Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef

There's nothing like classic spaghetti and meat sauce to bring people together around the dinner table. This homemade spaghetti sauce with ground beef recipe will satisfy all your comfort food cravings.

How to Make Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef

Restaurant-worthy spaghetti sauce with ground beef is just a few steps away. You'll find the full recipe below, but here's a brief overview of what you can expect:

Cook Beef and Veggies

Cook in a saucepan over medium-high heat with garlic, onion, and green pepper. Stir until the meat is brown and crumbly. The vegetables should be tender.

Add Tomato Products and Season

Stir diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste into the beef mixture. Add oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer until thick and aromatic, then serve over cooked spaghetti noodles.

Troubleshooting Spaghetti Sauce

If your spaghetti sauce didn't turn out exactly how you wanted it to, don't worry! There's probably an easy fix.

How to Thicken Spaghetti Sauce

This recipe should result in a perfectly thick spaghetti sauce. But things happen! If you somehow end up with a runny consistency, there are a few ways to thicken it. You could simmer the sauce for a few more minutes — this will reduce some of the liquid and leave you with a thicker sauce.

For a quicker fix, make a slurry with one part water and one part cornstarch. Stir the slurry slowly into the sauce until you've reached the desired thickness.

What Herbs to Add to Spaghetti Sauce

This top-rated recipe calls for garlic, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. However, you can certainly adjust, eliminate, or add seasonings to suit your taste. To make this spaghetti sauce your own, you could add parsley or spice things up with crushed red pepper. Just remember to taste the sauce every time you add an ingredient so you don't accidentally add too much or too little.

How Long to Simmer Spaghetti Sauce

We love the texture and flavor of this spaghetti sauce when it simmers for about an hour. If you'd like your sauce a little thinner, reduce the time a bit. Meanwhile, if you like it a little thicker, let it simmer for a bit longer.

Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef
Photo by Sherri.

What Goes With Spaghetti?

Looking for something delicious to pair with your spaghetti and meat sauce? Try one of these irresistible ideas:





How Long Does Spaghetti Last In the Fridge?

Store your cooked noodles and your spaghetti sauce with ground beef separately. The spaghetti noodles will last for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. The ground beef sauce, meanwhile, will last for 3 to 4 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

Can You Freeze Spaghetti Sauce?

Yes! You can absolutely freeze spaghetti sauce. It's a great way to deal with leftovers and meal prep at the same time. To freeze spaghetti sauce, ladle it into zip-top freezer bags in serving-sized portions. Squeeze out the excess air, seal, label with the date, lay flat in the freezer, and freeze for up to six months.

How to Reheat Frozen Spaghetti Sauce

Refrigerated spaghetti sauce can be reheated in a couple different ways. Microwave in 10-second increments (stirring between increments) or reheat on the stove, stirring frequently.

Thaw frozen spaghetti sauce in the fridge overnight. Reheat thawed sauce on the stove, stirring frequently.

Allrecipes Community Tips and Praise

"Very good 'go-to' recipe for traditional spaghetti sauce," according to . "I had all the ingredients on hand and the flavor was great — even better the next day. It made a good batch so I was able to freeze some for a quick dinner. I'll definitely be making this again!"

"What more can I say about this recipe that hasn't already been said," raves . "I did toss in some fresh mushrooms, but otherwise it's perfect just the way it is. It's absolutely delicious!"

"I've been looking for a simple yet robust sauce to try," says . "This is perfect! And with all the ingredients on hand, this was easy. I added two onions and a huge green pepper because I like my sauce zesty."

Editorial contributions by

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef

(1,465)
a close up view of a bowl of spaghetti topped with meat sauce, the pan of sauce is sitting in the background
Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr 5 mins
Total Time:
1 hr 15 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • 1 medium onion, chopped

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 small green bell pepper, diced

  • 1 (28 ounce) can diced tomatoes

  • 1 (16 ounce) can tomato sauce

  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste

  • 2 teaspoons dried oregano

  • 2 teaspoons dried basil

  • 1 teaspoon salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    Overhead of spaghetti sauce ingredients in various bowls.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Combine ground beef, onion, garlic, and green pepper in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook and stir until meat is browned and crumbly and vegetables are tender, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain grease.

    Overhead of ground beef, garlic, onions, and peppers waiting to be cooked and mixed together in a skillet.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

    Overhead of ground beef, onions, garlic, and peppers cooking in a skillet.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Stir diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste into the pan. Season with oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Simmer spaghetti sauce for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

    Overhead of a spaghetti sauce being cooked and stirred in a skillet.

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Serve hot and enjoy!

    a close up view of a bowl of spaghetti topped with meat sauce, the pan of sauce is sitting in the background

    DOTDASH MEREDITH FOOD STUDIOS

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

185 Calories
9g Fat
15g Carbs
12g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 185
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 4g 18%
Cholesterol 35mg 12%
Sodium 931mg 40%
Total Carbohydrate 15g 5%
Dietary Fiber 4g 13%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 12g 25%
Vitamin C 28mg 31%
Calcium 72mg 6%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 785mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.


Related Recipes

Gnocchi Primavera

Author: Kaylin Crooks

Trending Videos Close this video player Prep Time: 10 mins Cook Time: 20 mins Total Time: 30 mins Servings: 4 ...

View Recipes
Pan-Fried Asparagus

Author: Prof. Holly Kemmer

Making asparagus on the stove couldn’t be easier or more delicious. This pan-fried asparagus recipe will quickly become a mainstay in your side dish...

View Recipes
Shrimp Scampi with Pasta

Author: Mr. Johnnie Will

This quick and easy shrimp scampi pasta recipe is an Allrecipes fan-favorite, with more than one thousand ratings and hundreds of reviews. And it's...

View Recipes
Balsamic Bruschetta

Author: Mr. Andrew Mante MD

This top-rated bruschetta recipe proves that summertime gives you perfectly ripe and juicy tomatoes, one of the best ways to enjoy them is also one...

View Recipes
How to Make Perfect Polenta

Author: Dr. Gabrielle Farrell DDS

Perfect polenta is easier to make than you think! This top-rated polenta recipe will rival what you'd get at your favorite Italian restaurant. ...

View Recipes
Instant Pot Tuscan Bean and Sausage Soup

Author: Keara Stoltenberg

Trending Videos Close this video player Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 25 mins Stand Time: 5 mins Total Time: 45 mins ...

View Recipes
Gourmet Mushroom Risotto

Author: Arlene Kunze IV

Risotto ranks right up there as one of the greatest dishes you can make with rice. Originating in Italy, risotto is a recipe made by simmering a...

View Recipes
Seafood Risotto

Author: Prof. Nicola Langworth V

Trending Videos Close this video player Prep Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 25 mins Total Time: 55 mins Servings: 6 ...

View Recipes
Italian BLT

Author: Riley Kuvalis

Trending Videos Close this video player Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 3 mins Total Time: 18 mins Servings: 6 servings ...

View Recipes
Torta Caprese (Italian Flourless Chocolate Torte)

Author: Floy Carter

Italian Flourless Chocolate Torte (Torta Caprese) – So Much Better Than a Box of Chocolates! If you're looking for a deliciously decadent, yet...

View Recipes