This easy spaghetti and meat sauce recipe is a family favorite! It adds a little flavor to the good ol’ classic and is always a hit with the kids!
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Easy Weeknight Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
When it comes to easy dinners, this spaghetti with ground beef is at the top of my list. It’s ready in just 30 minutes and is absolutely delicious. Some of my other favorites are crockpot Italian chicken, meatball subs, french bread pizzas and parmesan ranch chicken.
This spaghetti and meat sauce is one of my tried and true easy dinner recipes. It’s simple, family-friendly and ready in just 30 minutes. Doesn’t get better than that!
While I love making homemade spaghetti sauce, it takes a little more effort to whip up. So when I’m craving pasta and need something a little easier, this recipe is my go-to.
We love to serve this spaghetti with a chopped salad and breadsticks or garlic bread. The perfect dinner that the whole family will enjoy. Amazing, easy classic spaghetti!
Ingredients
- Onions and garlic: These aromatics add wonderful flavor! Sauté them in oil first before adding the meat.
- Meat: We typically use ground beef, but Italian sausage works too.
- Spices: Add in kosher or table salt, black pepper and oregano.
- Sauce: Use one jar of marinara or spaghetti sauce (I love Prego spaghetti sauce). You can make your own homemade marinara sauce too.
- Diced tomatoes: I always throw in a can of diced tomatoes, but this is totally optional!
- Pasta: We use 1 box of spaghetti noodles, but any type of pasta would work.
How to Make Spaghetti with Ground Beef
Scroll down for the printable recipe.
- Brown the ground beef. Add olive oil to frying pan and heat over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until translucent, about 3-5 minutes. Then add in garlic and cook 1 more minute. Next add in meat and seasonings and cook until beef has browned.
- Add spaghetti sauce and simmer. Add in pasta sauce and tomatoes and let simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes.
- Cook noodles. While sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti noodles according to package.
- Serve and enjoy! Serve meat sauce over cooked pasta and top with fresh basil and parmesan if desired.
TIP: For a thinner sauce, add in 1/2 cup of the pasta water before simmering.
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!
Freezer-Friendly!
One of my favorite things about this spaghetti meat sauce recipe is that it makes a perfect freezer meal! Sometimes I’ll double the recipe and freeze half. It’s perfect for a busy weeknight and makes dinner a breeze!
To freeze: Let cool completely, then add sauce to a freezer bag. Label with the date, then store in freezer for up to 3 months.
To thaw: Let thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat on the stove until warm. Serve over spaghetti noodles and add cheese if desired!
More Easy Pasta Dishes
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Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Ingredients
- 1/2 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 onion , minced
- 2-4 cloves garlic , minced
- 1 pound ground beef , or Italian sausage
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt , more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/8 teaspoon oregano
- 1 jar marinara or spaghetti sauce
- 14 ounce can diced tomatoes , drained (optional)
- 1 box spaghetti noodles
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onions and cook until they become soft (about 3-5 min). Then add the garlic and cook a minute longer. Next add in ground beef and seasonings. Cook meat until browned. Drain any excess grease.
- Add in spaghetti sauce and diced tomatoes and let simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes. Season to taste.
- Cook spaghetti noodles according to package while sauce is simmering.
- Serve sauce over noodles while hot and add fresh basil and parmesan if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
I used diced fire roasted tomatoes, I got a “suggestion” to add a tad bit of sugar and followed the recipe and it was great!!
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing :)
I made this with a lb of Italian sausage and 1 lb of hamburger meat. I also added a 1/4 tsp of dried basil. It was amazing!
Sounds delicious! So glad you enjoyed it :)
Spaghetti recipe
Look good
Thank you for this recipe! My tastebuds have gone blind to jarred pasta sauce and it just tastes so plain to me now. I needed a recipe that was easy to spice up since I’m too lazy to actually make from scratch sauce. This was perfect! It has that homemade taste to it, and it’s so full of flavor and so simple to make! I’ll definitely be making this again.
I’m the same way! So glad you enjoyed this sauce!
I seriously loved this! Such a perfect meal for busy nights!
Total family favorite!
You just can’t beat a thick and tasty homemade red sauce! This recipe sounds super tasty.
Hope you enjoy! :)
Made this tonight and it turned out perfect! So good and easy. Definitely a keeper.
To make spegatti dinner extra special or date night or Sunday dinner add sausage and Italian sausage. Add garden salad , garlic bread and cinnamon rolls for dessert. Use candles or to give table new look at hurraine lamp and oil and light for dinner or go dollar store get candles and add it. Dress up for dinner. Especially if gave kids and can’t go out. Do romantic candle night dinner once kids go bed.
Great ideas Veronica! Thanks for sharing! :)