The Secret to PERFECT ground beef for your spaghetti recipe UNLOCKED! I’ll show you how to make hearty, delicious chunky or even fine crumble ground beef for your amazing tomato sauce! I’ll show you how to cook ground beef for spaghetti today!
Why This Recipe Works
- Easy
- You already have the ingredients in your fridge or pantry.
- Ready in 30 minutes or less!
HERE’S HOW IT’S DONE
STEP 1.
Preheat the pan and then, start to break up the hunk of ground beef. Make sure you add Salt, pepper and your other favorite seasonings
STEP 2.
Break up the beef until it is at your desired consistency. Some people prefer small chunks of meat while others prefer larger chunks. It’s up to you! If you want finely ground beef, check out how to do that here!
STEP 3.
As soon as there is no more pink color to the beef, take it off the heat. This will keep it from getting dried out. If there is excess fat you can drain that at this step or leave it. It’s up to you!
POINTS TO REMEMBER:
- Make sure to remove the meat from the heat once the pink color is gone
- You don’t have to drain the excess fat unless you want to (a little fat will add some flavor).
- Season your beef! Always use some Salt and pepper
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)
Can you cook ground beef in the oven?
Yes! Definitely consider cooking your ground beef in the oven! It reduces mess and frees up the stovetop for other things.
Put your beef on a lined baking sheet. Break the beef up into small crumbles and bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees.
How long does it take to cook ground beef?
This depends on the cooking method you are using.
Pan Cooking:
should take between 7 and 10 minutes to cook
Oven Cooking:
15 minutes.
Microwave cooking (not recommended):
5 minutes
Boiling (not recommended):
5-8 minutes
Should I drain the meat for spaghetti?
If there is a lot of excess fat then drain some of it but not all. The fat adds flavor to the meat.
What kind of ground beef is best for spaghetti?
- You can use any ground beef for spaghetti but some beef has a higher fat content than others tastes best.
- Be sure to check the package for the fat content. Usually fat content in the 70%-80% range works best but will have more fat to drain.
- 90% beef will have less fat and is somewhat less flavorful.
What Kind of Spaghetti Sauce Should I Use?
You can use any sauce that you prefer. Store bought sauce is fine or you can easily make your own.
Do I Need To Make My Own Sauce From Scratch?
No, you don’t need to make your own sauce from scratch, a store bought sauce will work just fine.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure you season your meat! By season, I mean, add salt and pepper. If you aren’t sure if there is enough seasoning then taste it!
- Remove the meat AS SOON as the pink color is gone. This will keep your meat from getting dried out. Don’t over cook your beef!
- You don’t need oil to cook ground beef. Just put it in a pan and turn the heat on. The fat from the beef will help to keep it from sticking anHow d help keep it moist.
- You can cook beef in the oven, just line a baking sheet and break the beef up. Cook at 425 for 15 minutes.
- Always check the fat content on the beef packaging. Different fat contents are good for different things. For the best tasting ground beef for your spaghetti recipe, aim for an 80/20 mix.
- If you need an exceptional spaghetti sauce recipe to use for this ground beef, check out The Best Spaghetti Sauce Ever
PRO TIP: Pro Tip Don’t drain all the excess fat. Keep some for extra beefy flavor!
If You Enjoyed This Ground Beef Recipe, You Might Also Enjoy These Other Beefy Wonders…
- The Ultimate Guide for Cooking Ground Beef
- How to Thaw Ground Beef
- Southern Baked Spaghetti
- How to Drain Ground Beef
Can You Help Me Out?
Please leave a 5 STAR comment in the comment section below, doing so helps others to find the recipes at Loaves and Dishes! Thanks!
How to cook ground beef for spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 lb Ground Beef
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- ½ tsp Ground Black Pepper
Instructions
- Put ground beef in the frying pan and turn the heat on medium. Start breaking up the ground beef into small crumbles or whatever size crumble you prefer.
- Season the beef with salt, pepper or whatever seasonings you prefer.
- As soon as there is no more pink color showing, remove the beef from the heat and add your spaghetti sauce and proceed with your sauce recipe.
Notes
- Make sure you season your meat! If you aren't sure if there is enough seasoning then give it a taste.
- Remove the meat AS SOON as the pink color is gone. This will keep your meat from getting dried out. Don’t over cook your beef!
- You don’t need oil to cook ground beef. Just put it in a pan and turn the heat on. The fat from the beef will help to keep it from sticking and help keep it moist.
- You can cook beef in the oven, just line a baking sheet and break the beef up. Cook at 425 for 15 minutes.
- Always check the fat content on the beef packaging. Different fat contents are good for different things.
Joe
Tuesday 25th of July 2023
Really?? Cook beef until not pink and add whatever seasonings you like. Yep, the secret is unlocked. thank you.
Wendi Spraker
Sunday 30th of July 2023
You are welcome
Shelby
Thursday 8th of April 2021
I get ground beef from Costco and cook up the whole big batch. I then drain and put in freezer bags. When I want to make something with ground beef, spaghetti or something else, I just need to thaw a bag of pre-cooked beef. I've been doing this for years. Works great for quick meals.
Wendi Spraker
Friday 9th of April 2021
Glad to hear it
Wendi J Spraker
Wednesday 2nd of September 2020
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