Homemade Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Name: Homemade Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 lb ground beef; 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped; 1 medium onion, chopped; 1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce; 1 (6 oz) can tomato paste; 1 lb spaghetti; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; water, for rinsing can; Salad, for serving; Garlic bread, for serving

This homemade spaghetti with meat sauce combines ground beef, fresh vegetables, and tomato sauce into a rich, comforting pasta dish that's ready in under 30 minutes—ideal for busy weeknight family dinners.

🌍American 🏷️Spaghetti 🏷️Meat sauce 🏷️Pasta 🏷️Ground beef Comfort food

🏷️

🏷️Weeknight dinner

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TikTok

Total

35 min

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$22–$36

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok

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TikTok

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
1 lb spaghetti
salt, to taste
black pepper, to taste
water, for rinsing can
Salad, for servingoptional
Garlic bread, for servingoptional

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Instructions

1
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, begin browning the ground beef.
2
Add the chopped green bell pepper and chopped onion to the skillet with the ground beef.
3
Continue to cook, breaking up the meat, until the beef is browned and the vegetables are softened. Drain off any excess grease.
4
While the meat cooks, bring a large pot of water to a boil for the spaghetti. Once boiling, season generously with salt.
5
Season the meat mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
6
Pour the can of tomato sauce into the skillet. Rinse the can with a little water and add that to the skillet as well.
7
Add the tomato paste to the sauce.
8
Stir everything together until well combined. Bring the sauce to a bubble.
9
Once bubbling, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let the sauce simmer.
10
Break the spaghetti noodles in half and add them to the boiling water. Cook according to package directions until al dente.
11
Stir the sauce occasionally as it simmers to prevent it from sticking.
12
Once the pasta is cooked, drain it well.
13
Pour the finished meat sauce directly into the pot with the drained spaghetti.
14
Stir well to coat all the spaghetti with the sauce.
15
Serve immediately, optionally with a side of salad and garlic bread.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Brown the ground beef thoroughly over medium-high heat before adding vegetables; drain excess fat to prevent a greasy sauce.
Chop peppers and onions into small, even pieces so they soften and distribute evenly throughout the sauce.
Taste and adjust salt and pepper after simmering; the sauce concentrates as it cooks, so season conservatively at first.
Undercook the spaghetti by 1 minute if you plan to mix it directly into the sauce—residual heat and sauce will finish cooking it.

Substitutions

Ground beef → ground turkey or ground pork (no flavor or texture change to cooking method)
Fresh green bell pepper and onion → frozen diced vegetables (adds directly; no sauté step needed)
Canned tomato sauce + tomato paste → 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes (reduce simmer time to 10 minutes)

Storage & make-ahead

Store sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat, adding water if it thickens. Freezes well for up to 2 months.

Common Questions

Can I make the meat sauce ahead of time?

Yes. Prepare the sauce up to 2 days in advance, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, and reheat gently before serving over fresh pasta.