Spaghetti with Meat Saucern

close up overhead shot of a plate of Spaghetti noodles topped with Meat Sauce and garnished with parsley

Rich and meaty, this spaghetti with meat sauce is a traditional Italian dish that will become a go-to recipe.

Table of Contents

Spaghetti With Meat Sauce Ingredients
Substitutions And Additions
How To Make This Spaghetti With Meat Sauce Recipe
How To Serve This Recipe For Spaghetti With Meat Sauce
Storing Spaghetti & Meat Sauce
More Recipes You’ll Love
JUMP TO RECIPE

Spaghetti with meat sauce is probably one of the most popular and loved meals, especially in an Italian kitchen. The sauce is hearty, meaty, and rich and tops the tender spaghetti noodles in just the right amount for a dish that will be a family favorite in no time if it isn’t already.

close up shot of a plate of Spaghetti noodles topped with Meat Sauce and garnished with parsley

Spaghetti With Meat Sauce Ingredients

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce raw ingredients that are labeled

There’s nothing quite like diving into a plate of spaghetti with meat sauce. The aroma alone is enough to make your mouth water, but once you take that first bite, you know you’re in for a treat.

The savory flavor of the meat mixed with the tangy taste of the tomato sauce is pure perfection.

With every twirl of the fork, you get a bit of the al dente noodle and a burst of deliciousness from the flavorful sauce.

You’ll need:

1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 pound of lean ground beef (93%-7% fat)
1 cup of sweet yellow onion (known as a Vidalia onion), small diced
1 tablespoon of fresh garlic, minced
2 tablespoons of dry Italian seasoning blend
2 teaspoons of salt
1 teaspoon of black pepper
3 tablespoons of tomato paste
1 cup of beef broth
1 (28-ounce) can + 1 (15-ounce) can of tomato puree
1 (28-ounce) can of whole plum tomatoes (San Marzano tomatoes), crushed
1 tablespoon of fresh Italian parsley, chopped (plus additional for garnish)
1 tablespoon of fresh basil, chopped (plus extra for garnish)
2 teaspoons of granulated sugar
2 tablespoons of unsalted butter
1 pound of spaghetti noodles, cooked according to package directions

Substitutions And Additions

SPICE: If you enjoy a little heat in your spaghetti and meat sauce, you can add ⅛ to ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes to the sauce while it is simmering.

BROTH: I used beef broth for this recipe, but chicken broth or dry white wine would be a great alternative. These add a depth of flavor to the sauce and add more moisture to the sauce without adding additional tomato products so that your sauce does not get too thick while simmering.

TOMATOES: You can substitute canned crushed tomatoes for canned tomato puree and canned plum tomatoes. This will give you a tomato sauce that does not have any chunks of tomato pieces in it.

BEEF: I like to use very lean ground beef, or ground sirloin when I cook. However, you can substitute that with fattier ground beef or even a ground Italian sausage, ground pork, or ground turkey if you prefer. Remember that if you use fattier blends of ground beef to drain off all the excess fat from the cooked meat except for a tablespoon or two. You need some fat left in the pot to cook your onions and spices.

How To Make This Spaghetti With Meat Sauce Recipe

While the pasta is cooking, you will whip up a batch of homemade meat sauce, ready to add to the tender noodles for a satisfying meal.

OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS

This easy homemade spaghetti sauce recipe will freeze really well and is perfect to thaw and use for a quick pasta on busy weeknights.

STEP ONE: In a large stockpot (8-quart) on medium-high heat, add the olive oil to the bottom of the pot and then add the lean ground beef. Cook the ground beef for 5 minutes or until no pink remains. Be sure to break apart and crumble the ground beef as it is cooking. Push the cooked and crumbled ground beef to the side of the pot.

PRO TIP:

If you have more than a tablespoon or so of excess fat in the pot, then drain off the excess fat from the pot.

STEP TWO: To the pot, where the ground beef was pushed to the side, add the chopped onions, minced garlic, dry Italian seasoning blend, salt, and black pepper. Cook the onions and spices for 2 to 3 minutes or until the onions become translucent. Once the onions are cooked, combine them with the cooked ground beef.

onions, garlic, and seasonings added to the pot of cooked ground beef

STEP THREE: Stir in the tomato paste to the ground beef mixture and cook for an additional 1 minute.

tomato paste added to the ground beef mixture in a pot

STEP FOUR: Add the beef broth, tomato puree, and whole plum (San Marzano) tomatoes to the cooked ground beef mixture. Using a potato masher, break up the whole tomatoes into small pieces. Add the chopped fresh Italian parsley, chopped fresh basil, and granulated sugar. Stir to combine all the ingredients together.

ingredients added to the meat sauce in a pot

STEP FIVE: Reduce the heat to low and simmer with the lid on for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

STEP SIX: Once your spaghetti meat sauce has simmered, you will turn off the heat to the pot, remove the lid, and stir in the unsalted butter to the sauce. This gives the sauce a nice silky finish.

STEP SEVEN: When your spaghetti meat sauce is down to the last 10 minutes of simmering, you can prepare your spaghetti noodles according to the box directions.

PRO TIP:

Serve your spaghetti with meat sauce as individual portions or place your cooked spaghetti noodles onto a large pasta plate and top the noodles with the meat sauce. Top with a sprinkle of fresh parmesan cheese before you serve it.

How To Serve This Recipe For Spaghetti With Meat Sauce

You can garnish your spaghetti dish with additional chopped fresh parsley and basil and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. For an even heartier meal, add our homemade meatballs on top of your meal.

This spaghetti with meat sauce can be served with a side Caesar salad and garlic bread.

This delicious meat sauce is also a great option to serve over top zucchini noodles if you prefer to stay away from pasta.

Spaghetti in any form is a winner for most families. Our million dollar spaghetti and chicken spaghetti are two more fantastic recipes to try.

MORE SPAGHETTI RECIPES

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Storing Spaghetti & Meat Sauce

Spaghetti and meat sauce makes an easy meal, especially for lunch the next day. Store individual portions to warm up and skip the fast food.

IN THE FRIDGE: You can store any leftover meat sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

IN THE FREEZER: For longer storage, you will want to place the homemade sauce into freezer-safe containers or gallon freezer bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw the frozen sauce in the refrigerator, then place the thawed sauce into a saucepan and reheat on medium heat. Serve with freshly cooked pasta noodles.

overhead shot of a plate of Spaghetti noodles topped with Meat Sauce and garnished with parsley

This spaghetti with meat sauce recipe is a classic dish and a staple in every Nonna’s kitchen. The sauce is flavored perfectly with plenty of tomatoes, fresh herbs, and beef, and simmers away on the stovetop to let all the flavors mingle in just the right way. You’ll never want to use jarred pasta sauce again.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Can I freeze this spaghetti sauce with the ground beef recipe?

The hearty sauce freezes incredibly well and can be stored for up to three months. Thaw and serve over fresh pasta noodles.

Can I add other veggies to this beef spaghetti sauce?

This perfect recipe has plenty of room for additions. Try green peppers and fresh mushrooms for two popular choices.

Can I choose a different ground meat for this recipe?

Ground pork, Italian sausage, or ground turkey are all great options in place of ground beef in this homemade spaghetti meat sauce recipe.

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