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A rich, savory meat sauce simmered with tomatoes, herbs, and garlic, tossed with perfectly cooked spaghetti. This Italian-American classic is a comforting family dinner that's ready in about an hour.
Sauté Aromatics
Brown the Meat
Build and Simmer the Sauce
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A rich, savory meat sauce simmered with tomatoes, herbs, and garlic, tossed with perfectly cooked spaghetti. This Italian-American classic is a comforting family dinner that's ready in about an hour.
This italian_american recipe takes 60 minutes to prepare and yields 4 servings. At 820.3 calories per serving with 44.92g of protein, it's a beginner-friendly recipe perfect for dinner or lunch.
Cook the Spaghetti
Combine and Serve
Add 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes along with the garlic for a spicy arrabbiata-style kick.
Replace the ground beef with 1 lb of chopped cremini mushrooms, a can of brown lentils, or a plant-based ground meat substitute.
Finely chop or grate 1 carrot and 1 celery stalk and sauté them with the onion for added nutrition and sweetness.
For a richer, creamier finish, stir in 1/4 cup of heavy cream or mascarpone cheese at the very end of cooking.
The ground beef provides high-quality protein, which is essential for building and repairing tissues, supporting muscle mass, and maintaining overall body function.
Cooked tomatoes are a fantastic source of lycopene, a powerful antioxidant linked to a reduced risk of certain chronic diseases. Cooking tomatoes actually increases the bioavailability of lycopene.
The carbohydrates from the spaghetti provide a primary source of energy for your body and brain, helping to fuel your daily activities.
A typical serving of this recipe (about 2 cups) contains approximately 650-750 calories, depending on the fat content of the beef and the amount of cheese used.
It can be part of a balanced diet. It provides protein from beef, lycopene from tomatoes, and carbohydrates for energy. To make it healthier, you can use leaner ground beef (90/10), whole wheat spaghetti for more fiber, and add extra vegetables like carrots or zucchini to the sauce.
Absolutely! While spaghetti is classic, this meat sauce works wonderfully with other pasta shapes like fettuccine, rigatoni, penne, or pappardelle. Choose your favorite!
To thicken the sauce, let it simmer uncovered for the last 10-15 minutes to allow excess water to evaporate. To thin it, simply stir in a splash of the reserved pasta water, beef broth, or regular water until it reaches your desired consistency.
Yes, this is a great make-ahead meal. The meat sauce can be prepared up to 3 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator. Its flavor actually deepens over time. Simply reheat the sauce and cook fresh pasta when you're ready to serve.