I don’t think I can legitimately call this a bolognese—I’d probably never be allowed to step foot in Little Italy again—but this is one of the handful of dishes I can make completely from memory without looking at a recipe.

It’s simple, quick, comforting, and somehow always turns out good. Pretty sure the Chef even admitted it tastes better than his meat sauce, which may be one of my greatest accomplishments to date.

Spaghetti and meat sauce is true comfort food in our apartment, and honestly, we probably eat it a little too often. Usually, when I know the Chef has had a rough day at work or spent 15 hours in a hot kitchen, I can start this while he’s commuting home and have dinner ready by the time he walks through the door.

This is the kind of meal that doesn’t require much thought, doesn’t dirty every dish in the apartment, and somehow always hits the spot. Perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or whenever you just need a whole lotta pasta.

Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

A simple, comforting spaghetti and meat sauce recipe made with ground beef, pantry spices, and jarred sauce—perfect for easy weeknight dinners and cozy comfort food cravings.

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Prep Time 5

Cook Time 35

Course: Main Course

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

1 lb Spaghetti
1 lb Ground Beef
Kosher Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste
Dried Basil to taste
Dried Thyme to taste
1 jar Pasta Sauce we like Ragu traditional
Freshly Grated Parmesan

Equipment

Deep Skillet
Large Pot
Slotted Spoon
Wooden Spoon

Method

Brown the Beef

Add the ground beef directly to a deep skillet over medium heat, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
Spread the meat into an even crumbled layer and season with kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper, dried basil, and dried thyme.
After a few minutes, flip and stir the meat, seasoning again as needed.
Cook until browned and fully cooked through.
Carefully drain the grease.

Drain the majority, it's ok if there is some left in the pan.

Cook the Pasta

While the meat cooks, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil.
Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions, usually about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Drain and set aside.

Add the Sauce

Lower the skillet heat to medium-low and pour the pasta sauce directly into the cooked and seasoned beef.
Stir everything together until combined.
Once the sauce begins to gently bubble, dinner is ready.

Serve

Serve the sauce over spaghetti with freshly grated parmesan.

We keep the pasta and sauce separate until serving so everyone can take the amount they want—and leftovers store much better this way.

Notes from the Kitchen

So easy even the Baker can wing it… and somehow it’s still Chef approved.
The extra herbs give the sauce a little more depth, but at its core this is a true meaty meat sauce.
If you expect leftovers, store the pasta and sauce separately so the noodles don’t soak everything up overnight.

Chef Rating: 4 out of 5

Chef Review:

Very meaty and simple can be delicious and my favorite comfort food.

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