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Spaghetti sauce with meat

Spaghetti Meat Sauce

By: Alyona Demyanchuk
Spaghetti Meat Sauce is the perfect pasta dish for busy weeknight dinners! It doesn't get easier than pan-searing beef or Italian sausage to marinara sauce and tossing it with traditional spaghetti pasta--all the comforting flavors of an Italian dinner but a fraction of the cost! Who needs to simmer Bolognese for hours when you have this homemade meat sauce recipe? 
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American, Italian

Equipment

Ingredients

Ingredients:

  • 16 oz spaghetti pasta
  • 24 oz marinara sauce**
  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 cup mozzarella
  • 2 Tbsp Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

Instructions for Stove Top:

  • In a large pot cook the spaghetti for 13-14 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and toss in 2 tbsp of oil. Place back into pot and set aside.
  • Meanwhile, brown the ground meat in a medium-sized skillet until no longer pink. Add the marinara sauce, and water. Simmer gently over low heat for 1 minute. Top over spaghetti noodles and top with cheeses. Cover pasta with a lid until cheeses melt. Serve.
  • Slow Cooker Instructions: place cooked spaghetti into the crock pot. Top with the prepared meat sauce and sprinkle with cheeses (do not stir--just layer.) Set on High for 1 hour or Low for 3-4 hours. Perfect Sunday lunch!

Notes

I can marinara sauce in bulk to have as a staple pantry sauce, however, my friend has scaled down this canned Marinara sauce to a 24 oz portion! 
Homemade Marinara Sauce: 
  • 15 oz tomato juice (can use pureed tomatoes)
  • 6 oz paste 
  • 1/2 tsp chili powder 
  • 1 tsp salt (scant)
  • 1/2 tsp parsley flakes
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 Tbsp sugar + 1 tsp (scant)
  • 2 Tbsp + 2 tsp ketchup
  • 1/2 celery stalk
  • 1/2 onion
  • 1/4 green pepper
  • 2 Tbsp parmesan cheese 
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp dry mustard
  • 1/3 tsp pepper
Bring the juice and paste to a simmer. Add the celery, onion, and pepper and continue to simmer until softened. Puree using a hand blender and add the remaining ingredients. Heat thoroughly and serve! 
 
Nutrition Facts
Spaghetti Meat Sauce
Serving Size
 
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
281
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
11
g
17
%
Saturated Fat
 
4
g
25
%
Trans Fat
 
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Cholesterol
 
35
mg
12
%
Sodium
 
398
mg
17
%
Potassium
 
382
mg
11
%
Carbohydrates
 
32
g
11
%
Fiber
 
2
g
8
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
15
g
30
%
Vitamin A
 
315
IU
6
%
Vitamin C
 
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
 
80
mg
8
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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