This simple spaghetti and meat sauce is bursting with flavor and will satisfy the most robust appetite. It is easy to make ahead and goes well on spaghetti squash or zoodles for a low carb/paleo option, but also is perfect on top of classic spaghetti.
Are you in need of a satisfying, simple and delicious recipe to have in your weekday dinner arsenal? Aren’t we all? This is the spaghetti recipe I grew up eating and to this day, it’s still one of my favorite meals.
We have it in our regular rotation and it’s just such a great simple, healthy and realistic weekday meals that the whole family will enjoy. It’s a great one to prep during lunch (it takes about 15 minutes) and let simmer until dinner. It reheats and freezes beautifully.
This spaghetti is a meal that the whole family will happily devour. David loves this meal too, as do both girls. They’ve been loving it since before they had teeth! Just an excuse for me to include a throwback picture…
But truly. This meat sauce is comfort food at it’s finest and while I’ve eaten it over spaghetti squash (here’s how I cook my spaghetti squash) and zoodles plenty of time, sometimes it’s best just piled on top of good old fashioned spaghetti noodles.
So if you are looking for a weekday staple meal that is warm and satisfying, give my mom’s spaghetti and meat sauce a whirl! Then come back, rate it, and let me know what you and your family thought. 💜🍝
Mom’s Homemade Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 1 hour 30 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 40 mins
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This simple spaghetti and meat sauce is bursting with flavor and will satisfy the most robust appetite. It is easy to make ahead and goes well on spaghetti squash or zoodles for a low carb/paleo option, but also is perfect on top of classic spaghetti noodles.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- In a medium sauce pan over medium high heat, cook meat until browned. Drain if desired.
- Add onion and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Pour in tomato sauce, paste, salt, chili powder and Worcestershire sauce and stir until well combined. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer on the lowest setting for 1- 1 1/2 hours. Serve over spaghetti.
- *Freezes and stores very well
Notes
Serve over spaghetti squash or noodles of choice. For the look in the photos, mix half the sauce with the cooked pasta to coat each noodle, then serve a spoonful of the meat sauce on top.
Do you have a specific meal/recipe that you grew up with that you still make and love today?
Kaylee says
Thank you for the recipe! This always looks so good in your food pics. I’ve got it posted to next weeks meal plan!
Heather H says
I’m going to make this on the weekend…it looks SO good and easy! Thanks for sharing!!!
sherry says
Thanks for the accolades! It is easy and delicious.
Heather says
I love a good pasta sauce! Growing up we had spaghetti at least once a week and my dad would do something different with it almost every time. One of my favorite go-to’s is my mom’s meatloaf, though. So tasty!
Maria says
Thanks Mama Dixon – this looks so easy and delicious! I usually buy a jar of sauce from Trader Joe’s (hides head in shame) and always thought homemade sauce involved peeling tomatoes and other things listed under “Nobody got time for that”. And the best part is that I usually have all of these ingredients on hand 🙂
Kate says
Worcestershire sauce is something I wouldn’t have thought of using! Wonderful.
My mom made salmon cakes a lot and now we enjoy them often at our house.
Elizabeth says
Yes! I love my mom’s food. I also make her spaghetti the most often. It’s a similar recipe to your mom’s. I also love her beef/veggie soup, okra & tomatoes on rice, squash, shrimp creole… She does really good southern style cooking!
emma @ be mom strong says
Anything homemade sounds glorious. Now can I get someone else to make it for me?
Anna E. says
Sounds so good! I can’t wait to try it. What type of tomato sauce do you use? I find that it’s tough to find store-bought tomato sauce that doesn’t contain added sugar.
Thanks for sharing!
Brittany Dixon says
Hey Anna! I use the canned organic tomato sauce from Whole Foods. Hope you enjoy it!
Anna E. says
Ah, perfect. Thank you!
carrie says
Isn’t traditional spaghetti sauce made with Italian spices, like parsley, basil, oregano, garlic, maybe green peppers? Chili powder has cumin, curry, red pepper, and other Mexican/Indian spices. I tried this once an almost barfed. This is NOT a true Italian sauce with middle eastern spices……..
Abby VanderWyst says
I made this tonight for my family. Everyone loved It! My 2-year-old and 4-year-old daughters ate second helpings and my 2-year-old said, “Mom, you make good dinners!” Super inexpensive and easy too! I will make a triple batch next time and freeze it for future meals!
Brittany Dixon says
I’m so glad your family liked it!! It puts such a smile on my face, as it’s been a family favorite for years 🙂 Thank you for the feedback!
Anna says
I made this tonight for our dinners this week and OMG it’s tasty! Thanks for sharing this recipe with us!
Gina says
This is my family’s favorite recipe that I make! It tastes like the sauce my grandmother used to make.
Anne says
This recipe is SO good, and so easy to make! We had it for dinner tonight, and I’m already looking forward to having leftovers for lunch tomorrow!
Brittany Dixon says
I’m so glad you loved it as much as I do; thank you for your review, Anne! 🙂
Gail says
How much spaghetti does this recipe cover?
Brittany Dixon says
I pair it with 1 pound of spaghetti.