HEARTY SPAGHETTI WITH THICK BEEF TOMATO SAUCE

This hearty spaghetti is loaded with a rich, meaty tomato sauce that’s thick, flavorful, and packed with tender ground beef. Served over perfectly cooked spaghetti, it’s an easy, comforting dinner the whole family will love!

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4

 Ingredients

For the Spaghetti

• 14 oz spaghetti
• Salt, for the pasta water
• 1 teaspoon olive oil, optional

For the Beef Tomato Sauce

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1¼ lbs lean ground beef
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 28 oz crushed tomatoes
• 14 oz diced tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ½ cup beef broth or water

 Instructions

1. Sauté the Onion and Garlic

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.

Add the chopped onion and cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.

2. Brown the Beef

Add the ground beef to the skillet.

Cook for 5–6 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon into rustic, bite-sized crumbles. Continue cooking until browned and no longer pink.

3. Build the Sauce

Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 1 minute to deepen its flavor.

Add the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, oregano, basil, and beef broth or water.

Stir everything together until well combined.

4. Simmer Until Thick

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.

Cook uncovered for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce becomes thick, rich, and meaty.

It should be thick enough to sit generously on top of the spaghetti without running off.

5. Cook the Spaghetti

While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

Cook the spaghetti according to the package directions until al dente.

Before draining, reserve a little pasta water.

Drain the spaghetti and set aside.

6. Serve

Taste the meat sauce and adjust the seasoning if needed.

If the sauce becomes too thick, stir in a small splash of reserved pasta water.

Divide the spaghetti among four plates and spoon a generous amount of the thick beef tomato sauce directly over the top.

For the best presentation, don’t completely mix the sauce into the pasta. Keep the spaghetti underneath and pile the rich, meaty sauce generously on top.

Serve hot and enjoy!