Easy Spaghetti Recipe

Easy Weeknight Spaghetti Recipe

When it comes to easy meals, this easy spaghetti recipe with ground beef is at the top of my list. It’s a 30 minute meal, I know that my family will always enjoy. Other favorites include homemade spaghetti sauce and this million dollar spaghetti.

This spaghetti recipe with jar sauce is one of my tried-and-true easy dinner recipes that satisfies any easy pasta recipe cravings. We serve it with a chopped salad and garlic bread for an amazing, yet classic weeknight spaghetti dinner.

Recipe Ingredients

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

• 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 shape you like.

How to Make Spaghetti

Dinner can be on the table in 30 minutes with this quick and easy spaghetti recipe.

1. Brown the meat. 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.
2. Simmer. Stir in marinara sauce and tomatoes and let simmer uncovered.
3. Cook noodles. While sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti noodles according to package.
4. Serve and enjoy! Serve meat sauce over cooked pasta and top with fresh basil and parmesan cheese, if desired.

TIP: For a thinner sauce, add in 1/2 cup of the pasta water before simmering.

Variations

• Veggies. Add in vegetables when sauteing the onion, such as mushrooms, carrots, or bell peppers.
• Meat. Swap out the ground beef for Italian sausage or 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 work really well in this recipe.

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!

Storing and Freezing

One of my favorite things about this easy spaghetti recipe with meat sauce 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!