Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce

Name: Spaghetti with Quick Meat Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 pound whole wheat spaghetti; 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil; 1 large onion, finely chopped; 1 large carrot, finely chopped; 1 celery stalk, finely chopped; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning; 1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean or leaner); 1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes; 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese; 1/2 teaspoon salt

Recipe GLPR4488003d2544a6

Italian

Main Course

35 min

371 cal

Servings: 8

Stovetop

SNAP eligible

Tender whole wheat spaghetti topped with a hearty, quick-cooking meat sauce made with lean ground beef, fresh vegetables, and herbs. This weeknight favorite comes together in about 30 minutes and serves 8.

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Ingredients

1 pound whole wheat spaghetti

2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 large carrot, finely chopped

1 celery stalk, finely chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon Italian seasoning

1 pound lean ground beef (90% lean or leaner)

1 14-ounce can crushed tomatoes

1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente, then drain and set aside.
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion begins to brown, about 5 to 8 minutes.
Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. Cook for about 30 seconds until very fragrant.
Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook, stirring frequently and breaking the meat into small pieces with a spoon, until the beef is no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Ensure the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
Increase the heat to high and stir in the crushed tomatoes. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, 4 to 6 minutes.
Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the fresh parsley and salt.
Divide the cooked spaghetti among serving bowls or plates. Spoon the meat sauce generously over each portion and top with grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.

Comments

Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff4

Every ingredient is stocked at every major Charlotte grocer, and ground beef, canned tomatoes, and dried pasta are rock-bottom prices—this meal lands around $1.50 per serving. The 35-minute claim is honest: browning beef takes 10 minutes, and the sauce needs 15-20 to meld flavors, so actual stovetop time matches the stated window. This is a weeknight workhorse that feeds a family of eight without fussiness, though the constant stirring of the sauce means you cannot walk away entirely. It reheats well for lunch the next day, and fresh parsley is a small flourish that justifies the quality without adding cost.