being the perfect ready meal, it's also great for adding bulk to casseroles or soups. But which ones do American consumers like best? Here are canned pastas that are worth buying, according to reviews.

The grandaddy of canned pasta brands, with its instantly recognizable logo, is beloved throughout the United States. Their range of pasta products included this discontinued version for gamers and Chef Boyardee Beefaroni. The latter has helped fill the bellies of generations by providing a fuss-free dinner for children and adults alike. Although 1 cup provides ⅓ of our daily salt intake, this canned pasta is free from artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives.

Across the board, consumers love it. Chef Boyardee Beefaroni is commonly regarded as a quick and easy meal for anyone who is short of time or energy — heat it up in minutes on the stove top or in seconds the microwave. It has also achieved the Holy Grail of any product: universal appeal. Grown ups who remember eating it as a youngster and 21st century children of all ages will happily fork it down. One online buyer, who recommended cracking open a can on a snowy day to fully appreciate the taste, called Chef Boyardee Beefaroni, "The perfect comfort food[,it] takes me back to my childhood."

Described as "a little bit mischievous, a little bit cozy, and entirely delicious," Campbell's SpaghettiOs with Meatballs is one of several entries in the veteran American brand's SpaghettiOs range. The colorful, perky cans with their big-name tie-ins are designed to appeal directly to youngsters, but the 10 grams of protein per cup aims to grab the attention of parents seeking a healthier option for their little ones.

Campbell's throws a lot of weight behind the convenience of its SpaghettiOs with meatballs, pitching it not just as something the whole family can enjoy, but also as an on-the-go lunch item or even a sneaky supper. The marketing definitely hit the spot with customers. Parents of young children particularly appreciated the canned pasta's convenience as a quick and easy lunch or snack.

In a heartfelt review, a mom-of-two wrote, "my boys ask for it every week, eat every bite, and sometimes thank me like I just whipped up a 5-course meal." Another very satisfied customer had plenty of good things to say, describing the 15-ounce can as a "robust, gleaming titan of sustenance," the pasta as "an engineering marvel of culinary design," and the meatballs as "packed with just the right amount of spices."

Few canned spaghetti products have a history as long as Campbell's Spaghetti. Originally known as Franco-American, until it was bought by Campbell's, the brand was gradually phased out over several decades until it vanished in 2004. One of Franco-American's flagship products was canned spaghetti, which ruled the roost until the arrival of SpaghettiOs in 1965.

Despite the latter's popularity, the OG straight canned pasta is still going strong. Described as pasta in a sauce that is "the perfect blend of rich, sweet tomato sauce, and mild cheese," Campbell's perfectly al dente pasta is not often seen in stores but, thanks to the internet, still sells in the thousands.

Shoppers' devotion to this spaghetti reflects the fact it's been around for a long time, with many people recalling it as one they loved as children. One happy buyer described it as "one of my favorite quick to fix or heat n eat foods," while another revealed how they ate them with hamburgers. A third customer appreciated the value and flexibility of Campbell's spaghetti as a pantry staple, saying it worked well on its own or as a foundation for another dish.

Pasta lovers know there are as many types of lasagna as there are Italian regions, from the lasagne al brodo of the south and Marche speciality Vincisgrassi, to Sardinia's version, made with a thin flatbread nicknamed "sheet music." You can even give your own a twist with this extra ingredient. Arguably the most well-known form combines thin sheets of pasta, with beef in a tomato sauce, and a white sauce topped with cheese.

A long-standing dinnertime staple for households throughout the United States, you can also get it in a can. Chef Boyardee Lasagna is pitched as a tasty meal or snack for time-pressed consumers, and a 15-ounce can be ready in less than two minutes when the contents are in a microwave. While some buyers questioned the amount of meat in their cans of lasagna, the overall opinion of this canned pasta is a positive one.

Customers enjoyed the flavor and, at $1 per can for a pack of 12, it offered good value for money. Nostalgia was also a factor for some buyers, who felt the taste hadn't changed since their childhood, and the pop top opening got the thumbs up from both campers and preppers.

Pasta is a food that runs the full gamut of cuisine, from fine dining to midnight snacking. It's also one of a special group that can be made into stable shapes, helping teach us words and numbers, and who doesn't love a food you can play with? Kids of all ages happily tuck into Chef Boyardee Mini ABC's and 123's with Meatballs, creating words and doing math to make mealtimes fun.

As well as providing entertainment at dinner time, this canned pasta's meatballs are made with chicken, beef, and pork, with a generous amount of them in each serving. Its convenience (it tastes good both hot or cold) made it a hit for many shoppers, and one satisfied customer, who loved the sauce, said they could eat "two cans a day forever."

Another reviewer — a college student – waxed lyrical about Chef Boyardee Mini ABC's and 123's with Meatballs, calling it the "unofficial meal plan of broke students nationwide." They acknowledged it wasn't gourmet food and the nutrition it provided was "debatable" but said the canned pasta served up a "warm, saucy hug, and zero judgment."

Given the vast appetite for canned pasta rings in a tomato sauce, it's no surprise that supermarkets sought a slice of the action by creating their own-brand versions. Walmart's Great Value Pasta Rings & Meatballs is a staple in many pantries across the United States.

A 15-ounce can has plenty of food inside, but no artificial flavors, preservatives or trans fat, and it's a USDA inspected product. Dubbed as "less mess than long, slippery spaghetti noodles," Great Value pasta rings and meatballs compared favorably with some of the biggest brand names, according to lots of satisfied customers. They also appreciated the $1.08 price, as well as how quick and easy they were to prepare.

One buyer said they preferred the texture and taste of the Great Value meatballs, adding the sauce was good and "not overpowering the taste of the meatballs." Another shopper recommended breaking up some crackers and adding them to the pasta for a bulkier snack. A third admitted they liked this pasta so much, they ate it straight out of the can: No leftovers for this Giada De Laurentiis creation for them.

We have Donald Goerke to thank for much-loved canned pasta SpaghettiOs. As a Franco-American marketing manager, he was tasked with developing a new canned pasta product for kids. It needed to be clean to eat and sturdy and, after rejecting shapes including stars and cowboys, Goerke settled on the "O," which fit neatly on a spoon and could tolerate a thinner pasta. The rest is food history.

Decades later, Campbell's SpaghettiOs with Chicken Meatballs is one of the most popular in a range of canned pastas using the signature shape. Like the others, it's sold as a convenient dinner option or snack, while Campbell's highlights the half cup of vegetables and 12 grams of protein each cup contains. For customers, it's a winner every time. One even admitted to happily snapping up their preschooler's leftovers.

Lots of shoppers loved the sense of nostalgia this canned pasta gave them, with one buyer writing, "Loved em since I was a kid and loved em now," while the convenience of popping a can of Campbell's SpaghettiOs with chicken meatballs at times when people didn't feel like cooking was also highlighted. In a witty review, another avid customer wrote, "Some people collect wine, I collect childhood happiness in convenient canned form."

Life was hell for the soldiers fighting in World War I and their food didn't improve matters. Tins of bully beef and the loathed Maconochie or "dog" stew were among the British soldier's rations, but the Italians had things a little better. Their supplies included cans of ravioli, and that staple food continues to be a shopper favorite to this day.

You don't have to be a fighting man to appreciate Chef Boyardee Overstuffed Italian Sausage Ravioli, a combination of authentic Italian sausage with tomato sauce, in an extra large format that packs a solid nine grams of protein into each serving. Like other Chef Boyardee canned pasta products, there are no artificial flavors, colors, or preservatives.

The Italian sausage was a hit with buyers, who enjoyed its taste, as well as the sauce, which one reviewer noted was thicker. Customers also liked being able to eat Chef Boyardee overstuffed Italian sausage ravioli hot or cold, which made it perfect for picnics or camping trips, while others praised how easy it was to cook for busy people. Summing up the positive vibe, one shopper wrote, "It's the best flavor of canned ravioli available."

Proof, if it was needed, that Campbell's can squeeze value out of even the most winning formula comes in the form of its original SpaghettiOs. This canned pasta comes in several variations, including with added calcium and Frank's RedHot, which replaced a discontinued Campbell's canned fave, as well as a slew of entertainment tie-ins. The genius marketing part? The tomatoey, cheesy pasta inside each can is pretty much the same.

They're not shabby when it comes to nutrition, either. According to Campbell's, ½ cup of vegetables makes up every cup of SpaghettiOs canned pasta, not to mention the latter ingredient's four essential nutrients. Buyers care more about the convenience and great flavor than the health benefits, with grown ups enjoying them as much, if not more than children.

One shopper, living in a household with three other adults, said they were a cupboard staple that went down well with everyone, while another buyer described them as, "a quick easy lunch that is low calorie but not a diet food." The low price was another highlight for some buyers, but nostalgia played a big role in many of the 5-star reviews. One customer in their seventies professed their love for Campbell's SpaghettiOs, and said they "never out grew them."

Annie's has come a long way since co-founder Annie Withey started selling boxes of her home-made mac 'n' cheese out of the back of her car in 1989. Now owned by General Mills, more people than ever looking to buy organic convenience foods can get their hands on this much-loved brand. Although Annie's range of canned products is small, they are perfectly formed and very popular.

It includes Annie's Organic Bernie O's, made with certified USDA Organic, non-GMO pasta and zero synthetic colors or artificial flavors. They cost a little more than other brands on the market, but that hasn't stopped buyers from singing its praises. Annie's organic Berni O's is widely liked for its convenience as a quick weeknight meal for both kids and adults. One satisfied reviewer, who loved their taste, said, "It's hard to find a healthy alternative, so I'm very happy these exist."

Parents in particular were also pleased to be able to serve their children a healthier canned pasta made with organic ingredients. An enthusiastic shopper, who had been disappointed by a rival brand, tried Annie's, wrote, "These taste just like the original Spaghettios, but with much better ingredients that I feel good eating."

"Made with enriched pasta, smothered in hearty, Italian-flavored tomato sauce, and stuffed with real beef," the description for Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli aims to leave readers with their mouths watering — and it succeeds. At just $1 for a 15-ounce can, it offers great value for money and a solid meal for two without the stress of making your own fresh pasta.

Each serving of Chef Boyardee beef ravioli will boost your daily iron, selenium, and potassium levels, it's worth keeping in mind it also contains a hefty 800 grams of salt. While some buyers have noticed a change in the flavor of the sauce, many long-standing devotees are happily sticking to their canned ravioli.

Shoppers were positive about the amount of beef in the pasta, as well as the taste, though it was suggested the sauce may be too sweet for some. Chef Boyardee beef ravioli was seen as a good value comfort food, quick and easy to prepare for kids and adults. For one delighted customer, everything from the heat level to the size of the 15-ounce can was "perfect."

Campbell's marketing division may have vetoed stars as a canned pasta shape but the team at Annie's took them and made them their own. The result is Annie's Organic All Stars, star-shaped pasta served in a tasty, tomato and cheese sauce. As with the rest of the company's range, the pasta is certified USDA Organic and non-GMO, and there are no artificial colors or flavors.

A 15-ounce can serves around two people, and can be eaten on its own or served as a side. Many buyers loved the convenience of being able to pop a can of Annie's Organic All Stars, heat them and eat them. Parents in particular praised the canned pasta as one that even very young children enjoyed.

One customer enthused, "My daughter loves these. They make a good lunch when we are on the go." Others were pleased at being able to support sustainable products, and appreciated the clean ingredients that didn't have a "metallic" taste.

We've all been there. You get home, either for lunch, after work, or late at night. You're hungry, but don't feel like cooking a big meal. What do you do? For thousands of consumers, the answer is reach for a can of Chef Boyardee Overstuffed Beef Ravioli.

It has been keeping bellies full for years, with its combination of silky, enriched pasta, beefy filling, and delicious tomato sauce. Ready in just a few minutes, there's no wonder it's a hit among a wide range of consumers. Buyers liked how fast and simple it was to prepare, and many appreciated the visible difference in size of Chef Boyardee overstuffed beef ravioli, compared to the smaller, traditional product.

One shopper was pleasantly surprised both by the freshness of their canned pasta and the amount of sauce that came with it. Another admitted they were a little embarrassed at their purchase, explaining in their review, "I usually eat very organic and paleo, but I bought it for my pantry and I keep sneaking cans out every once in awhile!"

Every customer is different: What irritates one will delight another. That's why many food brands try to offer as wide a range of products as possible, hoping to appeal to lots of buyers. Chef Boyardee Mini Beef Ravioli and Meatballs ticks several boxes. Its colorful cans appeal to kids, while grown-ups looking to revisit their own childhoods love every forkful of this pint-sized canned pasta. It's good value too at $1 per 15-ounce can, with real beef ravioli and meatballs made from pork, beef, and chicken.

One witty reviewer appreciated the lack of preparation and clean-up that came with their cans of Chef Boyardee mini beef ravioli and meatballs, praising the ravioli for holding its shape while remaining soft, and the "small but decent" meatballs. They added, "It's not gourmet... Unless you were raised in the '90s like me. Then it kind of is." Lots of shoppers enjoyed the just-as-they-remembered taste. One customer wrote, "Quality and value for money are still strong after this company [has] been around for years."