One Pot Spaghetti

One Pot Spaghetti turns the classic into a weeknight favorite, thanks to fewer dishes, less time and more flavor!!

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It’s a busy weeknight and you’re scrambling to get a meal on the table for your family. You grab a jar of spaghetti sauce and some spaghetti and get a pot filled up with water to boil. 

Ok, let’s stop there, because I’ve got a little secret to fill you in on.  You don’t need to boil the pasta separately from the sauce.  Yeah, you heard that right, no waiting for water to boil!

In fact, I actually prefer this method of making pasta vs the traditional way. Why? Because instead of cooking the pasta in water (boring & flavorless), you cook it in the sauce, which allows the spaghetti to soak up all the yummy Italian flavors of the pasta sauce! I bet you’ll never go back to your old ways after this recipe with minimal cleanup and amazing flavor!

Ingredients Needed

• Lean Ground Beef - Or Italian sausage, ground pork, ground chicken or ground turkey
• Beef Broth - If you don't have any broth, chicken broth or water will work fine
• Marinara Sauce - Use your favorite marinara sauce (use a jar of sauce from the grocery store or homemade sauce if you've got it!)
• Diced Tomatoes with Basil, Garlic and Oregano - If you don't have the flavored diced tomatoes, you can opt for plain diced tomatoes plus 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning
• Garlic Powder
• Spaghetti - I use regular spaghetti noodles, but you could use other pasta shapes, too, however it might affect the cook time

How to make One Pot Spaghetti

Cook the ground beef in a large skillet or large pot over medium-high heat. Once it's fully-cooked, you can drain the excess fat, if you wish.

Add the broth, marinara sauce, diced tomatoes and garlic and bring to a boil.

Turn the burner to medium heat and stir in the dry pasta (I like to break spaghetti noodles in half so it's easier for the kids to eat) and cook for 12-15 minutes, or until the liquid has been mostly absorbed and the noodles are al dente.

Be sure to stir frequently so the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pot. Also, if you find that there isn't enough liquid, simply add ¼ - ½ cups of water.

What to Serve with Spaghetti

I like to scoop up the piping hot one-pot spaghetti onto the plates and garnish with a sprinkling of parmesan cheese and fresh parsley or basil.

For sides, there's nothing better than a warm piece of homemade garlic bread with a plate of spaghetti!! I also like to have a side of a leafy green salad with balsamic or Italian dressing.

How Should I store leftover spaghetti?

Store leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to five days.

Other Delicious Add-Ins

This spaghetti dinner is a favorite meal in our house. As the one typically in charge of cooking, I love that the pasta cooks in the meat sauce and results in a quick and easy meal with few dishes. However, I've got a few ideas if you'd like to add to these simple ingredients to make something a little more unique!

• Skip the ground beef and add frozen meatballs instead! (Simply add the meatballs when you add the pasta, bring it all to a boil and cook for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally)
• Add more veggies!  Diced onions, sliced mushrooms, bell peppers, etc.
• Top with cheese!  If you’re a cheese-lover, sprinkle ¼ c parmesan cheese and 1 c shredded mozzarella on top when the pasta is done.
• Red bell pepper - Chop a red bell pepper and add it to the pot when you're cooking the beef.
• Fresh herbs - If you've got fresh basil and/or oregano, I highly recommend adding them to this dish! Simply chop up some of the leaves and stir them in at the very end.
• Balsamic vinegar - Adding a tablespoon of balsamic vinegar (when adding the broth) will add a new depth of flavor!
• Cherry tomatoes - When I've got cherry tomatoes growing like crazy in the garden, I love halving them and tossing them in my homemade spaghetti! Add them in the last few minutes of cooking - long enough to warm them up, but not so long that they lose that fresh-from-the-garden taste!

Other One Pot Pastas

Looking for more one-pot meals for those busy weeknights that the whole family will love?? I don’t blame you – our family could live off these alone!! 

Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta
Creamy Mushroom Pasta
Mexican Mac & Cheese
Ground Beef Casserole

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