Dirty Spaghetti
Dirty Spaghetti
Ingredients
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1 yellow onion, medium, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1 can
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
For the Spaghetti
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- as needed water, for boiling pasta
- as needed salt, for pasta water
For Serving
- as needed Parmesan cheese, grated
- as needed fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 7 min
- 2
Add the chopped yellow onion to the pot with the beef and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant and the tomato paste has deepened in color.
⏱️ 2 min
- 4
Pour in the crushed tomatoes and beef broth. Add the dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
⏱️ 3 min
- 5
Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld. The longer it simmers, the better it will taste.
⏱️ 20 min
- 6
While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
Drain the cooked spaghetti, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Add the drained spaghetti directly into the pot with the meat sauce. Toss to coat the pasta thoroughly with the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Serve immediately, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Dirty Spaghetti
For the Meat Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 lean
- 1 yellow onion, medium, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1 can
- 1/2 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
For the Spaghetti
- 12 ounces spaghetti
- as needed water, for boiling pasta
- as needed salt, for pasta water
For Serving
- as needed Parmesan cheese, grated
- as needed fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 7 min - 2
Add the chopped yellow onion to the pot with the beef and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until fragrant and the tomato paste has deepened in color.
⏱️ 2 min - 4
Pour in the crushed tomatoes and beef broth. Add the dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
⏱️ 3 min - 5
Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld. The longer it simmers, the better it will taste.
⏱️ 20 min - 6
While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
Drain the cooked spaghetti, reserving about 1/2 cup of the pasta water.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Add the drained spaghetti directly into the pot with the meat sauce. Toss to coat the pasta thoroughly with the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Serve immediately, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min