🍝 Best-Ever Spaghetti Meat Sauce 😍✨
This Best-Ever Spaghetti Meat Sauce is the ultimate comfort food, combining rich, savory flavors with a perfectly simmered texture that will make you never look at store-bought sauce the same way again. Perfectly seasoned ground chuck and a hearty mix of herbs, spices, and tomatoes create a sauce that’s deep, flavorful, and perfect for pairing with your favorite pasta. Get ready to experience a homemade sauce that’s pure comfort in every bite!
📝 Ingredients:
For the Meat Sauce:
2 lbs ground chuck (80/20) 🍖
1 large onion (or 2 medium), diced 🧅
4 cloves garlic, minced 🧄
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes 🍅
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste 🍅
1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes 🍅
1 cup beef broth 🥄
1 tbsp sugar 🍬
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 🍶
2 tsp dried basil 🌿
2 tsp dried oregano 🌿
1 tsp dried thyme 🌿
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes 🌶️ (optional for heat)
Salt and pepper, to taste 🧂
2 tbsp olive oil 🧑🍳
Fresh basil or parsley, chopped for garnish (optional) 🌿
For Serving:
1 lb spaghetti pasta 🍝
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese 🧀
📝 Instructions:
1. Cook the Ground Chuck:
Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the ground chuck and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon or spatula, until the meat is browned and cooked through (about 8-10 minutes).
Drain excess fat: If there’s too much excess fat, carefully drain it off, leaving just a bit to keep the sauce rich.
2. Add Aromatics:
Add diced onions to the pan with the browned meat and cook for about 5 minutes, or until the onions are soft and translucent.
Add minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
3. Create the Sauce Base:
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and diced tomatoes, and mix well. These will form the base of the sauce.
Pour in the beef broth to thin out the sauce slightly and bring everything together. Add sugar to balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
Season the sauce with Worcestershire sauce, dried basil, dried oregano, dried thyme, red pepper flakes (if using), and salt and pepper to taste. Stir until everything is well combined.
4. Simmer and Build Flavor:
Bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for at least 45 minutes to 1 hour, stirring occasionally. The longer you simmer the sauce, the more the flavors will develop. You can also let it simmer for up to 2 hours if you have the time for even richer flavor.
Adjust seasoning: Taste the sauce as it cooks and adjust salt, pepper, and herbs to your liking.
5. Prepare the Spaghetti:
Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions in a large pot of salted water. Once the pasta is al dente, drain it, saving about 1 cup of pasta water.
Toss the spaghetti with a little of the pasta water to keep it from sticking, then transfer it to plates or a serving dish.
6. Combine and Serve:
Top the cooked spaghetti with a generous portion of the meat sauce. If you like, you can toss the spaghetti and sauce together in the pot for a more even distribution of sauce.
Garnish with fresh basil or parsley and grated Parmesan cheese for added flavor and a fresh finish.
✨ Tips for the Best Spaghetti Meat Sauce:
Use high-quality ground beef: Using ground chuck (80/20) gives you a juicy, flavorful base for the sauce. You can also use ground turkey or ground pork for a lighter version.
Slow and low: The longer you let the sauce simmer, the more flavorful it becomes. If you have time, let it simmer for a couple of hours to achieve deep, rich flavor.
Flavor adjustments: Depending on your preference, you can add a splash of red wine during the simmering process for even more depth. If the sauce tastes too acidic, add a little more sugar to balance the flavors.
Homemade touch: To make this dish even more homemade, try adding some fresh herbs like basil or oregano near the end of the simmering process.
🍽️ Nutritional Information (per serving, 1/4 of the recipe without pasta):
Calories: Approx. 300-350 kcal
Carbs: Approx. 12g
Protein: Approx. 30g
Fat: Approx. 18g
Fiber: Approx. 3g
🌟 Why You’ll Love This Best-Ever Spaghetti Meat Sauce:
Rich, hearty, and satisfying: This sauce packs a punch of savory goodness and makes a perfect match with any pasta.
Comfort food at its finest: Whether you’re serving it for a family dinner, a special occasion, or meal prepping for the week, this sauce is sure to please.
Versatile: Use this sauce for more than just spaghetti—try it on lasagna, baked ziti, or even as a topping for pizza!
This Best-Ever Spaghetti Meat Sauce is the kind of recipe you’ll want to make again and again. Perfect for all occasions, this sauce brings the classic comfort of homemade pasta sauce right to your table! 🍝