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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 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
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
  1. Add the ground beef directly to a deep skillet over medium heat, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
  2. Spread the meat into an even crumbled layer and season with kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper, dried basil, and dried thyme.
  3. After a few minutes, flip and stir the meat, seasoning again as needed.
  4. Cook until browned and fully cooked through.
  5. Carefully drain the grease.
    6. Drain the majority, it's ok if there is some left in the pan.
Cook the Pasta
  1. While the meat cooks, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil.
  2. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions, usually about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Drain and set aside.
Add the Sauce
  1. Lower the skillet heat to medium-low and pour the pasta sauce directly into the cooked and seasoned beef.
  2. Stir everything together until combined.
  3. Once the sauce begins to gently bubble, dinner is ready.
Serve
  1. Serve the sauce over spaghetti with freshly grated parmesan.
    2. We keep the pasta and sauce separate until serving so everyone can take the amount they want—and leftovers store much better this way.