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spaghetti with meat sauce recipe on a black and white napkin
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Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is a kid friendly dinner that I know everyone will eat. Follow this recipe to turn your favorite jarred marinara sauce into delicious spaghetti with meat sauce.
Course Dinner
Cuisine American, Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings 5 people
Author Susie Weinrich

Ingredients

  • ½ lb spaghetti
  • 1 lb ground beef can use ground turkey or Italian sausage
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ yellow onion, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon each: onion powder, garlic powder, salt
  • 24 oz favorite jarred marinara sauce
  • ⅓ cup water

Optional Garnish

  • shredded or grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • In a large saute pan with high sides or a sauce pot, over medium heat, add olive oil.
  • Add the ground beef and cook through while crumbling. If there is excess grease drain it off before moving on.
  • Next add the onions and garlic and saute until they are softening, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the oregano, basil, onion powder, and garlic powder. Warm the spices through for 1 minute.
  • Pour in the marinara, then add ⅓ cup water the empty marinara jar and give it a shake to get all the flavor out of the jar. Pour that into the sauce.
    (could also use red wine in place of water in this step)
  • Let this simmer for 10 minutes.
    Cook the pasta in a separate pot at this time, following box instructions : )
  • Drain the pasta, and mix it in the sauce. Serve with parmesan cheese on the side

Notes

Troubleshooting Your Sauce: 
  1. Don't have ground beef? You can use ground turkey, ground Italian sausage or ground chicken.
  2. Sauce is too thin? Keep the lid off of the pot and simmer over low for 10 minutes to concentrate. In a pinch you can also add 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon cool water while the sauce is simmering. This should thicken it immediately.
  3. Sauce is too thick? Add a small 8oz can of tomato sauce. Then taste for additional seasoning.
  4. Sauce is too tangy? Add a couple teaspoons of sugar.
  5. Sauce is too sweet? Add acid, which can be in the form of balsamic vinegar, white wine vinegar or tomato sauce. Add the vinegar sparingly, it can quickly take over the sauce!
  6. Sauce is too salty? Add cream or half and half at the end.
  7. Want more depth of flavor? Instead of water add red wine
  8. Rather have meatballs? Pop over to this Baked Italian Meatball recipe!