Spaghetti with Ground Beef and Tomato Basil Sauce
A comforting family classic with savory ground beef simmered in a rich tomato sauce, served over perfectly cooked spaghetti. This Italian-inspired meal-prep recipe, ready in about 40 minutes, pairs ground beef, spaghetti, tomato sauce for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 12 oz spaghetti
- 2 cups tomato sauce
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1/2 cup, finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves, minced garlic
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp, chopped fresh basil
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1/2 cup finely chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add 2 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned, then drain excess fat.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 cups tomato sauce, 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, 1 tsp dried basil, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Step 4: While sauce simmers, cook 12 oz spaghetti in a large pot of salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and toss with 1 tbsp reserved pasta water. Serve sauce over spaghetti, topped with 3 tbsp fresh basil.








