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spaghetti with meat sauce in a bowl garnished with chopped basil
5 from 1 vote

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

This spaghetti with meat sauce is a quick, simple, and flavorful dish! It features a spicy and delicious meat sauce, chewy spaghetti, and delicious toppings such as fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese. It's an absolute favorite for an easy yet tasty weeknight dinner!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Keyword: ground beef pasta sauce, homemade meat sauce, meat sauce, spaghetti with meat sauce
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 652kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • ½ large yellow onion finely diced
  • 1 carrot cut into cubes
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 ½ tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes adjust to taste
  • 1 teaspoon paprika powder
  • 1 14-ounce can whole San Marzano tomatoes crushed with hands
  • 2 cups tomato passata
  • ½ cup beef broth
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 12 ounces spaghetti or another type of pasta
  • ¼ - ½ cup pasta water more as needed
  • ¼ cup fresh basil leaves or fresh parsley chopped
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • First, preheat some olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until it's fully browned. Season with salt and pepper.
    2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 1 pound ground beef
    cooked ground beef in a pan
  • Next, add the onion, carrot, and garlic. Sauté over medium-low heat until the carrots start to soften.
    ½ large yellow onion, 1 carrot, 3 garlic cloves
    cooked ground beef in a pan with chopped carrots, onions, and garlic added
  • Now add the tomato paste, red pepper flakes, and paprika powder. Toss and continue to sauté for 1 minute.
    1 ½ tablespoon tomato paste, 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1 teaspoon paprika powder
    sautéed aromatics, ground beef, and carrots in a pan with tomato paste, red pepper flakes, and paprika powder added
  • Pour the crushed San Marzano tomatoes, tomato passata, and beef broth into the pan. Add the dried oregano and season with salt and pepper. Then stir until combined. Cover the pan and let the sauce simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.
    1 14-ounce can whole San Marzano tomatoes, 2 cups tomato passata, ½ cup beef broth, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, salt and pepper
    meat sauce in a pan
  • In the meantime, cook the pasta in salted boiling water according to the package instructions. Remove the pasta 1-2 minutes earlier so that it is still al dente. Save some pasta water before draining.
    12 ounces spaghetti
    spaghetti in a pot filled with boiling water
  • Add the pasta water, basil, and cooked pasta to the sauce. Use as much pasta water as you need. Toss until the sauce clings to the pasta. Season with more salt and pepper if needed.
    ¼ - ½ cup pasta water, ¼ cup fresh basil leaves or fresh parsley
    meat sauce in a pan with spaghetti and fresh basil added
  • Garnish with more fresh basil and grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
    spaghetti with meat sauce in a bowl garnished with chopped basil

Recipe Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 652kcal | Carbohydrates: 80g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 988mg | Potassium: 1302mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 3768IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 7mg