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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.
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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. 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

  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
  • 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

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 350°F. Bake for about 30 minutes or until hot.

About Kristyn

My name is Kristyn and I’m the mom of SIX stinkin’ cute kids and the wife to my smokin’ hot hubby, Lo. My mom’s maiden name is Luna, and I’m one of the many crafty “Lil’ Lunas” 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!

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5 from 365 votes (295 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




116 Comments

  1. lily dawn houston says:

    5 stars
    i like spaghtti a lot

  2. Tamara Josey says:

    5 stars
    I made this spaghetti sauce for my family this weekend. It was very easy to make and everyone loved it and we have some picky eaters!! Definitely a keeper!

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yay! I’m so glad that this recipe is a hit with the fam!

  3. R. Cloutier says:

    A box of 300 g of catelli spaghetti will serve how many adults

    Can you give me a immédiate answer please.

  4. Apostille says:

    Finally, a post worth reading. It’s always nice to find postings like this one.

  5. Lindsay says:

    5 stars
    This was so delicious!! Even my picky toddler loved it. Definitely going to be a staple.

  6. Arturs says:

    5 stars
    Very easy! Takes absolutely no effort at all! If you can make ramen you should be able to handle this!

  7. Christina says:

    Do I still add the beef bouillion if doing the meatless option?

    1. Lil'Luna Team says:

      Yes!

  8. Kara says:

    5 stars
    So easy, but so good! I’ve tried a similar recipe, but I think simmering it for an hour really made a difference in the flavor. 🙂

  9. Sara Welch says:

    5 stars
    Enjoyed this for dinner last night and it was a hit all around the table! Easy yet hearty, and packed with flavor; spaghetti never disappoints!

  10. Jessica says:

    5 stars
    Nothing is better than homemade spaghetti sauce and we loved this easy recipe! Thanks so much for sharing.