Best spaghetti recipe

In just 15 minutes, you can have a warm, satisfying meal with this easy Spaghetti recipe, perfect for colder seasons. For a full meal, serve with a side salad or steamed vegetables and savor every bite!

Ingredients For spaghetti recipe

Butter: Instead of using oil, butter is utilized to saute the onion and pepper. This is because the butter assists in balancing out the acidity of the tomatoes.

Bell pepper: For those accustomed to Italian red sauce, the inclusion of bell pepper might come as a surprise. However, in this recipe, it serves as a staple of midwestern comfort food, where cooks tend to use ingredients that are easily accessible. The green pepper works to provide a pleasant contrast to the onion.

Dried basil and dried oregano: The traditional flavors of herbs can be achieved using dried basil and dried oregano, which serve as a convenient pantry staple for weeknight cooking instead of fresh herbs.

Tomato paste: To achieve a slightly caramelized and sweet flavor, ground beef and vegetables are cooked with tomato paste.

Diced tomatoes: Canned diced tomatoes offer a richer taste compared to fresh tomatoes that are out-of-season. They are preserved when they are at the height of their ripeness, which results in a delectable flavor profile when used in sauces.

Tomato sauce: Incorporating tomato sauce into the final dish will lend a somewhat thick consistency to the end result.

How to make spaghetti recipe?

Sauté the onion and pepper: Begin by dicing the onion evenly. Next, cut the bell pepper into planks of a similar size and dice them as well. Using a large stockpot, melt butter over medium heat. Add the diced onion and bell pepper along with salt and black pepper, stirring everything together. Allow the mixture to sauté for 4 to 6 minutes until the onions and peppers have softened and developed some color. Afterward, incorporate the minced garlic, dried basil, dried oregano, and red chili flakes into the mixture, making sure to mix the spices in thoroughly. Let the garlic cook for approximately 30 seconds.

Brown the ground meat: Add the ground beef to the stockpot and use a wooden spoon or spatula to break it into small pieces. Let it brown for approximately 8 to 10 minutes.

Add the tomato paste: After browning the beef, incorporate the tomato paste into the stockpot and combine it with the meat, onion, and pepper. Allow it to cook for 6 to 8 minutes to eliminate some of the raw tomato taste. One way to confirm that the tomato paste is cooked is by using a spoon or spatula to push the mixture to one side of the stockpot. If a layer starts sticking to the pan’s bottom in the empty area, it indicates that the paste has cooked.

Add the remaining sauces and spices: After cooking the tomato paste, combine it with the tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Stir everything thoroughly, and then let the mixture simmer for 18 to 20 minutes, while simultaneously preparing the spaghetti.

Cook the spaghetti: Bring water to a boil in a large stockpot and add salt to it before adding spaghetti. Follow the instructions on the package to cook the spaghetti until it is al dente. Do not drain the spaghetti when it is done.

Mix everything together: After the spaghetti has cooked, combine the un-drained noodles with the simmering meat sauce. Mix the spaghetti and sauce thoroughly until the noodles are completely coated with the sauce. Take it off the heat and serve right away.

My Best Tips

• To slice a bell pepper, start by cutting off its top and bottom. Next, make a single slice down one side and open the pepper up flat. Remove the inner pith and seeds, and slice it into planks before dicing. Don’t discard the top and bottom; instead, dice them up while removing the stem.
• It is crucial to pay attention to the cooking time of garlic as it can have a raw taste. Cooking it slightly is necessary to reduce this raw flavor, but be careful not to overcook it, as garlic can burn quickly. A cooking time of about 30 seconds to one minute should be sufficient to achieve the desired result.
• When buying ground beef for this spaghetti recipe, opt for a lean variety. I personally recommend choosing 92% lean beef to ensure there’s only a minimal amount of juice left in the stockpot.
• To achieve the perfect texture, avoid draining the spaghetti when it reaches al dente stage while preparing this recipe. Instead, transfer the pasta directly from the boiling water to the sauce. This will enable the spaghetti to absorb the sauce, resulting in a delightful flavor when served. Furthermore, if the sauce appears too dense, you can use some of the pasta water to dilute it.

The step-by-step instructions spaghetti recipe pictures can be found in the recipe card below.

Questions and answers about the spaghetti recipe.

Recipe variations

We enjoy recipes that we can modify and personalize to our liking.

We enjoy enhancing our sauce with extra spices to add a little kick. Incorporating black pepper or red pepper flakes to taste provides the additional spiciness that we all adore.

This recipe is highly versatile, allowing for the use of either diced tomatoes or tomato sauce. It’s an excellent recipe overall!

Substitute Italian sausage for ground beef, or use a combination of both by using half of each.

Incorporate additional Italian seasoning into the pasta sauce.

If you prefer, you may include some sliced mushrooms.

This best spaghetti recipe would also benefit from the addition of green bell peppers.

What Do You Serve with recipe spaghetti?

By simply adding some grated Parmesan cheese and a glass of Italian red wine, recipe spaghetti dinner can be elevated to a more comforting level. Nevertheless, it’s always pleasant to complement the meal with a little something extra on the side. Below are five of our top picks:

Easy Garlic Bread

The Ultimate Classic Caesar Salad

Every Pizza Place Salad

Sautéed Broccoli Rabe

Slow-Cooked Kale with Smashed Garlic & Red Onions

Can You Freeze delicious spaghetti recipe?

Certainly! Freezing your delicious spaghetti recipe is a great option, as it can still retain its deliciousness even after reheating. Here’s a guide on how to do it:

Cook your spaghetti according to the package directions until it is al dente.

Drain the spaghetti and rinse it under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Toss the spaghetti with a little bit of olive oil to prevent it from sticking together.

Let the spaghetti cool completely before putting it in an airtight container or freezer bag.

Label the container or bag with the date and contents, and then place it in the freezer.

When you’re ready to eat the spaghetti, remove it from the freezer and let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Reheat it in the microwave or on the stove with your favorite sauce. Enjoy!

Have a look at our other Pasta recipes, how about Pasta e Fagioli Olive Garden or Garlic Shrimp Pasta

Can You Store texas spaghetti recipe?

If stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, dish of spaghetti can last for a maximum of three days.

How to Thicken Spaghetti Sauce?

Tomato paste serves a dual purpose in the sauce by enhancing its flavor and thickening its consistency. Additionally, the sauce naturally thickens as it simmers on the stove. In the event that you desire a thicker sauce even after giving it enough time to simmer, you may add a cornstarch slurry (1 part cornstarch to 1 part water, whisked together; try beginning with 2 tablespoons of each). It’s important to thoroughly incorporate the slurry into the sauce to avoid any lumps.

How to Reheat Frozen Spaghetti Sauce?

To thaw frozen spaghetti sauce, place the container in the fridge and then reheat it on the stovetop over low heat for approximately 15 minutes, making sure to stir occasionally. Alternatively, you can submerge the container in a bowl of cold water for a faster thaw. If you’re short on time, use a microwave instead, but note that the time required will vary depending on the amount of sauce and the microwave’s power, usually taking 4 to 7 minutes.

Remember to consume the thawed spaghetti sauce on the same day and avoid saving any leftovers.

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