Homemade Spaghetti with Hearty Meat Sauce
🍽 Serves: 4
⏱ Total Time: ~45 minutes
📝 Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
1 lb ground beef (or a beef/pork blend)
2 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp sugar (to balance acidity)
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp dried basil
Salt and black pepper, to taste
¼ cup chopped fresh parsley (plus more for garnish)
Optional: ½ tsp red pepper flakes for a little heat
For the Pasta
12 oz spaghetti
Salt (for pasta water)
1 tbsp olive oil (optional, helps prevent sticking)
Topping
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Extra chopped parsley
🔥 Instructions
1. Make the Meat Sauce
In a large skillet or saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat.
Add chopped onions and cook until softened (3–5 minutes).
Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
Add ground beef. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned. Drain excess grease if needed.
Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute.
Pour in crushed tomatoes, sugar, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
Let simmer uncovered on low heat for 20–25 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add parsley toward the end.
2. Cook the Spaghetti
Boil water with salt, add spaghetti, and cook until al dente (check package for time).
Drain and toss with a little olive oil or a spoon of the sauce to keep it from sticking.
3. Assemble
Twirl spaghetti into serving bowls.
Spoon over a generous portion of meat sauce.
Top with grated Parmesan and chopped parsley.
Optional: drizzle a little olive oil on top for a glossy finish.
🍽 Serving Vibes (Just Like the Image)
Serve in a white bowl with a few sauce smudges for that real-kitchen charm.
Rest a fork on a folded blue napkin.
Place on a wooden table lit by natural daylight to show off the cheese melt and that gorgeous red sauce.
Want a garlic bread or salad pairing to go with it? Let me know!