Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Scramble fan Jessica Honigberg shared this quick and delicious recipe for classic Italian meat sauce. Serve it with your favorite kind of pasta, use it for a lasagna, or even in place of pizza sauce!
Ingredients
- 16 oz. spaghetti (use wheat/gluten-free if needed)
- 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion diced
- 3 cloves garlic minced, about 1 1/2 tsp.
- 1 lb. ground turkey, beef, or vegetarian ground “meat”
- 28 oz. diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning with their liquid
- 2 Tbsp. tomato paste or use 1/2 red pasta sauce
- 1/4 cup red wine use good wine and enjoy the rest with dinner (optional)
- 1 Tbsp. sugar optional
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions and drain it.
- Meanwhile, in a large saucepan or skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Sauté the onions and garlic until the onions are softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add the meat, stirring it frequently until it is browned, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes, tomato paste, wine (optional), and sugar (optional).
- Simmer it for about 10 minutes, until the sauce has slightly thickened. Add the salt and pepper.
- In a large bowl (preferably metal, because it retains the heat), combine the spaghetti and sauce and cover it with plastic wrap until you are ready to serve it, so the spaghetti absorbs some of the juices. (Note: the sauce can be made up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated until ready to serve, or frozen for up to 3 months.) Serve it topped with Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Slow Cooker Directions
- Combine all ingredients except the spaghetti and Parmesan cheese in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6 - 12 hours or on high for 3 - 4 hours. Serve over cooked pasta and topped with the cheese, if desired. (Slow cooker cooking times may vary—Get to know your slow cooker and, if necessary, adjust cooking times accordingly.)
Notes
Do Ahead or Delegate: Cook the spaghetti and store tossed with a little oil to prevent sticking, dice the onion, peel the garlic, grate the cheese if necessary and refrigerate, or fully prepare and refrigerate or freeze the sauce.
Scramble Flavor Booster: Use 2 tsp. of garlic and add some crushed red pepper flakes to the sauce while it simmers.
Tip: This sauce is a great recipe to double and freeze. It's a perfect thing to pull out of the freezer at the beginning of an especially busy week.
Nutritional Information Per Serving (% based upon daily values): Calories 400, Total Fat: 12g, 18%; Saturated Fat: 4g, 20%; Cholesterol: 40mg, 13%; Sodium: 530mg, 22%; Total Carbohydrate: 49g, 16%; Dietary Fiber: 2g, 8%; Sugar: 7g; Protein: 19g
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