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Home » Budget Friendly

Japanese Spaghetti Napolitan Recipe

Apr 4, 2023Last Modified: April 4, 2023

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This page may contain affiliate links. I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about a delicious and fun Japanese Spaghetti Napolitan Recipe!

A white bowl containing Japanese Spaghetti Napolitan with sliced ham, sliced onions and sliced green bell pepper with grated Parmesan on top of the spaghetti. There is a fork resting in the bowl and a bottle of ketchup and small bowl with Parmesan in the background.

One of my FAVORITE pasta dishes is Spaghetti Napolitan, otherwise known as Japanese Ketchup Spaghetti.

I learned about this dish from Gastro Obscura: A Food Adventurer's Guide.

So delicious, budget friendly, and made up of mostly pantry ingredients, I believe that this classic Japanese dish will become one of your favorite pasta dishes as well!

Jump to:
  • What Is Spaghetti Napolitan?
  • Why You Will Love This Japanese Pasta!
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 🔪 Instructions
  • Time To Enjoy Your Japanese Ketchup Spaghetti!
  • FAQ
  • Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!
  • Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!
  • Japanese Spaghetti Napolitan Recipe

What Is Spaghetti Napolitan?

A white bowl containing Japanese Spaghetti Napolitan with sliced ham, sliced onions and sliced green bell pepper with grated Parmesan on top of the spaghetti. There is a fork resting in the bowl.

Spaghetti Napolitan (or Spaghetti Naporitan), was created in Japan by chef Shigetada Irie of the Hotel New Grand in Yokohama (source Wikipedia.org). This western style dish, or "yoshoku," was named after the Italian city of Napoli (Naples).

Coffee shops all over Japan specialize in this dish, which features a ketchup based sauce. Ketchup in spaghetti may sound strange, but please don't knock this until you try this! And you won't knock this because you'll love it!

In addition to ketchup common ingredients in this, one of Japan's most popular pasta dishes, include luncheon meat, sausages, onion, bell pepper, button mushrooms and finished off with Tabasco sauce.

Why You Will Love This Japanese Pasta!

You will want to make this pasta and will absolutely love this recipe because:

  • It's absolutely delicious! The ketchup imparts a wonderful sweet tomato flavor to the pasta which makes it irresistible!
  • This is budget friendly, and made up of common ingredients. You may already have most of these ingredients available and ready to make some yummy Spaghetti Naporitan!
  • You can have a fantastic family friendly meal on your table in about 30 minutes. Quick, easy, and perfect for a busy weeknight!

So now let me tell you what you will need to make one of the most famous Japanese yoshoku dishes!

🥘 Ingredients

A white plate containing slices of ham, green bell pepper and onion. A bag of spaghetti and bowls containing olive oil, butter, and minced garlic.

Here are the simple ingredients you will need for this Napolitan recipe:

  • Spaghetti
  • Reserved starchy pasta water (collected just prior to draining the spaghetti)
  • Ham (can sub other type of luncheon meat)
  • Onion
  • Green bell peppers
  • Butter
  • Garlic
  • Olive oil

And you will need these ingredients to make the delicious ketchup based sauce:

Bottle of ketchup, bottle of Worcestershire sauce, and bowls containing tomato paste, sugar, and salt and pepper.
  • Tomato ketchup
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Tomato paste
  • Sugar
  • Salt
  • Black Pepper
  • Water

I also recommend these items for the perfect finishing touches to this awesome Japanese creation:

  • Parmesan cheese (as much or as little as you like)
  • Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce for a little bit of heat

As you can see, many of these ingredients are pantry staples which you may already have available.

So what are we waiting for? Let's make this delightful Japanese spaghetti dish!

🔪 Instructions

It's super easy to make this simple pasta dish. Begin by preparing the ketchup sauce by combining the sauce ingredients in a small bowl and mix well. Then set this aside and we'll start working on the pasta!

A ketchup based sauce in a white bowl. There is a spoon containing some of the sauce in the bowl.

Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil, and cook your pasta according to the package directions. Collect ½ cup of pasta water just prior to draining the pasta, then drain the spaghetti and set aside.

A large stock pot filled with boiling water and spaghetti with a red ½ cup measuring cup containing some of the pasta water poised above the stock pot. There is part of a red Dutch oven in the background.

While you are cooking the pasta, heat up 2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan on medium heat. Add the onion and the minced garlic, and stir for 3 minutes until the onion is softened.

Add the sliced green bell pepper and ham, and stir for around 2 minutes.

Now add the sauce to the ham and veggies, and stir to combine.

Sliced onion and minced garlic in olive oil in a dutch oven.
A dutch oven containing sliced ham, sliced green bell pepper and onions with minced garlic.
A dutch oven containing sliced ham, sliced green bell pepper and onions with minced garlic. There is a ketchup based sauce poured over the vegetables and a blue turner utensil in the bottom right of the picture.

Ok it's time to add the pasta and mix everything together. Start adding reserved pasta water tablespoon by tablespoon until your pasta is nice and loose and doesn't stick together. You may or may not use all of the reserved pasta water. Then add the butter and mix it in, allowing it to melt. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.

Japanese spaghetti with ketchup, slices of green bell pepper and onions in a dutch oven with a dab of butter and black pepper. There is a blue spaghetti server resting on the pasta.

Time To Enjoy Your Japanese Ketchup Spaghetti!

A white bowl containing Japanese Spaghetti Napolitan with sliced ham, sliced onions and sliced green bell pepper with grated Parmesan on top of the spaghetti. There is a fork resting in the bowl.

Et voila! Your Spaghetti Napolitan is now ready to enjoy! Add as much or as little Parmesan cheese as you desire, and a few dashes of Tabasco or your favorite hot sauce.

I'll just bet there will be no leftovers, and your family will request this Japanese-style pasta on a regular basis. 😊

FAQ

What is Spaghetti Napolitan?

Spaghetti Napolitan (or Spaghetti Naporitan), was created in Japan by chef Shigetada Irie of the Hotel New Grand in Yokohama (source Wikipedia.org). This western style dish, or "yoshoku," was named after the Italian city of Napoli (Naples). This dish features a ketchup based sauce and commonly includes luncheon meat, onion, mushrooms, green bell pepper, and hot sauce.

How can I store any leftover Spaghetti Napolitan?

Store leftover spaghetti napolitan in an airtight container in your refrigerator and consume within 4 days.

What are some other ingredients I can add to Spaghetti Napolitan?

Some other ingredients or substitutions to consider for this dish include sliced hot dogs, sliced button mushrooms, or even Japanese sausages. It would also be great served with a fried egg on top!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes that you may enjoy:

  • Vermont Curry With Chicken
  • Gyudon Japanese Beef Bowl
  • Yurinchi Chicken (Japanese Fried Chicken)

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

A white bowl containing Japanese Spaghetti Napolitan with sliced ham, sliced onions and sliced green bell pepper with grated Parmesan on top of the spaghetti. There is a fork resting in the bowl and a bottle of ketchup and small bowl with Parmesan in the background.

Japanese Spaghetti Napolitan Recipe

Grace
This Japanese Spaghetti Napolitan Recipe is so easy and delicious! Also known as Ketchup Spaghetti, this dish is a wonderful example of Yoshoku, or Japanese Western food!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine Japanese
Servings 5 people
Calories 482 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large pot to cook the spaghetti
  • 1 large pan to fry the spaghetti and other ingredients together

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb spaghetti cooked according to package directions
  • ½ cup reserved pasta water collect this water just prior to draining the pasta (you may not use all of this water but be sure to reserve it just in case)
  • 4 oz ham cut into thin strips; can sub other type of lunch meat
  • ½ onion select a large onion and cut ½ the onion into thin slices
  • ½ green bell pepper select a large green bell pepper and cut ½ the green bell pepper into thin slices
  • 2 tablespoon butter
  • 8 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil

Ketchup Based Sauce

  • ⅓ cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 ts Worcestershire sauce
  • ½ ts sugar
  • ¼ ts salt
  • ¼ ts pepper
  • 2 tablespoon water

Garnishes

  • Parmesan cheese as little or as much as you want!
  • Tabasco sauce for a lovely bit of heat!

Instructions
 

Prepare The Ketchup Sauce

  • Combine the sauce ingredients (ketchup, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, salt, pepper, and water) in a small bowl and mix well. Set the sauce aside.
    A ketchup based sauce in a white bowl. There is a spoon containing some of the sauce in the bowl.

Cook The Spaghetti

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil, and cook your pasta according to the package directions. Collect ½ cup of pasta water just prior to draining the pasta, then drain the spaghetti and set aside.
    A large stock pot filled with boiling water and spaghetti with a red ½ cup measuring cup containing some of the pasta water poised above the stock pot. There is part of a red Dutch oven in the background.

Get The Veggies And Ham Ready

  • While you are cooking the pasta, heat up 2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large pan on medium heat. Add the onion and the minced garlic, and stir for 3 minutes until the onion is softened.
    Sliced onion and minced garlic in olive oil in a dutch oven.
  • Add the sliced green bell pepper and ham, and stir for around 2 minutes.
    A dutch oven containing sliced ham, sliced green bell pepper and onions with minced garlic.
  • Add the sauce to the ham and veggies, and stir to combine.
    A dutch oven containing sliced ham, sliced green bell pepper and onions with minced garlic. There is a ketchup based sauce poured over the vegetables and a blue turner utensil in the bottom right of the picture.

Now Add The Pasta, Reserved Pasta Water, and Butter!

  • Now add the pasta and mix everything together. Start adding reserved pasta water tablespoon by tablespoon until your pasta is nice and loose and doesn't stick together. You may or may not use all of the reserved pasta water. Then add the butter and mix it in, allowing it to melt. Taste and adjust seasoning to your liking.
    Japanese spaghetti with ketchup, slices of green bell pepper and onions in a dutch oven with a dab of butter and black pepper. There is a blue spaghetti server resting on the pasta.

Enjoy!

  • Garnish with Parmesan cheese and sprinkle some Tabasco and enjoy!
    A white bowl containing Japanese Spaghetti Napolitan with sliced ham, sliced onions and sliced green bell pepper with grated Parmesan on top of the spaghetti. There is a fork resting in the bowl and a bottle of ketchup and small bowl with Parmesan in the background.

Notes

The nutrition information doesn't include Parmesan cheese or Tabasco.
Feel free to sub other types of luncheon meat for ham if you like.
Itadakimasu!  (Bon Appetit!)

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 77gProtein: 18gFat: 11gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 598mgPotassium: 444mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 235IUVitamin C: 14mgCalcium: 45mgIron: 2mg
Keyword ketchup spaghetti, napolitan, spaghetti, yoshoku
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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

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