Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Spaghetti with meat sauce is one of those dishes that I make with whatever I have on hand.  I like to use ground Italian sausage, but I can’t always find it.  Instead, I buy the links and remove the casings.  If I don’t have sausage, I add diced pepperoni to the ground meat.  I sometimes use a can of whole Italian peeled tomatoes and crush them myself.  Other times I use a can of tomato paste instead of the puree.   Whatever makes life easier.

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Spaghetti with Meat Sauce Recipe

For thicker sauce, substitute a tablespoon of double concentrate tomato paste for the puree. Add water, a little at a time, until you reach the desired consistency.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

Servings 8

Author olives-n-okra

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic minced
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 1 pound ground beef or chuck
• 5 to 6 Italian sausage links casings removed
• 1 28- ounce can Italian crushed tomatoes
• 1 28- ounce can tomato puree
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 7 or 8 basil leaves sliced into ribbons
• 1 pound spaghetti

Instructions

1. In a large saucepan add oil and heat on low. Sauté onion and garlic in oil until tender.
2. Turn the heat up to medium. Add ground chuck and sausage and cook until the meat is browned, stirring often.
3. Add tomatoes, puree, salt. and cheese; stir well. Bring sauce to a boil and boil for 3 or 4 minutes. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer for about 30 minutes. Add basil; mix well. Adjust salt as necessary.
4. While sauce is simmering, cook spaghetti in a large pot of well-salted boiling water until al dente (about 8-10 minutes). Drain well. Toss spaghetti with meat sauce. Sprinkle with cheese and serve.