We all have our FAVORITE “spaghetti recipe” that we know and love, and today’s recipe is the same one we’ve enjoyed our entire lives. It’s the one mom made since we were little, and the same dinner my kids know and love today.
This kid-friendly spaghetti recipe is SO easy (just a few steps and a quick prep) and packed with all the spaghetti flavors we love and with no crazy ingredients that scare kids away. The family loves to eat it with a side of garlic bread for a quick and simple weeknight dinner that’s ALWAYS a hit. It is perfect for busy nights, picky eaters, and leftovers that reheat beautifully.
For other variations, we also love to make our Spaghetti Pie and Spaghetti Casserole.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- No fail! This recipe is so simple that even your kids can make it. Just 5 minutes of prep and a few easy steps.
- Loved by all. There are no crazy ingredients in this recipe, which means even the pickiest of eaters love it.
- The perfect dinner. Add some cheesy garlic bread or garlic knots and a salad, and this is the perfect Sunday dinner.
Spaghetti Ingredients
- Ground beef (1 pound ): Gives savory richness and meaty texture. We use 80/20 ground beef for the added flavor. Drain the excess oil. Optional: add 1-2 minced garlic cloves. Replace with ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground Italian sausage.
- Tomato sauce (8-ounce can): Provides the bulk of your tomato base, smooth and saucy.
- Tomato pasta (6-ounce can): Thickens the sauce and intensifies the tomato flavor.
- Salt + black pepper (to taste): Helps all the other flavors to pop.
- Hot water (2 cups): Water dissolves the bouillon and helps thin the sauce to a nice consistency. You can use 2 cups of beef broth instead of the bouillon and water
- Beef bouillon (2 cubes): Infuses the sauce with depth. Omit if using beef broth.
- Sugar (2 teaspoons): Balances the acidity in the tomato sauce. Adding shredded carrots or sautéed mushrooms can also help with the acidity.
- Dried basil (½ teaspoon): Adds a subtle herby layer, or use ½ tablespoon fresh basil during the last 10 minutes.
- Dried oregano (½ teaspoon): Complements the basil and gives that classic Italian note, or you may add ½ tablespoon of fresh oregano during the last 10 minutes.
- Garlic salt (dash): Gives a small aromatic boost without overpowering, or use freshly minced garlic and/or red pepper flakes for a little heat.
- Spaghetti noodles (16 ounces): Carries the sauce and bring it all together. You can usezucchini noodles, rice noodles, or Spaghetti Squash instead.
How to Make Spaghetti
GROUND BEEF. Brown ground beef in a large pan over medium-high heat. Drain excess grease.
SAUCE. Heat water with bouillon cubes in the microwave. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste into the browned meat, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water with the bouillon cubes, sugar, basil, oregano, and a dash of garlic salt.
SIMMER. Cook on low for 40-60 minutes.
NOODLES. A few minutes before the hour is up, cook spaghetti noodles as directed on the package (al dente). Once the noodles are cooked, add them to the sauce, stir to combine, and serve immediately.
SERVE. We like to top our spaghetti with grated or shredded Parmesan cheese and some fresh basil.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- If using dry herbs, add them at the beginning; add fresh herbs toward the end.
- You can add 1 tablespoon of salt to the water before adding the pasta; this infuses flavor directly to the noodles.
- To help balance the acidity in the sauce, add sugar or shredded carrots.
- If you’re watching your carbs, cook up Spaghetti Squash and use that instead of noodles. Gluten-free noodles are also a delicious option.
Easy Spaghetti Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, 80 percent lean/20 percent fat
- 2 cups hot water
- 2 cubes beef bouillion, or use 2 cups beef broth and omit hot water
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- pinch of garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 (16-ounce) package spaghetti
Instructions
- Cook ground beef in a large pan over medium heat, breaking into small pieces, until browned, 8-10 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Dissolve bouillon cubes in hot water and add to meat. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, sugar, basil, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Simmer on low for 30 minutes.
- A few minutes before the sauce is done, cook spaghetti noodles according to package directions.
- Drain spaghetti and add to the sauce, tossing to coat. Top with Parmesan.
Notes
- If using dry herbs, add them at the beginning; add fesh herbs toward the end.
- You can add 1 tablespoon of salt to the water before adding the pasta; this infuses flavor directly to the noodles.
- To help balance the acidity in the sauce, add sugar or shredded carrots.
- If you’re watching your carbs, cook up Spaghetti Squash, zucchini noodles. Gluten-free noodles are also a delicious option.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Cook the sauce without the ground beef and only simmer for half the time. Another idea is to omit the ground beef but serve Meatballs on the side for people to add in as desired.
Cook sauce according to recipe directions, let cool, put into an airtight freezer-safe container, and freeze for up to 6 months. Reheat the sauce and add it to the cooked pasta.
Store leftovers in the fridge for 3-5 days if properly stored in an airtight container(s), or put in a freezer ziploc and freeze for up to 3 months.
Complete The Meal
Sides
Garlic Knot Recipe
20 mins
Olive Garden Breadsticks
2 hrs 27 mins
Quick Caprese Salad
5 mins
Garlic Bread Recipe
20 mins
Desserts
Panna Cotta Recipe
4 hrs 10 mins
Italian Cookies
1 hr 20 mins
Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe
50 mins
Jello Cheesecake
6 hrs 30 mins
Spaghetti Recipes
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This recipe was originally published July 2014.
This recipe is delicous. I am curious however as to how much garlic You RECOMMEND adding.
I just add a dash, really. Maybe 1/2 a teaspoon. If you love garlic, you could add more, or if you don’t like it, it can always be less.
We lOve this sauce. I sharEd it wIth my BFF. She uses it With her eggplant Parmesan. Can i ude this for lasagna?
That would be good! I am sure you could 🙂
I went ahead and used the kid-friendlY sPaghetti saUce without hesitating to wait for a reply. My 10y/o has been bUgging me to make lasagna for a feW weekends now. It was absolutely delicious! Thanks again for sharing this recipe.
That is good to know! Thank you so much for sharing that!
My extemely picky 11 year old loved this sauce and even ate the lasagna I made with it, so it’s a keepeR. I made a small change and used low-sodium beef broth instead of the BOUILLON cubes and water.
Given how much she liked it, any suggestions for other “picky eater” favouRites? ?
Yay!! I love to hear that!! Oh, man..my kids love most of the pastas I share or chicken recipes. Usually, those get eaten 🙂
Thank you for Sharing this great Spaghetti sauce recipe. It’s simplE to make and my family loved it.
I am glad you did!! It is a staple around our house! Thank you so much!
The first ever recipe that I made for my husband. Its the only spaghetti recipe that I use. So good and easy to make. Love it!
this recipe is on my weekly rotation! my kids could eat this every day! It is full of flavor & way better than any jarred sauce. I won’t make it any other way!
I could eat this Spaghetti all day, every day! I love when my family makes this!
How much salt? The recipe doesn’t say?
Sorry, I need to add that. It is 1/2 teaspoon of salt 🙂
For the small cans, you mean the 8 oz cans correct? Just not the standard size?
Also for your basil and oregano – did you use dried or fresh? Thanks!
Yes, the 8 ounce 🙂 I use dried. Hope you like this as much as we do!
Sounds like a good recipe, and very similar to mine! I actually use Better ‘n Boullion chicken flavor. It’s a flavorful paste, more expensive than bouillon but much more flavorful and lasts longer. And I use the chicken flavor, which sounds strange but works really well. I’ll have to try yours too! I’ll probably add a bit of olive oil. Thanks! ❤
Thanks for sharing that!! I will have to try it!!