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A handful of fresh ingredients combined with some clever kitchen techniques turn this Skillet Spaghetti with Meat Sauce into a speedy and delicious one-pan meal that will become a new family favorite!
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Why You’ll 🫶🏻 this Spaghetti
When I crave Spaghetti and Meatballs but don’t have time to spend in the kitchen, I make Skillet Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. It’s among my top one-pot recipes that is not only tasty but also simple to prepare. This dish is ideal for hectic weeknights when you have limited time to spend cooking or when you have a group of hungry teenagers that need to be fueled fast. Skillet spaghetti is a dish that is made entirely in a skillet, which translates to less cleanup for you. It’s an excellent method for creating a meal that is both hearty and satisfying without the need for multiple pots and pans. ~Nicole
Key Ingredients for Skillet Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Ground Beef adds a rich and savory flavor that cooks quickly. I use lean ground beef (93%) in this recipe.
Italian Sausage adds another layer of savory flavor from a blend of beef and pork, also introducing a slight sweetness from the addition of herbs and spices in the meaty mixture.
Canned Crushed Tomatoes have a sweet and bright flavor that blends the whole tomato and its juices. I like to use a smooth-textured canned variety in this recipe.
Garlic serves as a fundamental ingredient in this tomato sauce, adding depth, fragrance, and a gentle sharpness that elevates the inherent sweetness of the tomatoes, resulting in a balanced and delightful dish.
Spaghetti is a type of pasta with a mild flavor that is enhanced by the flavors it absorbs from the sauce.
Mozzarella and Parmesan Cheese add a rich flavor and creamy texture. The mozzarella brings a deliciously gooey and melty texture, whereas the parmesan adds a rich, nutty flavor.
Basil adds a fragrant essence that enhances the sweetness of the tomatoes. It also adds a bright color and a touch of herbal freshness to the sauce.
Equipment Needed
Tip for Making Skillet Spaghetti
- Place spaghetti in a large Ziploc bag.
- Using both hands, break the spaghetti against the edge of a counter.
- Continue the process until you have rough 2-inch pieces of pasta.
How to Make Skillet Spaghetti
- In a 12-inch non-stick skillet, brown the ground beef and sausage over medium-high heat, breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Transfer the meat to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, then return it to the skillet.
- Add the minced garlic, oregano, and pepper flakes (if using) and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the spaghetti, tomatoes, and water. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer.
- Cover with a lid, and cook for 7 minutes, stirring often.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for an additional 8 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.
- Add the basil, 1/2 cup mozzarella, and half-and-half and stir to combine.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan over the dish, then transfer it to the broiler. (If you are leery of the transfer, use the silicone handle with one hand and use an oven mitt with the other hand to hold the other side of the skillet and transfer to the broiler.
- Broil until the cheese is a golden spotty brown.
Substitutions
- You can substitute the 93% ground beef with a higher percentage of fat, or you can use ground turkey.
- You can substitute the Italian sausage (made from a blend of beef and pork) with Italian turkey sausage.
Serving Suggestions
Skillet Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces 93 % lean ground beef
- 8 ounces Italian sausage, sweet or hot
- 4 medium garlic cloves, minced
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 8 ounces spaghetti, broken into 2-inch pieces
- 2 cups water
- 1 teaspoons Kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ cup half-and-half
- 6 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
- ¾ cup freshly grated whole milk mozzarella (about 2 ¼ ounces), divided
- ¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about ¾ ounce)
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat broiler.
- In a large ovensafe non-stick skillet or saucepan, cook the beef and sausage over medium-high heat, breaking gup the meat with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Drain the meat on a paper towel lined platte and pour the fat off from the skillet.
- Return the meat to the pan and add the garlic and oregano, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Stir in the tomatoes, spaghetti, water, and salt.
- Cover and cook, stirring often, until spaghetti begins to soften, about 7 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low and continue to simmer, covered, until spaghetti is al dente, about 8 minutes.
- Stir in the half-and-half, basil, and ½ cup of the mozzarella. Season to taste with Kosher salt.
- Sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan.
- Carefully place the skillet under the broiler and broil. until the surface is spotty brown, about 3 minutes. Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
