This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Our favorite spaghetti is kid-friendly and made with a delicious homemade sauce making it the perfect family dinner recipe!

Spaghetti served on a plate with fresh basil.
Save This Recipe!
Just enter your email and get it sent to your inbox! Plus you’ll get new recipes from us every week!

How To Make Spaghetti

It seems like everyone I have ever met has “a spaghetti recipe” they know and love, and each one is different! Today’s recipe is one my mom has made her whole life and one my own family loves now for dinner!

Why We Love It!

  • No Fail! This recipe is so simple that even your kids can make it.
  • 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 on wood table.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 Pound Ground Beef – I like to use 80/20 ground beef because it is so flavorful. Since it produces so much excess oil, I will drain it before adding the meat to the sauce.
    • Use ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground Italian sausage in place of ground beef. For added flavor, mince 1-2 garlic cloves and add them to the ground beef. Brown in a large skillet.
  • 1 – 8 Ounce Can Tomato Sauce
  • 1 – 6 Ounce Can Tomato Pasta
  • Salt + Black Pepper, to taste
  • 2 cups Hot Water
  • 2 Cubes Beef Bouillon – You can also use beef broth instead of the bouillon and water
  • 2 teaspoons Sugar – helps balance the acidity in the tomato sauce. Sautรฉed onion or mushrooms can also help with the acidity as well.
  • Spices – 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano, dash of garlic. You can also add red pepper flakes for a little heat.
    • Fresh herbs. One teaspoon of dried herbs equals one tablespoon of fresh herbs. Dried herbs are added at the beginning of the cooking time, while fresh herbs are added toward the end.
  • 16 Ounces Spaghetti Noodles – For substitutes, try using zucchini noodles, rice noodles, or Spaghetti Squash in lieu of traditional spaghetti noodles.

STEP BY STEP: In PHOTOS

  1. GROUND BEEF. Brown the hamburger in a large pan. Drain the fat if desired.
  2. SAUCE. 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 40-60 minutes.
  3. NOODLES. A few minutes before the hour is up, cook the box of spaghetti noodles as directed on the package. Once the noodles are cooked, add them to the sauce and serve immediately.

We like to top our spaghetti with grated (or even shredded) Parmesan cheese and some fresh basil if desired. It truly is so delicious!

MEATLESS OPTION. If you would like a meatless version, cook the sauce without the 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!

Spaghetti served on a white plate with fresh basil.
5 from 365 votes

Spaghetti Recipe

By: Lil’ Luna
Our favorite spaghetti is kid-friendly and made with a delicious homemade sauce making it the perfect family dinner recipe!
Servings: 8
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 50 minutes
Total: 55 minutes

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
  • 2 cubes beef bouillion
  • 2 cups hot water
  • 2 teaspoons sugar, white or brown
  • ยฝ teaspoon dried basil
  • ยฝ teaspoon dried oregano
  • dash of garlic
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 16 ounces spaghetti noodles

Instructions 

  • In a large skillet over medium-low heat, brown the ground beef, breaking up and making sure there is no pink (drain excess fat).
  • Once cooked, add salt, pepper, tomato sauce and paste, water (with the bouillon cubes in it), sugar, basil, oregano, and garlic. Simmer on low for an 40-60 minutes.
  • 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. Toss together and top with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 200kcal, Carbohydrates: 38g, Protein: 7g, Fat: 2g, Sodium: 959mg, Potassium: 568mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 10g, Vitamin A: 690IU, Vitamin C: 11.3mg, Calcium: 119mg, Iron: 3.5mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

RECIPE FAQ

  • BEEF. Brown the ground beef and add to a crock pot.
  • SAUCE. Add all of the other sauce ingredients. Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours or on HIGH for 3-4 hours.  

Leftover homemade 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.

  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 stovetop, and heat. Cook pasta according to directions.
  2. Freeze both sauce and pasta. Make the sauce according to the 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 350ยฐF. Bake for about 30 minutes or until hot.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and Iโ€™m the mom of SIX stinkinโ€™ cute kids and the wife to my smokinโ€™ hot hubby, Lo. My momโ€™s maiden name is Luna, and Iโ€™m one of the many crafty โ€œLilโ€™ Lunasโ€ in the fam. On this site I like to share all things creative - from recipes to home decor to gifts and home decor ideas. Welcome!

So Easy & So Yummy

Get my cookbook!

My new cookbook is the ultimate resource for feeding your friends and family with 200+ simple recipes including videos, tips & more!

5 from 365 votes (295 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




116 Comments

  1. jimens says:

    5 stars
    good

  2. Natasha says:

    5 stars
    Another fantastic recipe from you! This will be my go-to spaghetti recipe now.

  3. Samantha says:

    5 stars
    Homemade spaghetti is the best! The flavor of this spaghetti is amazing! Such an easy recipe to follow. Thanks for sharing!

  4. Katrina says:

    5 stars
    Homemade spaghetti sauce really is worth the extra effort & thankfully this recipe doesn’t require much! It’s super yummy & super easy – the perfect combo!

  5. Karen says:

    5 stars
    So much better than using store-bought spaghetti sauce! The combo of ingredients was spot on. Thanks for another great recipe!

  6. Ali says:

    5 stars
    This spaghetti is one of my favorites to make since I can prep the sauce quick and can let it simmer while I’m working on homework with the kids.

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yes!! So glad that this recipe can come in clutch on those busy nights.

  7. Jessica says:

    5 stars
    We definitely have “our” spaghetti recipe, but I always love trying other versions. This one is simple, and very delicious!

  8. Tanner Ritchey says:

    5 stars
    Super easy to follow and really tasty! Family loved this tonight! ๐Ÿ™‚ THANKS!!!!! I highly recommend!!

  9. Luz says:

    5 stars
    Love spaghetti too

  10. Natalie Garner says:

    5 stars
    The beef bullion added so much flavor!!