This easy spaghetti recipe with meat sauce is a family favorite for a weeknight dinner. With a few simple ingredients, this hearty classic is always a hit with kids!

Easy spaghetti recipe with meat sauce in a white bowl.

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Jamielyn Nye

We Love This Easy Weeknight Spaghetti Recipe

This is the spaghetti recipe my family comes back to over and over again. It uses jarred marinara sauce dressed up with ground beef, onions, garlic, and a few simple seasonings so it tastes homemade without the effort. It’s ready in 30 minutes and my kids ask for it every single week.

We serve it with a chopped salad and garlic bread for an amazing, yet classic weeknight spaghetti dinner. If you want to take it a step further, try my homemade spaghetti sauce or our favorite million dollar spaghetti.

XO - Jamielyn

Recipe Ingredients

With almost all of the ingredients already in your pantry, this easy spaghetti recipe comes together in a hurry.

Spaghetti ingredients on marble counter including ground beef, diced tomatoes, jarred sauce, spaghetti noodles, onnion and seasonings.
  • Onions and garlic: These aromatics add wonderful flavor! Sauté them in oil first before adding the meat.
  • Meat: I like to use ground beef, but Italian sausage works really well, too.
  • Spices: Italian seasoning, Kosher or table salt, black pepper and oregano add so much flavor and work really well with the marinara sauce.
  • Tomato sauce: This easy spaghetti recipe calls for 1 jar of marinara or spaghetti sauce (I love Prego spaghetti sauce), but you can make your own homemade marinara sauce if you prefer.
  • Diced tomatoes: I like the texture diced tomatoes add to the sauce, making it a bit heartier, but this is totally optional.
  • Spaghetti: This long noodle is ideal for soaking up the sauce, but you can use any noodle shape you like.

How to Make Spaghetti

Heat olive oil in a frying pan. Add onions and cook until translucent. Stir in garlic and cook 1 more minute. Next add in meat and seasonings and cook until beef has browned.

Stir in marinara sauce and tomatoes and simmer uncovered.

Browned ground beef and onions in a skillet for spaghetti meat sauce.
Spaghetti meat sauce simmering in a skillet with a wooden spoon.

While sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti noodles according to package.

Serve meat sauce over cooked pasta and top with fresh basil and parmesan cheese, if desired.

Spaghetti noodles boiling in a pot of water.
Spaghetti topped with homemade meat sauce, fresh basil, and parmesan cheese.

Variations

  • For a thinner sauce, add in 1/2 cup of the pasta water before simmering.
  • Veggies. Add in vegetables when sauteing the onion, such as mushrooms, carrots, or bell peppers.
  • Meat. Swap out the ground beef to make Italian sausage pasta or make pasta sauce with ground turkey or use both like I do in this meaty spaghetti bolognese sauce.
  • Cheese. Try topping it with fresh mozzarella for a real treat.
  • Herbs. Fresh basil or oregano add a pop of fresh flavor to the spaghetti recipe.
Meat sauce simmering in a large skillet for an easy spaghetti dinner.

Have Leftovers? Try Making:

  • Spaghetti boats. My family absolutely LOVES spaghetti boats! Simply top sliced garlic bread with leftover spaghetti and mozzarella, then bake for 5-10 minutes until bubbly.
  • Leftover spaghetti casserole. Spaghetti casserole is such a fun and delicious way to use leftover spaghetti! It’s basically an easy combo of baked spaghetti and lasagna. Super family-friendly!
  • Italian sloppy joes. This is such an easy and delicious dinner! Make sloppy joes by topping a hamburger bun or piece of Texas toast with the spaghetti meat sauce. Dig in and enjoy!
An easy spaghetti recipe with meat sauce in a white bowl ready to serve.

Freezer Meal

One of my favorite things about this easy spaghetti recipe with meat sauce is that it makes a perfect freezer meal! Double the recipe and freeze half in an airtight container for up to 3 months. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight and makes dinner a breeze!

Spaghetti twirled in a fork.

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Spaghetti twirled in a fork.

Easy Spaghetti Recipe

5 from 55 votes
Recipe by: Jamielyn Nye
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
This easy spaghetti recipe with meat sauce is a family favorite for a weeknight dinner. With a few simple ingredients, this hearty classic is always a hit with kids!
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Ingredients 

  • ½ Tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ onion , minced
  • 2-4 cloves garlic , minced
  • 1 pound ground beef , or Italian sausage
  • 1 teaspoon Kosher salt , more to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper , or red pepper flakes
  • 1 (24-ounce) jar marinara or spaghetti sauce
  • 1 (14-ounce) can can petite diced tomatoes , drained (optional)
  • 1 (16-ounce) box spaghetti noodles

Option toppings: Fresh basil and Grated parmesan

Instructions

  • In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook 3 to 5 minutes, or until softened. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Stir in ground beef, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook until meat is browned. Drain any excess grease.
  • Stir in spaghetti sauce and diced tomatoes. Simmer uncovered 15 minutes. Season to taste.
  • Boil spaghetti according to package instructions while sauce is simmering. Drain, reserving 1 cup to add to the sauce if too thick.
  • Spoon sauce over noodles while hot and top with fresh basil and parmesan cheese, if desired, to serve.

Last step: Please leave a comment and rating after you make the recipe.

Notes

Sauce: You can also use a homemade spaghetti sauce if you prefer.
Variations: Add in vegetables when sauteing the onion, such as mushrooms, carrots, or bell peppers.
Thinner sauce: Add in 1/2 cup of the pasta water before simmering.
Freeze: Let cool completely, then add sauce to a freezer bag. Label with the date, then store in freezer for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Let thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat on the stove until warm. Serve over spaghetti noodles and add cheese if desired!

Nutrition

Calories: 468kcal, Carbohydrates: 66g, Protein: 27g, Fat: 10g, Saturated Fat: 4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.5g, Cholesterol: 49mg, Sodium: 1075mg, Potassium: 892mg, Fiber: 5g, Sugar: 8g, Vitamin A: 570IU, Vitamin C: 15mg, Calcium: 67mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.