Easy Beef Spaghetti with Parmesan and Herbs
This Easy Beef Spaghetti with Parmesan and Herbs is a quick and comforting weeknight dinner made with browned ground beef, onions, Italian herbs and a flavourful jarred tomato sauce. Served over tender spaghetti and finished with freshly grated Parmesan, it is a hearty ground beef pasta recipe that comes together in about 35 minutes. Simple, filling and always reliable.
Equipment
- Large pot (for cooking spaghetti)
- Large skillet or sauté pan
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Colander
- Cutting board
- Sharp kitchen knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cheese grater
- Pasta tongs or serving spoon
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti 340 g
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb beef ground - also consider pork, turkey or chicken
- 1 onion medium and diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 650 mL tomato sauce
- ½ cup reserved pasta water as needed
- 1 tablespoon butter optional
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated, plus more for serving
- Fresh basil oregano or parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until al dente according to the package directions. Before draining, reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water.
- Brown the meat: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground meat and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, breaking it into small pieces, until nicely browned. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Add the onion and seasonings: Add the diced onion and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, until softened. Stir in the garlic, Italian seasoning, oregano, basil and red pepper flakes. Cook for another 30 seconds.
- Simmer the sauce: Pour in the jarred pasta sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water and stir well, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
- Finish the sauce: Stir in the butter and Parmesan. Add a little more pasta water if the sauce seems too thick. Taste and season with salt and black pepper.
- Serve: Spoon the rich ground meat sauce over the spaghetti, or toss everything together in the skillet. Finish with plenty of shaved or grated Parmesan and fresh herbs.
Let the ground meat cook undisturbed for a minute or two before breaking it apart. Those browned, caramelized pieces add a deeper, slow-simmered flavour—even when you are using sauce from a jar.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef for a rich and hearty beef spaghetti without too much excess grease. Drain the skillet after browning if needed.
- Brown the ground beef well before adding the sauce. Those caramelized bits add deeper flavour to this easy ground beef spaghetti recipe.
- A good-quality jarred marinara or tomato basil sauce keeps this quick beef pasta dinner simple while still giving it plenty of flavour.
- Let the beef and tomato sauce simmer for at least 10 minutes. Even a short simmer helps the onions soften and the Italian herbs blend into the sauce.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining the spaghetti. A small splash helps loosen the sauce and makes it cling better to the noodles.
- Cook the spaghetti until al dente so it stays firm and does not become too soft under the hearty ground beef sauce.
- Freshly grated Parmesan gives the best flavour and melts smoothly into the hot spaghetti. Add extra Parmesan just before serving.
- Italian seasoning, oregano, basil or parsley can all be used in this easy weeknight pasta recipe. Use what you already have.
- Add red pepper flakes for a little heat, or leave them out for a mild and family-friendly beef spaghetti dinner.
- Leftover beef spaghetti can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheats well for lunch or another quick dinner.
Nutrition
Calories: 724kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 36gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 14gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 97mgSodium: 309mgPotassium: 567mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 233IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 207mgIron: 4mg
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!