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Our favorite spaghetti is kid-friendly and made with a delicious homemade sauce making it the perfect family dinner recipe!
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.
- PREP TIME: 5 MINS
- COOK TIME: 45 MINS
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. Sautéed 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
- GROUND BEEF. Brown the hamburger in a large pan. Drain the fat if desired.
- 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.
- 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!
COMPLETE THE MEAL
- APPETIZERS: Easy Bruschetta, Mozzarella Sticks, Fried Zucchini
- SIDES: Garlic Knots, Cheesy Garlic Bread, Olive Garden Breadsticks, Focaccia
- SALADS: Tomato Mozzarella Salad, Chicken Caesar Salad, Pesto Salad
- DESSERTS: Panna Cotta, Italian Cookies, Easy Chocolate Cake
Other Spaghetti Recipes: Chicken Spaghetti, Crock Pot Spaghetti, Spaghetti Pie, Baked Spaghetti, Spaghetti Casserole
More Collections: Sunday Dinner Ideas, Dinner Ideas for Kids, Italian Dinner Recipes
Spaghetti Recipe
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
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ 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
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
RECIPE FAQ
Can You Make Spaghetti in the Crock Pot?
- 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.
How to Store Spaghetti?
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.
How to Freeze Spaghetti?
- 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.
- 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 350°F. Bake for about 30 minutes or until hot.
I loved the recipe thank you Justin
Love it! I tried many spaghetti recipes, and this one is the best. It is my go to spaghetti recipe.
Yay! So happy to hear that!
this is hands down the best spaghetti I have ever made!! I followed the directions as written, and per your suggestion, I added a dash of red pepper flakes. I believe it made eight servings but for me and my husband it was so delicious. We ate it all in two days. I will be sure to try some of your other recipes. The best thing was, there was no chopping involved. It was so simple to make.
Fantastic recipe! Im pretty picky about my sauce, but this one is near perfect for me. I made the mistake of adding a dash of red pepper flakes that another commenter suggested, and it ruined the sauce for me. I made another batch and combined them, and superb!
So easy and so delicious!!! I do like to add 2 cloves of garlic, pinch of crushed red pepper towards the end of cooking the beef. Also add 1/4 tsp of onion powder to the sauce. This one is now on my regular rotation. Also great to make when having guests over. Thank you!!!
I love spaghetti
Very easy and delicious recipe. Great leftover for the rest of the week. Mmmm. Thanks.
Everyone has their go-to spaghetti recipe, and this one is a great one! It’s delicious, easy, and the kids love it. I never thought about adding beef bullion – a great tip.
This recipe really is so easy – and nothing beats homemade spaghetti sauce! Love it!
This is my kid’s favorite spaghetti recipe and has become my go-to since the prep time is so quick. This dish is a great one for leftovers as well!