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This easy one pot spaghetti recipe couldn’t be simpler! The meat, sauce, and pasta all cook together in one pot for a classic spaghetti dinner that the family loves – all with minimal clean up!
Do we really need to make spaghetti any easier? Nah. But we’re doing it anyway.
One Pot Spaghetti For The Win!
I don’t know what it is about serving your family a pot full of spaghetti, but there’s something that feels so homey and cozy and magical about watching them slurp up saucy noodles while telling you about their day.
It’s just…such a vibe.
Spaghetti, when made with a jar of sauce the way many busy families do in America, is definitely not a complicated dinner – but hey. Why not make it even easier and cook it all in one pot?
Our one pot spaghetti is a 30 minute meal that has all the steamy hot twirly pasta vibes a person could ask for.
The noodles cook right in the sauce so they soak up all that glorious beefy tomato flavor.
If pasta is a major weeknight go-to situation for you, you’ll also want to try our chicken spaghetti and taco spaghetti. And, if you are really feeling indulgent, our baked spaghetti is the stuff of dreams with it’s gooey layer of allllll the cheese.
Ingredient Notes:
Spaghetti – Feel free to use any brand of spaghetti that you like, but let me put you onto something real quick…Barilla Protein+ Spaghetti. I’ve tried ALL the protein pastas (because who doesn’t want to feel a little better about a pasta dinner?) and this one. Oh, man. This one is good. No one ever notices that it’s ANY different than the regular stuff and I feel really good about feeding it to my family. This isn’t sponsored. I just love this stuff and we eat pasta often.
Ground Beef – I always use ground beef in my spaghetti, but you can use a mix of beef, veal, sausage – whatever you like!
Tomatoes – We’re using a mixture of canned tomato sauce and canned diced tomatoes to make our sauce. Easy and we always have them on hand. I like Red Gold.
Seasoning – Add flavor by stirring in onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Sugar – Quite the controversial addition, but we add sugar to help cut down on the acidity in the tomatoes. A pinch of baking soda does the trick, if you’d like to skip the sugar.
Topping – To finish this one pot spaghetti recipe you’ll top it of with some Parmesan cheese and freshly chopped parsley!
How to Make One Pot Spaghetti:
Beef: Brown the beef, onions, and garlic until cooked through.
Spaghetti Sauce: Stir in the tomato sauce, undrained canned tomatoes, and some water. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sugar and bring the sauce to a boil.
Spaghetti Noodles: Add the noodles directly to the boiling sauce. We break them in half to make sure they fit nicely. Cook until al dente.
Serve: Stir the spaghetti to make sure everything is all mixed up and then stir in some shredded Parmesan and minced parsley before serving.
My Favorite Dutch Oven!
This gorgeous Dutch oven is perfect for making soup, pot roast, and more. It goes from stove to oven as needed and looks pretty enough to leave out on your stovetop as decoration.
Helpful Tip!
Spice up your sauce by stirring in some red pepper flakes!
How Long Does Leftover Spaghetti Last?
Store your leftover spaghetti tightly covered in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Many people believe that spaghetti tastes best as leftovers, because the pasta soaks up a lot of the flavors in the sauce. Since our spaghetti cooks right in the sauce, it’s delicious on day one!
More Pasta Recipes!
One Pot Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 sweet onion diced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 15 ounces canned tomato sauce
- 15 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- 2 3/4 cup water
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 12 ounces dried spaghetti noodles
- 3/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Add the ground beef and onion to a large dutch oven over medium heat and cook until browned. Drain the grease.
- Add the garlic to the pan and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Stir in the tomato sauce, undrained canned tomatoes, and water. Add the Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat.
- Once boiling, break the spaghetti in half and add to the pot. Stir to submerge the noodles in the liquid.
- Return to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cover.
- Cook, stirring occasionally, for 10-12 minutes or until noodles are cooked through.
- Sprinkle the Parmesan cheese and parsley over the top and stir to combine.
- Serve immediately.
Tips & Notes:
Nutrition Information:
This recipe was originally published in February 2018. It was updated with new photos in February 2022.
Rosa says
I try it was great thank I need quick dinner like. These
Sue says
Can you leave the sauce to simmer and then add spaghetti when your’e ready to eat?
Karly says
I have’t tried doing this. I’d be worried that too much liquid would evaporate and the spaghetti wouldn’t cook properly.
Brenda says
Looks yummy and will be trying it! ย You also had a picture of a plate of Chicken ย spaghetti that looks really good too, but I can’t find the recipe! ย Can you help? ย Thanks
Karly says
I don’t have a recipe for chicken spaghetti on my site, so I’m guessing you saw it somewhere else. Sorry I can’t help!
Louise H says
The picture you saw was from Pinterest. I saw it too… : ) Hope this helps
Debra Starr says
I think this is the recipe you seen that Karly mentioned above…https://www.facebook.com/BunsInMyOven/videos/monterey-chicken-spaghetti-casserole/10155455679443456/
Dan says
I am trying this tonight. I, too, thought that you had to boil the pasta separately from the sauce. Thank you for a quick spaghetti recipe for someone who works 2 jobs and has little time to cook meals.
charlotte Minahan Barbieri says
Hi
Love spagetti in a pot too ! So easy and less mess I learned to make it in Girl Scout camp – over an open fire ! Can you believe it – sooo good !
Ashley says
Looks good. I can’t wait to try it! Question, do you put the ground beef right back into the pot after draining? Or do you wait and add it in after the spaghetti is done cooking? Also, zucchini is amazing in red sauce. If you have some to use up, I think it would be amazing in this dish. We put it in our veggie red sauce all the time. The more veggies the better!
Gina Rampy says
This looks amazing and I am going to make it soon! My husband and I love spaghetti.
Margie says
This was easy and delicious. Always looking for more wholesome pasta recipes for my kiddos. Definitely a new fave.
Karly says
Glad to hear that! ๐
Michelle says
Made this for dinner last night and it was great!! So easy and everyone loved it! Thanks for the great recipe!
Karly says
Yay! Glad you enjoyed it!
Rick WILSON says
Made this dish last night and it was outstanding.
Stacy Smi says
It’s on the stove cooking! Such a good easy recipe!
Karly says
Hope you all loved it! ๐
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says
Perfect comfort food Karly! And I love how it’s a one pot meal!
Katherine | Love In My Oven says
I’m with your kids – I’d happily eat spaghetti every night too. Love a one-pot version!
Ivory says
Your spaghetti looks amazing, so much so, that I gave it a try. ย We had this for dinner, and my family and I loved it. ย So omazing!
Karly says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Fran @ G'day Souffle' says
What a great idea! I always thought you had to boil the spaghetti noodles on the side- now I can save time and throw everything in the same pot! And your daughter should maybe design and market special ‘spaghtetti scissors’!
Karly says
Haha! Yes, she would love to get those spaghetti scissors out to those in need. ๐
Victoria Rose says
I love these in pot meals. I do a spicy cheesy chicken one, a taco spaghetti and a lot mein.