Delicious Pasta Sauce sopped up with garlic bread that reminds you of an Italian Grandmothers Tomato Sauce is the perfect busy weeknights meal to whip up and satisify a hungry family on the go! This is absolutely the Best Ground Beef for Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (Easy) out there. Also, no worries, if it’s just you. The rest will freeze like a dream! This recipe shows you how to cook up the ground beef for a spaghetti meat sauce recipe.
The aroma of this homemade meat sauce simmering away over medium heat on the stove is the best thing you’ll smell this week! This homemade spaghetti meat sauce is a simple meal prep and you can make it in a big batch and freeze it for later! Seasoned with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes and tomato paste, you’ll find it is a delicious spaghetti dish when served over everything from your favorite pasta to spaghetti squash!
Why This Recipe Works
- Easy Meat Sauce with savory flavor that you can accomplish in no time at all!
- You can use any ground meat such as ground turkey, ground beef or ground chicken.
- Ready in 30 minutes or less!
- Use Any kind of pasta you have!
- Just use your pantry staples.
Step By Step Guide
Extra Tips:
- 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). If you use an extra lean ground beef, you may not need to.
- 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 how much 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 for This Ground Beef Pasta Recipe
- Make sure you season your meat! Add salt and black pepper.
- Cook in a large skillet, this helps brown the meat evenly. Cook the meat over low heat to medium-high heat.
- When storing, place in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Remove the meat AS SOON as the pink color is gone. This is the best way to 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. If your beef is VERY lean, add a touch of olive oil or other cooking oil.
- 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 a simple recipe for spaghetti sauce recipe to use for this ground beef, check out this homemade marinara sauce: The Best Spaghetti Sauce Ever. You can also use a jar of marinara sauce.
PRO TIP: Pro Tip Don’t drain all the excess fat. Keep some for extra beefy flavor!
Can You Help Me Out?
I would love to hear from you about how this recipe turned out for you! Let me see a pic of your spaghetti!
Also, could you 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.
Nutrition
This article originally appeared on the pages of Loaves and Dishes on July 24, 2020 and has been updated with new information, photos and more.
From the Beatitudes, I learned these as a child. Why aren’t we remembering these?
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
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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