Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
The dependable family classic, with a sauce that simmers just long enough to taste like it took all afternoon.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 30 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Serves
- 6
kid-friendly
budget
comfort food
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef, 85% lean
- 1 yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can crushed tomatoes, 28 oz
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp sugar, optional, to balance acidity
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- 1
Brown the beef with the onion in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, breaking it up, about 8 minutes. Spoon off excess fat.
- 2
Stir in the garlic and tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
- 3
Add the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt and sugar. Simmer, partly covered, for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- 4
Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in well-salted boiling water until al dente. Save 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining.
- 5
Toss the spaghetti with the sauce, loosening with pasta water as needed, and serve with Parmesan.
Tip: Double the sauce and freeze half; it's the base for baked ziti or a fast weeknight lasagna.