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Delicious easy weeknight spaghetti with homemade ground beef sauce and fresh herbs.

Simple and Satisfying Spaghetti

A quick and comforting spaghetti recipe that fits busy weeknights, featuring a rich sauce and customizable ingredients.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 550
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 12 oz Spaghetti Regular or whole wheat.
  • 2 tbsp Olive oil For sautéing.
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced Use fresh garlic.
  • 1 medium Onion, chopped Yellow or white onion works.
  • 28 oz Canned crushed tomatoes For a smooth sauce.
  • 2 tbsp Tomato paste Helps deepen the flavor.
  • to taste Salt Season as desired.
  • to taste Black pepper Season as desired.
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning Or use dried oregano and basil.
  • 1 pinch Red pepper flakes Optional for heat.
  • 1 cup Protein (optional) Ground beef, turkey, sausage, or lentils.
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan, grated For serving.
  • 1 tbsp Butter For finishing the sauce.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
  2. Add spaghetti and cook until just shy of al dente. Reserve a cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
Sauce Preparation
  1. In a wide skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
  2. Add chopped onion with a pinch of salt and cook until soft.
  3. Stir in minced garlic and sauté for 30-60 seconds.
  4. If using protein, add it now and cook until browned.
  5. Mix in tomato paste and let it toast for a minute.
  6. Pour in crushed tomatoes, add a pinch of sugar, Italian seasoning, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Combine Pasta and Sauce
  1. Simmer the sauce for 8-10 minutes until slightly thickened.
  2. Add drained spaghetti to the skillet and toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
  3. Finish with a pat of butter and grated Parmesan, adjusting salt to taste.

Notes

For added brightness, squeeze lemon juice over or stir in pesto. You can also add vegetables like spinach or mushrooms.