Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Oh my goodness!

Do you have a certain food that is just like a nice warm hug for your belly?

Well this is it for me!

When I was young it was my Dad making spaghetti with meat sauce. It was one of the meals that only my Dad made.

Granted when he made it he used Ragu and some dried Italian seasoning, but it was made by my Dad so it was made with love. I was always excited when I saw him in the kitchen.

Fast forward a *ahem* few years.

Here is little ol' me in the kitchen wanting to make that tummy hugging, love provoking meal that my Daddy made for me all of those years.

But not wanting to do it with prepared spaghetti sauce.

Don't get me wrong, I have used a ton of Ragu, Prego, and Classico sauce in my lifetime! 

However I knew that I could make a homemade sauce in less than an hour that would have more flavor and make the family oh so happy.

I ironed out the details in my Marinara Sauce and then from there it was smooth sailing to get my meat sauce dialed in. 

I just fell back on my memories of Daddy in the kitchen browning up the meat and going for broke.

I love it when I make this sauce because, for Kevin and I, I get 3 meals out of it.

Now if the kids were still here, I would probably have to make a double batch! They fight over the last drop in the pan!!

So if you think that you can't make a sauce that tastes like you have cooked for hours, just give this a try. 

You won't be disappointed I promise!

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce  

3 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
2 large cloves of garlic, minced
1 pound lean ground beef
1 pound mild or spicy Italian sausage (if your grocer doesn't have bulk just cut open the link type)
1 28 ounce can of crushed tomatoes (Recommended San Marzano)
2 6 ounce cans of tomatoes paste
1 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves, chopped
1 bay leaf
Kosher salt
Fresh cracked black pepper
1 pound spaghetti 
Parmesan cheese

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. Mix in the garlic and cook one more minute. Push the onions and garlic to the outside of the pan and crumble in the ground beef and Italian sausage. Cook until no pink remains, breaking up the pieces with a wooden spoon. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomatoes paste, water, oregano, and the bay leaf. (Add more water if sauce seems too thick). Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt the water and add the spaghetti. Cook for 10 minutes, or until pasta is al dente. Drain the pasta.

Serve pasta topped with the meat sauce. Garnish with Parmesan cheese.

Serves 6 to 8



  1. This is definitely a warming dish. I'm vegetarian and I want a big bowl. Yummy!

    1. Well that makes me feel good :) but you could just omit the meat and you have my marinara sauce!