These taste safe colored noodles are so much fun for toddlers and preschoolers. Learn how to dye spaghetti noodles for sensory bins or to make dinner more fun!
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I love doing sensory bins with my two kids. It is engaging for them and they have been asking me to do them again. So far we have done a colored rice sensory bin and a snow dough sensory bin. Both were huge hits.
As a mom of two toddlers, I am all about easy wins. My kids loved just digging around in the noodles with tongs and also practicing their scissor skills with them. We used plastic safety scissors and it worked out great.
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⭐ Why you’ll love this recipe
These spaghetti noodles are totally taste safe. They are just food coloring and spaghetti.
There are so many fun ways to use these noodles. Use them to make dinner fun, for sensory bins, or even use with safety scissors for scissor practice.
This spaghetti is also fun to dye different colors for holidays like orange and black for Halloween or pink for Valentine’s Day.
⭐ Is this taste safe?
Yes, as I mentioned before these rainbow spaghetti noodles are taste safe. It is just spaghetti and some food coloring.
These can be served just like regular pasta if you want to make a fun dinner for your kids. My kids ate a bowl of them and thought they were the coolest thing ever.
⭐ Ingredients and supplies needed
For this rainbow pasta, you will need the following ingredients and supplies:
- Spaghetti: You can also use linguine or other types of pasta too.
- Food coloring: I used some food coloring from Amazon. I wasn’t able to find a full rainbow set at my local grocery store.
- Water
- Colander
- Large Ziplock bags or bowls: To dye the spaghetti in.
- Tongs
⭐ Fun ideas for sensory bins with rainbow noodles
- Use safety scissors to cut the pasta
- Use tongs to move the spaghetti around
- Use a scoop or other sensory bin tools to move the spaghetti around
- Just dig in and have fun!
This rainbow spaghetti can also be dyed red and green for Christmas, pink or red for Valentine’s day or black and orange for Halloween. It is really versatile and fun to make for kids.
If you have other ideas, please share them in the comments below!
⭐ How to dye spaghetti into rainbow colors
Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box (image 1). Leave the pasta a little firm. I took mine off about one minute early. This helps the pasta withstand the dying process.
Prepare several bowls (or large Ziplock bags). Fill the bags or bowls with two tablespoons of water and then with about 10-12 drops of food coloring. I recommend using dark bowls so the dye doesn’t stain them.
Once the pasta has finished cooking strain the water from it in the colander. Use tongs to mix the pasta in the food coloring (image 2). Mix well (image 3).
Let the pasta sit for about five minutes. Next, move the pasta to the colander and run some cold water over. Transfer to your sensory bin or a dark bowl.
Let the pasta sit in your refrigerator for one hour. If you don’t let the pasta dry completely it may stain your hands.
Check that the spaghetti is completely dry by patting it with a paper towel. If no color comes off then you are good to go!
Other fun sensory activities:
If you tried this Rainbow Spaghetti or any other recipe or activity on my site, please leave a ⭐ rating and let me know how it goes in the 📝 comments below. I would love to hear from you!
How to Dye Spaghetti (Make Rainbow Spaghetti)
Equipment
- Large pot
- Tongs
- Colander
- Large plastic storage bags or dark colored bowls
Ingredients
- ½ box spaghetti (my box was 1 pound and I used about ½ of the box)
- 10-12 drops food coloring per desired color
- 2 tablespoons water per desired color
Instructions
- Cook the pasta according to the directions on the box. Leave the pasta a little firm. I took mine off about one minute early. This helps the pasta withstand the dying process.
- Prepare several bowls (or large Ziplock bags). Fill the bags or bowls with two tablespoons of water and then with about 10-12 drops of food coloring. I recommend using dark bowls so the dye doesn't stain them.
- Once the pasta has finished cooking strain the water from it in the colander. Use tongs to mix the pasta in the food coloring. Mix well.
- Let the pasta sit for about five minutes. Next, move the pasta to the colander and run some cold water over. Transfer to your sensory bin or a dark bowl.
- Let the pasta sit in your refrigerator for one hour. If you don't let the pasta dry completely it may stain your hands.
- Check that the spaghetti is completely dry by patting it with a paper towel. If no color comes off then you are good to go
Greta
We had a fun time making it with my kid. Thanks for showing how to make colorful spaghetti.
Sarah
My rainbow mad four-year-old would love this! Might need to make it for play time because he’ll just want to play with it instead of eat it 😀
nancy
i dunno what was better – making this with the kids or how fun it was to actually eat it.
Shelby
This is genius! My kids (all ages!) absolutely loved these and it made dinner so much more fun!
Andrea
this spaghetti dish is the absolute coolest! love the aesthetic!
Rosanna
These are so fun, my nephew will love these!
Crystal
My kids are going to love this! Oh, who am I kidding- me too! Thanks for this!
Giangi Townsend
Super fun for kids! I wish I would had this when my kid was growing up. I can imagine the smile on your children’s faces when you make them this.
Danielle
Definitely saving this for the future!
Nishtha
This is so cool! Perfect for little ones to enjoy making and eating
Two Pink Peonies
Thank you so much!
Rachel
This box of colored noodles and scissors..my kids would go to town chopping it up.
Two Pink Peonies
It is so much fun!
Bethany
Looks like a great idea! I need to try this. I’m sure cleaning up spaghetti is WAY easier than cleaning up rice that gets everywhere!
Forever My Little Moon
This is such a fun idea and I bet the kids love it!
Two Pink Peonies
Thank you so much!