Southern Spaghetti
A comforting and hearty Southern spaghetti made with ground beef, Italian sausage, and a blend of tomatoes. Perfect for family dinners and easy to make ahead.
Ingredients
Meats
- 1 pound ground beef (80/20 for flavor)
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or hot) Depending on heat preference
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Tomatoes and Sauce
- 2 (14.5-ounce) cans diced tomatoes
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
Seasonings
- 2 teaspoons sugar Balances acidity
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes Optional, for heat
Pasta and Garnish
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish Optional
Instructions
Cooking the Meat
- Heat a large skillet over medium. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage. Break the meat apart with a spoon and cook until browned and no pink remains, about 7–8 minutes. Drain excess fat carefully into a heatproof container.
Sautéing the Vegetables
- Return skillet to medium heat. Add diced onion and green bell pepper. Sauté until softened, about 4–5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant.
Making the Sauce
- Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, and tomato paste. Add sugar, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix to combine.
- Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Let it simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning.
Cooking the Spaghetti
- While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen and help the sauce cling to the noodles.
Serving
- Serve immediately topped with grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
Notes
For extra flavor, you can add smoked paprika or a dash of liquid smoke. This dish can also be made with ground turkey, and you can customize heat levels by adjusting red pepper flakes.