Spaghetti with Beef Sauce Recipe for Cozy Nights

My passionate love for hearty spaghetti with beef sauce emerged during a cozy autumn evening in naples.

Memories of my grandmother’s kitchen still dance through this robust recipe.

Rich tomato aromas would swirl around her small cooking space, making everyone hungry.

Delicate pasta strands perfectly complement the deep, meaty flavors of slow-simmered sauce.

Mediterranean cooking traditions inspire this classic dish that connects generations.

Comfort and warmth blend seamlessly in each carefully crafted bite.

You can recreate this soul-satisfying meal and transport yourself to an Italian kitchen in moments.

Spaghetti With Beef Sauce Rich Savory And Classic

• Quick Weeknight Warrior: Whips up a hearty meal in under 45 minutes, perfect for busy families craving delicious comfort food without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Family-Friendly Flavor Explosion: Combines kid-approved ingredients like beef, bacon, and pasta into a crowd-pleasing dish that satisfies both picky eaters and adults seeking a rich, satisfying meal.
• Versatile Cooking Technique: Teaches essential culinary skills like creating a roux, browning meat, and building layered sauce flavors that can be applied to multiple recipes beyond spaghetti.
• Budget-Friendly Gourmet Experience: Uses affordable ingredients to create a restaurant-quality meal at home, stretching your grocery budget while delivering maximum taste and satisfaction.

What’s Tossed into Spaghetti with Beef Sauce

• Spaghetti: Classic pasta that provides a perfect foundation for the hearty sauce, choose high-quality durum wheat pasta for best texture.

• Bacon, Minced Beef: Rich protein sources that add deep flavor and meaty texture, select lean beef and smoky bacon for robust taste.

• Onion, Garlic: Essential flavor builders that create a savory base, fresh produce ensures maximum taste and aroma.

• Tomato Sauce: Provides rich, tangy base for the meat sauce, select high-quality canned or fresh tomato sauce.

• Butter, Flour, Milk: Key components for creating a smooth, creamy sauce that binds the dish together, use whole milk for richness and all-purpose flour for consistent texture.

How To Simmer Spaghetti With Beef Sauce At Home

Step 1: Boil Water and Cook Pasta

Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil.

Add the spaghetti and cook until al dente.

Drain the pasta in a colander and set aside, reserving a small amount of pasta water for later use.

Step 2: Prepare Aromatic Ingredients

• Bacon
• Onion
• Garlic

Finely dice each ingredient to ensure even cooking and distribution of flavors.

Step 3: Render Bacon Bits

Heat a large skillet over medium heat.

Add the diced bacon and cook slowly, allowing the fat to render out until the pieces become golden and crispy.

Transfer the bacon bits to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease.

Step 4: Sauté Aromatic Base

In the same skillet with remaining bacon fat, add the diced onions and garlic.

Sauté until the onions become translucent and fragrant, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.

Step 5: Brown Ground Beef

Introduce the ground beef to the skillet with onions and garlic.

Break the meat into small crumbles using a wooden spoon.

Cook until the beef is completely browned and no pink remains.

Step 6: Build Rich Tomato Sauce

Pour in the tomato sauce and seasonings.

Reduce heat and let the sauce simmer, allowing the flavors to meld together.

Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.

Step 7: Create Creamy Béchamel

In a separate saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.

Sprinkle in flour and whisk continuously to create a smooth roux.

Gradually pour in milk, whisking constantly to prevent lumps from forming.

Cook until the sauce thickens and becomes velvety.

Step 8: Marry Sauces Together

Gently fold the creamy béchamel into the beef and tomato sauce.

Stir until fully incorporated, creating a rich and luxurious sauce.

Step 9: Combine Pasta and Sauce

Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce, tossing thoroughly to ensure each strand is beautifully coated.

If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it.

Step 10: Plate and Garnish

Transfer the saucy spaghetti to serving plates.

Sprinkle the crispy bacon bits on top for an extra layer of flavor and crunch.

Serve immediately while hot.

Spaghetti Tips With Hearty Beef Sauce

• Brown the beef thoroughly in the pan to develop deep, rich flavors through caramelization.
• Adjust the roux thickness by gradually adding milk and whisking continuously to prevent lumpy texture.
• Cook bacon slowly over medium heat to achieve maximum crunchiness without burning.
• Add a pinch of salt and black pepper during beef cooking to layer and intensify overall taste.
• Stir spaghetti immediately after adding to sauce to ensure even coating and prevent clumping.

Beef Spaghetti Stores Flavorful and Easy to Heat

• Store leftover spaghetti in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping it fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Place a portion in a microwave-safe dish, sprinkle a few drops of water to prevent drying, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to ensure even warming.
• Warm the pasta in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of water or extra sauce to restore moisture and prevent sticking.
• Transfer cooled spaghetti to freezer-safe containers, seal tightly, and freeze for up to 2 months, thawing overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Rich Matches For Beef Spaghetti

• Pair with Bold Red Wine: Complement the rich beef sauce with a robust Cabernet Sauvignon or Chianti, which cuts through the meat's heaviness and enhances the tomato's acidity.
• Create Herbal Garnish: Sprinkle fresh basil or parsley on top to add brightness and a crisp contrast to the hearty meat sauce, introducing a layer of fresh flavor.
• Match with Crusty Garlic Bread: Serve alongside toasted garlic bread to soak up the delicious sauce, providing a crunchy texture that perfectly complements the soft spaghetti.
• Balance with Fresh Arugula Salad: Add a light, peppery arugula salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette to cut through the sauce's richness and provide a refreshing counterpoint.

Saucy Spaghetti Dinner Twists

• Vegetarian Delight: Replace beef with plant-based protein like lentils, crumbled tofu, or textured vegetable protein for a meat-free version.
• Gluten-Free Option: Use gluten-free spaghetti and replace wheat flour with cornstarch or almond flour for the roux to accommodate gluten sensitivities.
• Low-Carb Alternative: Swap traditional spaghetti with zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash for a lighter, lower-carbohydrate meal that maintains the rich sauce flavor.
• Dairy-Free Version: Substitute milk with coconut milk or almond milk and use dairy-free butter alternative to create a creamy sauce for those with lactose intolerance.

FAQs

• Can I use ground turkey instead of beef?

Yes, ground turkey is a lean alternative that works perfectly in this recipe. It provides a similar texture and absorbs the sauce flavors just as well as beef.

• Is this recipe considered a classic Bolognese?

While similar, this recipe is a simplified version of traditional Bolognese. Classic Bolognese typically includes more complex ingredients like pancetta and sometimes wine.

• How can I make this dish more nutritious?

Add extra vegetables like diced carrots or zucchini during the onion sautéing stage. This boosts nutritional value and adds more depth to the sauce flavor.

• Do I need any special cooking skills to make this recipe?

No, this recipe is beginner-friendly. The steps are straightforward, and even novice cooks can successfully prepare this delicious spaghetti dish with basic kitchen skills.

Spaghetti with Beef Sauce Recipe

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4.6 from 17 reviews

• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Homemade spaghetti with beef sauce brings classic Italian comfort straight to your kitchen, offering rich, hearty flavors that comfort and delight. Savory ground beef, aromatic herbs, and perfectly cooked pasta combine in a simple yet satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 700 g (24.7 ounces) minced beef
• 300 g (10.6 ounces) spaghetti
• 200 g (7.1 ounces) bacon, diced
• 200 g (7.1 ounces) tomato sauce

Aromatic Vegetables:

• 1 red onion, diced
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced

Creamy Roux Components:

• 40 g (1.4 ounces) butter
• 30 g (1.1 ounces) flour
• 500 ml (2.1 cups) milk

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Instructions

1. Prepare a pot of salted water and cook the spaghetti until it reaches al dente perfection, then carefully drain and reserve.
2. Create a flavor foundation by finely chopping the bacon, onion, and garlic into uniform pieces.
3. Transform the bacon in a spacious skillet, rendering it to a golden crispness. Extract the bacon bits and set aside, preserving the rendered fat.
4. Utilize the same skillet with residual bacon essence to gently soften the onion and garlic, releasing their aromatic qualities.
5. Introduce the ground beef to the pan, breaking it into crumbly fragments and browning thoroughly to develop rich, deep flavors.
6. Infuse the beef mixture with tomato sauce, allowing the ingredients to meld and intensify during a gentle simmering process.
7. Craft a silky roux in a separate vessel by melting butter and incorporating flour, then gradually whisking in milk to create a smooth, luxurious sauce that thickens with patient stirring.
8. Marry the creamy roux with the robust beef and tomato mixture, ensuring complete integration of flavors and textures.
9. Envelop the cooked spaghetti strands with the sumptuous sauce, guaranteeing each noodle is lavishly coated.
10. Present the spaghetti adorned with the reserved crispy bacon fragments, ready to delight eager diners.

Notes

• Choose high-quality ground beef with moderate fat content for richer flavor and juicier sauce.
• Create deeper taste by letting sauce simmer longer, developing more complex notes through slow cooking.
• Swap traditional spaghetti with whole wheat or gluten-free alternatives for dietary preferences without compromising texture.
• Reserve small amount of pasta water to adjust sauce consistency and enhance overall binding between noodles and sauce.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 713
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 650 mg
• Fat: 45 g
• Saturated Fat: 20 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 56 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 36 g
• Cholesterol: 130 mg