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4.94 from 15 votes

Best Ever Spaghetti and Meat Sauce

This Best Ever Spaghetti and Meat Sauce recipe is the perfect Italian-style weeknight family meal - a rich, meaty sauce served over your favourite pasta!
Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian, Meal Prep, Weeknight Meal
Keyword Best Ever Spaghetti and Meat Sauce
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 186kcal
Author Chrissie (thebusybaker.ca)

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds lean ground beef
  • 1 large onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 9 cups canned crushed tomatoes (plain pureed tomato sauce, no salt or flavour added)
  • chopped fresh parsley and parmesan cheese, for garnish
  • spaghetti noodles, cooked according to package directions (I recommend Barilla brand - they're our family's favourite!)

Instructions

  • Heat a large dutch oven pot over medium high heat. 
  • Add the ground beef and cook until almost completely browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
  • Turn the heat to medium and add the onions, garlic, salt and pepper (to taste), parsley, basil, oregano and thyme. Saute with the beef until the onions are soft and translucent. 
  • Add the wine and allow the liquid to evaporate while stirring the mixture regularly so the meat absorbs the flavour of the wine. 
  • When the wine has almost evaporated, add the crushed tomatoes and stir to combine.
  • Cover and let simmer on medium-low heat for at least 30 minutes, or up to 2 hours (turn the heat to low if you plan to simmer for a long time). Stir regularly to ensure the sauce cooks evenly.
  • Prepare the pasta according to the package directions, cooking it in salted water for best results.
  • Serve the sauce over the pasta with a sprinkling of fresh parsley (if desired) and freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Notes

This recipe is great for meal prep because the sauce can be prepared in advance and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Freeze in airtight containers for up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 186kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 47mg | Sodium: 291mg | Potassium: 840mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 390IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 79mg | Iron: 4mg