Description
Comfort meets convenience in this classic one pot spaghetti, where pasta, sauce, and seasonings mingle effortlessly in a single skillet. Dinner becomes a breeze with minimal cleanup, letting home cooks savor both flavor and simplicity.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound ground beef (or Italian sausage)
Pasta and Sauce Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) spaghetti, broken in half
- 1 (24-ounce/680 grams) jar marinara sauce
- 1 (14-ounce/397 grams) can diced tomatoes
- 3 cups (710 milliliters) beef broth (or water)
Seasoning and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, for spice)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a spacious pot, warm olive oil over medium flame and introduce ground beef. Crumble and sear the meat until it develops a rich, golden-brown color and releases its savory essence.
- Incorporate finely chopped onions, minced garlic, and aromatic seasonings. Allow the ingredients to meld together, releasing their fragrant notes and creating a robust flavor foundation.
- Stream marinara sauce, rich beef broth, and juicy diced tomatoes into the pot. Gently nestle the spaghetti strands into the liquid landscape, ensuring they are completely submerged without excessive stirring.
- Elevate the mixture to a vigorous boil, then immediately reduce the heat to a gentle simmer. Cover the pot and let the ingredients commune, stirring intermittently to prevent pasta from clinging to the bottom.
- Monitor the culinary transformation as the pasta absorbs the liquid and becomes perfectly tender. The sauce will gradually thicken, creating a luxurious, cohesive one-pot wonder.
- Once the spaghetti reaches an ideal al dente consistency and the sauce has developed a rich, clingy texture, remove from heat. Allow the dish to rest briefly, letting the flavors intensify and settle.
Notes
- Ensure ground beef is browned thoroughly to develop deep, rich flavors and prevent any raw meat taste.
- Break meat into small, uniform pieces while cooking to promote even browning and better sauce integration.
- Use high-quality marinara sauce for enhanced overall taste, as it significantly impacts the final dish’s flavor profile.
- For gluten-free version, substitute regular spaghetti with gluten-free pasta made from rice, corn, or legume bases.
- Vegetarian option works perfectly by replacing ground beef with plant-based crumbles or diced mushrooms for similar texture.
- Add extra protein by sprinkling grated Parmesan or nutritional yeast on top before serving for added depth.
- Control spice levels by adjusting red pepper flakes – start with less and gradually increase according to personal heat tolerance.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg