When it comes to Italian comfort food, a bowl of spaghetti tossed with a tomato-rich meat sauce ranks high. If I’ve got the time, I love spending the afternoon slowly simmering a Bolognese sauce.
More often than not, though, a packed schedule means dinner needs to be a much faster affair. This quick and easy spaghetti sauce is a total weeknight win. It’s as satisfying as a slow-simmered pasta sauce but comes together in less than 45 minutes—including the time it takes to boil a box of spaghetti.
How Do You Make Spaghetti Sauce?
Simple is the name of the game here. To make this spaghetti sauce, you‘ll sauté chopped onion, minced garlic, lean ground beef, and classic Italian spices like dried oregano and red pepper flakes in a large skillet until the meat is browned and cooked through. Then you’ll pour in a large can of crushed tomatoes and let the mixture simmer gently while you cook the spaghetti.The Secret Ingredient
A quick simmer means you'll miss out on the depth of flavor that comes with slowly simmering a pasta sauce for hours. However, stirring a splash of balsamic vinegar into the sauce right before you toss it with the spaghetti might make you forget the whole thing came together so quickly. Balsamic vinegar’s richness amps up the meat sauce, giving it the body, sweetness, and balance of a sauce that’s cooked for much longer.What to Serve on the Side
A comforting spaghetti dinner doesn’t need much else besides a shower of grated Parmesan on top and a glass of Italian red wine. However, it’s nice to round out the meal with a little something on the side. Here are five of our favorites.
