Spaghetti with Hearty Beef Tomato Meat Sauce Recipe

About

A simple, budget-friendly weeknight classic featuring savory ground beef simmered in a rich tomato sauce, served over al dente spaghetti. Bold with garlic and Italian seasoning, it's comfort food the whole family will love.

1. 1

   Boil the Pasta Water

   prep 12 min

   Pour 4 quarts of water into a large pot and place over high heat. Cover the pot to help it come to a boil faster. This will take about 10–12 minutes, so start it first before prepping other ingredients.

2. 2

   Dice Onion and Mince Garlic

   prep 4 min

   Finely dice the yellow onion and mince the garlic cloves. Keep them separate as they will be added to the pan at different times. This should take about 3–4 minutes while the water heats up.

3. 3

   Sauté the Onion

   cook 4 min

   Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and translucent. Season lightly with a pinch of salt.

4. 4

   Add Garlic and Brown the Beef

   cook 7 min

   Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon, and cook over medium-high heat for 5–6 minutes until no pink remains. Drain any excess fat if needed.

5. 5

   Build the Tomato Sauce

   cook 2 min

   Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to caramelize it slightly. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and add the Italian seasoning, sugar, salt, and black pepper to taste. Stir everything together well to combine.

6. 6

   Simmer the Meat Sauce

   cook 14 min

   Reduce the heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer uncovered for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens to a hearty consistency. Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or sugar as needed. While the sauce simmers, start step 7 to cook the spaghetti.

7. 7

   Cook the Spaghetti

   cook 10 min

   Once the water is at a rolling boil, add a generous pinch of salt and drop in the spaghetti. Cook according to package directions, typically 8–10 minutes, until al dente — the pasta should be tender with a very slight bite. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water before draining, then drain through a colander.

8. 8

   Combine Pasta and Sauce

   cook 2 min

   Add the drained spaghetti directly to the skillet with the meat sauce and toss well to coat every strand. If the sauce seems too thick, splash in a little reserved pasta water and toss again until the sauce clings beautifully to the pasta.

9. 9

   Serve

   serve 2 min

   Divide the spaghetti and meat sauce evenly among four bowls or plates. Serve immediately as-is, or top with grated Parmesan and fresh basil if desired. Leftovers keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.