How to Make Beefy Spaghetti Sauce

By
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.
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Updated on 01/11/22
Beef spaghetti sauce

 

LauriPatterson / Getty Images 
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Total: 20 mins
Servings: 4 to 6 servings
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
435 Calories
18g Fat
37g Carbs
29g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 435
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 7g 33%
Cholesterol 77mg 26%
Sodium 848mg 37%
Total Carbohydrate 37g 13%
Dietary Fiber 4g 14%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 29g
Vitamin C 4mg 21%
Calcium 143mg 11%
Iron 4mg 24%
Potassium 860mg 18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This beefy spaghetti sauce recipe with only six ingredients is a super simple, rich, and hearty family dinner that can be made quickly at the last minute. Just brown onions and garlic with ground beef, add pasta sauce and serve over spaghetti. It couldn't get simpler than this for a filling meal.

When you buy ground beef for this dish, note that not all ground beef is created equal. Generally, the best ground beef for a spaghetti sauce is ground chuck because it contains more fat than ground sirloin and ground round. More fat means more flavor, and you can always drain excess fat. 

It is also important to slowly brown the meet at medium-high heat so that it does not loses its moisture too quickly. 

After you have cooked the meat, the rest of the recipe consists merely of popping open a jar of spaghetti sauce. There are lots of choices; it does not have to be a classic marinara. Try a pasta sauce with mushrooms or a tomato-and-garlic pasta sauce. 

Serve this dish with a green salad and garlic bread or garlic knots. 

If you have a busy weeknight coming up, you can make the sauce the day or two days before and store the sauce in the refrigerator for two to three days. Then all you need to do to get dinner on the table is reheat the sauce on the stovetop or in the microwave, is cook the spaghetti, and toss it all together. 

Or, you can toss the cooked pasta and the meat sauce, transfer it to a casserole dish, and sprinkle it with a generous amount of shredded cheddar, Swiss cheese, or any other cheese that melts well. Bake in the preheated oven at 350 F until bubbly and browned on top. 

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for two to three days. 

 

 

 

 

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped

  • 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

  •  1 (26-ounce) jar favorite marinara sauce

  • 1 (16-ounce) package spaghetti

  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Steps to Make It

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

  2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, cook ground beef with onion and garlic until beef is browned, breaking up beef with a fork so it cooks evenly.

  3. Drain well if necessary.

  4. Add pasta sauce to the ground beef mixture.

  5. Add 2 tablespoons water to pasta sauce jar, close lid, and shake to loosen the remaining sauce.

  6. Pour into the ground beef mixture.

  7. Bring to a simmer, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring frequently, while the pasta cooks.

  8. Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente.

  9. Drain well and place on serving plate.

  10. Top with meat sauce, sprinkle with cheese and serve immediately.