Classic Spaghetti with Hearty Beef Tomato Meat Sauce Recipe

About

A simple, satisfying weeknight pasta featuring seasoned ground beef simmered in a rich tomato sauce, served over al dente spaghetti. Budget-friendly and ready in under an hour.

1. 1

   Boil the Pasta Water

   prep 12 min

   Pour 4 quarts of water into a large pot and bring to a boil over high heat. Season generously with salt — the water should taste pleasantly salty, like mild seawater. This will take about 10–12 minutes; while waiting, begin prepping the sauce ingredients.

2. 2

   Sauté the Aromatics

   cook 5 min

   Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3–4 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant, being careful not to let it brown.

3. 3

   Brown the Ground Beef

   cook 6 min

   Add the ground beef to the skillet and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook over medium-high heat for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains and the beef is well browned. Drain any excess fat by tilting the pan and spooning it off, leaving about 1 tablespoon behind for flavor.

4. 4

   Build the Meat Sauce

   cook 16 min

   Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly, to caramelize it slightly and deepen the flavor. Add the crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together, bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low and cook uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly. While this simmers, cook the pasta in the next step.

5. 5

   Cook the Spaghetti

   cook 10 min

   Once the water is at a rolling boil, add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions, typically 8–10 minutes, until al dente — the pasta should be tender but still have a slight bite. Reserve about 1/2 cup of pasta cooking water before draining, then drain the spaghetti through a colander.

6. 6

   Combine Pasta and Sauce

   cook 2 min

   Add the drained spaghetti directly to the skillet with the meat sauce and toss well to coat evenly. If the sauce seems too thick, splash in a little of the reserved pasta water and toss again until the sauce clings to the noodles. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed.

7. 7

   Serve

   serve 2 min

   Divide the spaghetti and meat sauce evenly among four bowls or plates. Serve immediately, topped with freshly grated Parmesan or a pinch of extra red pepper flakes if desired.