The Bear Spaghetti with Hearty Meat Sauce (Print Version)

Hearty spaghetti with savory ground beef, aromatic herbs, and rich tomato sauce for a comforting Italian-American inspired meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 14 oz dried spaghetti

→ Sauce Base

02 - 2 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
05 - 1 lb ground beef
06 - 1 tsp dried oregano
07 - 1 tsp dried basil
08 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
09 - 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
10 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
11 - 1 tsp sugar
12 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ To Serve

13 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
14 - Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
15 - Extra virgin olive oil, for drizzling

# How-To Steps:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain thoroughly, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the chopped onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened and translucent. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 6-8 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
04 - Stir in dried oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Add tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor profile.
05 - Pour in crushed tomatoes and sugar. Season generously with salt and pepper. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes until the sauce reaches desired thickness.
06 - Toss the drained spaghetti with the prepared sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve proper consistency. Serve immediately topped with grated Parmesan, fresh basil leaves, and a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The sauce develops this incredible depth that makes people think you simmered it all day even though its ready in under an hour
  • Its the kind of meal that somehow tastes even better as leftovers the next night
02 -
  • The pasta water is liquid gold, dont dump it down the drain
  • Letting the tomato paste cook for a minute removes that raw canned taste
03 -
  • San Marzano tomatoes are worth every penny for that authentic taste
  • Let the sauce simmer longer if you have time, it only gets better

Go Back