Get ready to transform your dinner routine with the most mouthwatering, crowd-pleasing spaghetti recipe that screams pure American comfort! This isn't just another pasta dish - it's a hearty, flavor-packed meal that combines classic Italian-American cuisine with home-cooked perfection. In just 40 minutes, you'll create a restaurant-worthy dinner that will have your family begging for seconds and your kitchen smelling like a gourmet paradise.
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 40 mins
Cuisine: Italian-American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 can crushed tomatoes
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 8 ounces spaghetti
Instructions
- Begin by gathering all your ingredients: 1 pound of ground beef, 1 can of crushed tomatoes, 1 chopped onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon of dried oregano, 1 teaspoon of dried basil, salt, pepper, and 8 ounces of spaghetti.
- In a large pot, bring water to a boil for the spaghetti. Once boiling, add a generous pinch of salt to the water.
- While waiting for the water to boil, heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks, about 5-7 minutes.
- Once the beef is browned, use a slotted spoon to remove it from the skillet and set it aside. Drain excess fat from the skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon for flavor.
- In the same skillet, add the chopped onion and cook for about 3-4 minutes, or until it becomes translucent.
- Add the minced garlic to the onions and sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes until fragrant, stirring frequently to avoid burning.
- Return the browned ground beef to the skillet with the onions and garlic. Stir to combine.
- Pour in the can of crushed tomatoes and stir in the dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and pepper to taste. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- While the sauce is simmering, add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to package instructions, typically around 8-10 minutes, until al dente.
- Once the spaghetti is cooked, reserve a cup of pasta water, then drain the spaghetti in a colander.
- Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the meat sauce. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
- Serve the spaghetti hot, garnished with additional herbs or grated cheese if desired.
Tips
- For maximum flavor, use fresh ground beef with a slightly higher fat content (80/20 blend) to ensure a rich, juicy sauce.
- Don't rush the simmering process - letting the sauce cook slowly allows the herbs and tomatoes to develop a deeper, more complex flavor profile.
- Always reserve some pasta water before draining. The starchy liquid helps create a silkier sauce and helps the meat sauce cling perfectly to the spaghetti.
- For an extra flavor boost, consider adding a splash of red wine to the sauce while it simmers or sprinkle some fresh parmesan cheese on top before serving.
- If you want to make the dish ahead of time, the sauce actually tastes even better the next day after the flavors have had time to meld together.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 553kcal
Carbohydrates: 55g
Protein: 29g
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 60mg
