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serving view of spaghetti with meat sauce on a white plate

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

A hearty spaghetti dinner topped with a rich homemade meat sauce made with ground beef, tomato sauce, onion, garlic, and herbs. Simple, comforting, and great for any night of the week.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
rest time 0 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 618

Ingredients
  

  • For the pasta
  • 3/4 lb 340 g Spaghetti or pasta of choice
  • For the sauce
  • 1 lb 450 g Ground beef
  • 2 tablespoons Olive oil
  • 1 Onion finely chopped
  • 1 Red bell pepper chopped
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons Tomato paste
  • 22 oz 625 g Tomato sauce Homemade or store-bought
  • cups 600 ml Water
  • Salt to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon Black pepper or to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika optional
  • 3 tablespoons Parsley Fresh chopped
  • For serving
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan for serving

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Colander
  • Large skillet or sauté pan
  • Wooden spoon or spatula
  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Measuring cups and spoons

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or sauté pan over medium heat.
  3. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up as it browns.
  4. Add the chopped onion and red bell pepper, then cook until softened.
  5. Stir in the minced garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
  6. Add the tomato paste and stir well.
  7. Pour in the tomato sauce and water, then mix to combine.
  8. Season with salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and paprika if using.
  9. Simmer until the sauce thickens and the flavors come together.
  10. Stir in the chopped parsley.
  11. Spoon the meat sauce over the cooked spaghetti and top with Parmesan for serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 618kcalCarbohydrates: 68gProtein: 28gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0.8gCholesterol: 71mgSodium: 980mgPotassium: 1035mgFiber: 6gSugar: 11gVitamin A: 1280IUVitamin C: 29mgCalcium: 122mgIron: 5.4mg

Video

Notes

  • Break the beef into small crumbles as it cooks for a better sauce texture.
  • Let the sauce simmer gently so it thickens without burning.
  • Add a splash of pasta water if you want a slightly looser sauce at serving time.
  • You can use another pasta shape if you prefer.
  • Freshly grated Parmesan gives the best flavor on top.

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