One of the easiest and most delicious versions of the classic dinner recipe everyone loves! This easy spaghetti is full of hamburger meat, tasty seasonings, and tomato sauce. The whole family will approve of this spaghetti recipe – even the kids!!
Spaghetti is probably the most kid-friendly pasta recipe to ever exist! Serve it with a side of breadsticks, and a fresh salad, and your whole family will be thanking you!
Best Spaghetti Recipe
It seems like everyone I have ever met has “a spaghetti recipe” they know and love, and each one is different! Some have store-bought sauce, some homemade. Some have meat, some have veggies, others don’t.
It just surprises me that they are all different, but I love that everyone has their own twist on this classic dinner recipe have made it a certain way for years.
Like so many other families, we too have a favorite Spaghetti recipe we’ve made for years and love. That’s probably why we make this spaghetti for dinner so often (we also have a great Baked Spaghetti and Chicken Spaghetti we love)! It’s simple, easy to make, always tastes delicious, and everyone likes it.
The thing I love most of all is that the leftovers are just as great! Honestly, it tastes exactly the same heated up as if it was just made (my kind of leftover)!! Whenever I make this spaghetti, I usually serve it with some cheesy garlic bread and a side like Fried Zucchini, and it makes for one delicious meal!
How to Make spaghetti sauce:
Our spaghetti has a delicious sauce recipe with just a hint of sweetness. The sauce takes some time since you simmer it for almost an hour, but I promise it’s worth it. Here are the steps to make homemade spaghetti sauce…
Brown your hamburger in a large pan. Drain the fat if desired. Throw in salt, pepper, tomato sauce and paste, water (with the bouillon cubes in it or beef broth in the can), sugar, basil, oregano and garlic. Simmer on low for 45 minutes to an hour.
Twenty minutes before the hour is up, cook the box of spaghetti noodles as directed on package. Once the noodles are cooked, add them to the sauce and serve right away.
We like to top our spaghetti off with grated (or even shredded) Parmesan cheese and some fresh basil if desired. It truly is so delicious!
If you would like a meatless version, you can cook the sauce without hamburger, and just put a tablespoon of olive oil in the pan before adding any other ingredients. You can make meatballs on the side if some people want the option to add meat!
Tips and alternatives
What are some alternatives for the pasta? Try using zucchini noodles, rice noodles, or spaghetti squash in lieu of traditional spaghetti noodles.
How do I lower the acidity in spaghetti? If you find the sauce to be more acidic than you’d like, then try adding one of these: ½ -1 tsp of white or brown sugar, ½ of a shredded carrot, some sautéed onions and mushrooms, ¼ tsp baking soda for every 12 oz. of sauce, or ⅛ c parmesan or Romano cheese for every 12 oz of sauce.
Can spaghetti be frozen? You can freeze spaghetti a couple of ways. (1) Freeze only the sauce. Cook sauce according to recipe directions, let cool, put into an airtight freezer safe container and freeze for up to 6 months. To use: thaw in the fridge, place sauce into a saucepan on the stove top and heat. Cook pasta according to directions.
(2) Make the sauce according to recipe directions and cook the noodles al dente. Combine the two, cool, and place into an airtight freezer safe container and freeze for up to 2 months. To use: thaw in the fridge. Place into a baking dish, cover with foil and put in the oven preheated to 350 degrees F. Bake for about 30 minutes or until hot.
How to reheat spaghetti? Leftover spaghetti can last in the fridge for 3-5 days if properly stored in an airtight container. To reheat quickly, microwave in 30 second increments, stirring in between, until hot.
If you have more time, reheat in the oven. Place into a baking dish, cover with foil and put in the oven preheated to 350 degrees F. Bake until hot. The actual baking time will depend on how much is being reheated.
We’ve made this recipe for so long and know that all the kids LOVE it! No onions… no veggies… I guess that’s what makes it kid-friendly, lol!
what to serve with spaghetti?
For more great pasta recipes, check out:
- Easy Fettuccine Alfredo
- Chicken Spaghetti
- Chicken and Asparagus Pasta
- Cheesy Beef Goulash
- Sun-Dried Tomato Fettuccine
- Best Homemade Mac and Cheese
Spaghetti Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb hamburger
- 2 cubes beef bouillion
- 1 can tomato sauce 8 oz
- 1 can tomato paste 6 oz
- pepper to taste
- 2 c hot water
- 2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- dash of garlic
- 16 oz spaghetti noodles
Instructions
- Brown your hamburger in a large pan.
- Once cooked, throw in salt, pepper, tomato sauce and paste, water (with the bouillon cubes in it), sugar, basil, oregano and garlic. Simmer on low for an hour.
- A few minutes before the hour is done, cook box of spaghetti noodles as directed on package.
- Once the noodles are cooked, drain and add to spaghetti sauce. ENJOY!
The only go to recipe for spaghetti that I ever use. Its a family favorite. Dont Make any changes other than quadruple to feed my hungry family!
This is definitely the most requested recipe in our house!
My Goodness, this is definitely a keeper!! It’s everything I want in a sauce. not a huge fan of peppers and onions and mushrooms so this is the perfect sauce for me!! Yummy gimme some more!!!
This is the ultimate comfort food! Thank you!
This is the best spaghetti I’ve ever made! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
CouLdnt get any easier and delcious. Ive been trying to teaCh my Kids simple recipes that they can help cook. This was a perfect one. Thanks!
I love reading about people’s recipes for spaghetti! Thanks for sharing1
You are so welcome!! I am the same way!
this recipe is a keeper! I can’t believe how easy it is and so saucy and delicious!
This is by far the yummiest spaghetti recipe! My kids love it & there is never any leftovers! I always keep ingredients on hand!
this recipe is kid friendly and one the whole family will love! Spaghetti is usually on our menu once a month and we all love this one! great flavor and delicious!
This reicpe is so easy and makes borIng sPaghetti fUN again! Budget friendly, yummy, and quick and easy to make!
Thank you so much for sharing that!
If I am out of hamburger meat and cant make it to thE Store, could i make it without meat but keep everythiNg else exactly the same?
Yes, for sure 🙂 Enjoy!!
Yum! perfect meat sauce recipe, especially for those who like tomato sauce but dislike eating tomatoes 🙂 the amount of sauce was perfect for a serving of four in this household.
Thank you for letting me know! I am glad you tried it!
This is a great RECIPE….I veganized it as FOLLOWS….1 cup prepared TVP….No HAMBURGER…1 med can tomatoe sauce instead of a small CAN….then followed the rest of the RECIPE….I put it all in a small crockpot for 8 HOURS…This was really GOOD….Absolutely will make it again…….Thank you
Thank you for sharing what did. Hopefully, it will help anyone else looking to need it vegan 🙂
Best spa tec I’ve ever had, made, tried. Del every time
I am happy you think that!! Thank you for letting me know!
What a delicious spaghetti recipe! My kids love it. It is worth the time it takes for sure! SO much flavor!
This was delicious! I added 1/4 cup of heavy cream towards the end and it gave it just the right amount of creaminess. Thanks for the great recipe!
Good idea, I will have to try that! Glad you liked it! Thank you!
usually I don’t comment on Pinterest recipes, because either I make them and they are okay or I make them and everyone hates it in the house. I have a household of the most pickiest eaters ever.
But I had to say something here:
This spaghetti sauce has been approved by everyone in this house. They love it!! And its just the most perfect thing to make on a day where we are all lazy and I don’t want to do much for dinner.
And to show how picky my 8 year old is, well he only eats chicken nuggets and pizza and French fries.. That’s all.. or plain old pasta… So him eating this is just a godsend… Thank you ^^
You have just made my day!! Thank you so much for leaving me a comment! So happy your family liked it!
Live spaghetti and so does my kids make this all the time ?
I make this dish way too often. It’s a problem, but it’s so good and it’s so easy so I won’t be stopping anytime soon.
That is fine with me 🙂 Glad you like it!! Thank you!
My picky eaters are finally enjoying dinner! Thank you so much for this recipe!