Chef Boyardee is an American brand of canned pasta products sold internationally by Conagra Brands. The company was founded by Italian immigrant Ettore Boiardi in Milton, Pennsylvania, U.S., in 1928. History After leaving his position as head chef at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, Ettore Boiardi opened a restaurant called Il Giardino d'Italia in 1924 at East 9th Street and Woodland Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio. The idea for Chef Boiardi came about when restaurant customers began asking Boiardi for his spaghetti sauce, which he began to distribute in milk bottles. Four years later, in 1928, Boiardi opened a factory and moved production to Milton, Pennsylvania, where he could grow his own tomatoes and mushrooms. He decided to anglicize the name of his product to "Boy-Ar-Dee" to help Americans pronounce his name correctly. The first product to be sold was a "ready-to-heat spaghetti kit" in 1928. The kit included uncooked pasta, tomato sauce, and a container of pre-grated cheese. The U.S. military commissioned the company during World War II for the production of army rations, requiring the factory to run 24 hours a day. At its peak, the company employed approximately 5,000 workers and produced 250,000 cans per day. After the war ended, Boiardi had to choose between selling the company or laying off everyone he had hired. He sold the company to American Home Foods in 1946 for nearly $6 million, and remained as a spokesman and consultant for the brand until 1978. American Home Foods turned its food division into International Home Foods in 1996. Four years later, International Home Foods was purchased by ConAgra Foods, which continues to produce Chef Boyardee canned pastas bearing Boiardi's likeness. Products Chef Boyardee products are available in cans or single-use microwavable cups. Throwback recipes Spaghetti & balls Meat Lovers Pasta Mini Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beef Ravioli Beefaroni Lasagna Spaghetti Spaghetti & Meatballs (can, microwavable cup) Jumbo Spaghetti & Meatballs (can) Mini Spaghetti & Meatballs (can) Mini Spaghetti Rings & Meatballs (can, microwavable cup) Beefaroni Beefaroni (can, microwavable cup) Big Beefaroni (can) Ravioli Beef Ravioli (can, microwavable cup) Mini Ravioli (can) Chicken Ravioli (can) Cheese Ravioli In Tomato Sauce (can) Cheese Ravioli In Meat Sauce (microwavable cup) Overstuffed Beef Ravioli (can) Overstuffed Italian Sausage Ravioli (can) Mini Beef Ravioli & Meatballs (can, microwaveable Cup) Mini Micro Beef Ravioli (microwaveable cup) Lasagna Lasagna (can, microwavable cup) Fun Flavors Pasta With Chicken And