One Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce is a rich, hearty pasta dinner made with ground beef, crushed tomatoes, garlic, seasonings, and spaghetti all cooked together in one pan for an easy weeknight meal with a ton of flavor.
From the recipe collection of Tara Ippolito
If there’s one dinner that always hits the spot, it’s a big pot of spaghetti and meat sauce. This version keeps things extra simple by cooking everything together right in one pot. Because the pasta cooks right in the sauce, it absorbs all that delicious flavor. Plus, there’s less clean up, too!
This is the type of dinner that feels homemade in the best possible way without taking all night to make. It’s filing, family friendly and budget friendly. It’s the perfect choice for busy weeknights when you want something comforting and cozy.
Why Cook The Pasta Directly Into The Sauce?
Cooking the pasta in the sauce adds extra flavor and creates a thicker, starchier sauce that clings perfectly to the spaghetti.
Ingredients
Here is everything you need to make this incredible dinner. You can find the full ingredients along with measurements and instructions on the recipe card below.
- Olive Oil- Helps soften the onions and garlic while building the base flavor of the sauce.
- Onion-Adds sweetness and depth that balances the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Garlic-Gives the sauce that classic homemade Italian-style flavor.
- Ground Beef- Makes the dish hearty, rich, and filling while adding savory flavor throughout the sauce.
- Salt & Pepper-Enhance all of the other ingredients and bring the sauce together.
- Garlic Powder-Boosts the garlic flavor and gives the sauce a deeper savory taste.
- Onion Powder- Adds extra onion flavor that blends smoothly into the sauce.
- Italian Seasoning- Brings warmth and classic herb flavor with notes of oregano, basil, and thyme.
- Worcestershire Sauce- Adds richness, umami, and a subtle savory depth that makes the sauce taste slow-cooked.
- Tomato Paste- Concentrates the tomato flavor and helps thicken the sauce
- Crushed Tomatoes-Create the body of the sauce and give it that rich tomato base.
- Chicken Broth- Adds extra flavor while helping cook the pasta directly in the sauce.
- Spaghetti- Absorbs all the flavor from the sauce as it cooks, making the pasta extra delicious.
How To Make It
Here’s how to make this delicious pasta. You can find the full ingredients list along with instructions on the recipe card below.
First, Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up into small chunks as it cooks. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
Now, stir in the Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and fresh garlic. Cook for 1–2 minutes to deepen the flavor. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth. Stir everything together well.
Then, add the spaghetti directly into the pot. Gently press and move the pasta around until it’s fully submerged in the liquid. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat slightly and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened, about 12–15 minutes. Serve hot with Parmesan cheese, parsley, or red pepper flakes if desired.
PRO TIP: If the spaghetti doesn't fit into your skillet, feel free to break it in half.
PRO TIP: Stir the pasta occasionally. It helps prevent it from sticking together while it cooks in the sauce.
What Should I Serve This With?
This dinner is the perfect thing to be served along side some Homemade Garlic Bread and a side salad.
Can I Use A Different Pasta Shape?
Yes. Short pastas like rotini or penne work great, but you may need to slightly adjust the liquid and cook time.
What If The Pasta Absorbs Too Much Liquid Or The Sauce Gets Too Thick?
That’s completely normal with one pot pasta recipes since the spaghetti continues soaking up liquid as it cooks. Just add a splash of extra chicken broth, stir, and continue cooking until the pasta reaches your desired texture.
Storage
Let the pasta cool completely and place it into a food safe air tight container. It will last in the refrigerator for up to three days.
One Pot Spaghetti With Meat Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tbs Olive Oil
- ½ Cup Onion, diced
- 3 Cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 Pound Ground Beef
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 Tbs Italian Seasoning
- 1 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 Tbs Tomato Paste
- 28 Oz Can Crushed Tomatoes
- 4 Cups Chicken Broth Add more broth if/ as needed
- 9 Oz Spaghetti (a little more than half the box)
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened (about 5 minutes). Stir in the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up into small chunks as it cooks. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and fresh garlic. Cook for 1–2 minutes to deepen the flavor. Season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and Italian seasoning
- Pour in the crushed tomatoes and chicken broth. Stir everything together well and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add the spaghetti directly into the pot and gently press and move the pasta around until it’s fully submerged in the liquid. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat slightly and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened, about 12–15 minutes. Serve hot with Parmesan cheese, parsley, or red pepper flakes if desired.
Video
Other Easy Pasta Recipes
If you like super easy to make pasta recipes like this one, you have to try this Italian Sunset Pasta, Marry Me Pasta and Dirty Spaghetti.
Kay says
There seems to be an error in the recipe. It says to stir in the garlic after the onion has sauteed in the oil. Then later in the recipe it says to add fresh garlic with the Worcestershire sauce and tomato paste, and then add garlic powder with the other seasonings. I made this with ground turkey. It was delicious.
Jennifer LaJouness says
Made this tonight! It was delicious my family loved it!
Al Dente Diva says
I’m so so so happy to hear that. San Marzano tomatoes are the greatest!!!
GZ says
Fabulous! Truly fabulous! I saw this on tiktok. I made the recipe because I had all the ingredients. The only change I made was that I didn't have any any tomato paste, but I was using certified San marzano tomatoes so I knew the depth of flavor would be fine... This could be the very best spaghetti I have ever made in my lifetime and I am very picky about my
sauce!