Description
Classic Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is a hearty and comforting dish featuring tender spaghetti noodles topped with a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce infused with Italian herbs. Perfect for busy weeknights or casual dinners, this recipe uses simple pantry staples to create a flavorful, family-friendly meal that is quick to prepare and easily adaptable to different dietary preferences.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein
- 1 pound ground beef or Italian sausage
Pasta
- 12 ounces spaghetti noodles
Sauce
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed or diced tomatoes
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
To Serve
- Grated Parmesan cheese, as desired
- Fresh basil or parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Finely chop the onion and garlic. Open the canned tomatoes and measure out herbs and seasonings, so everything is ready before cooking.
- Cook the Meat: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef or sausage, breaking it apart as it cooks until no longer pink and slightly crispy in spots, about 6 to 8 minutes.
- Sauté Aromatics: Push the cooked meat to the side of the skillet. Add chopped onion and garlic, sauté until soft and fragrant, about 3 to 4 minutes, then mix together with the meat.
- Build the Sauce: Pour in the canned tomatoes, add Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook uncovered for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to let flavors meld and sauce thicken.
- Cook the Spaghetti: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain well.
- Combine and Serve: Toss the cooked spaghetti with the meat sauce or spoon the sauce over the noodles on plates. Sprinkle generously with grated Parmesan and fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Notes
- Use fresh garlic instead of garlic powder for optimal flavor.
- Simmer sauce on low heat to develop deeper, richer flavors.
- Salt pasta water well to enhance the pasta’s natural taste.
- Cook spaghetti al dente for the best texture and bite.
- Brown the meat well to add caramelized flavor notes to the sauce.
- Variations: swap beef with ground turkey or chicken, use lentils or mushrooms for vegetarian versions, add veggies like bell peppers or zucchini, or include red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Leftovers store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days; freeze sauce separately for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: spaghetti, meat sauce, classic Italian, family dinner, easy pasta recipe, hearty meal
