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Delightful Skillet Spaghetti

As seen in Classic American Comfort Dishes.

This soul-warming pan pasta brings together juicy ground chuck, deep tomato sauces, and a tasty blend of fresh garlic, onions, and green peppers. Cooked slowly with a mix of Italian flavors including basil, oregano, and parsley, this rich sauce hugs every strand of soft spaghetti. It's quick to throw together but tastes like it's been cooking all day, making a filling dinner that'll warm you up inside. Toss in some chili flakes if you want some heat. Grab this family favorite hot from the pan for a dinner that'll make everyone happy.

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Breanna
Created By Breanna
Last updated on Thu, 08 May 2025 16:04:57 GMT
A bowl of spaghetti with meat sauce. Save Pin
A bowl of spaghetti with meat sauce. | foodiffy.com

Our family's old-fashioned pan spaghetti recipe has traveled through many family reunions, offering that genuine homemade flavor you just can't get from jars at the grocery store. The deep tomato sauce, well-seasoned ground beef, and just-right noodles all come together in one hearty meal that never fails to gather folks around for dinner time.

I first learned to make this when my grandma showed me as a kid just starting in the kitchen. She always told me that taking your time with the simmering was the key to blending the spices properly. These days when I cook it, my house fills up with those same warm smells I grew up with at her place.

What You'll Need

How To Make It

A mouthwatering dish of spaghetti topped with meat sauce. Save Pin
A mouthwatering dish of spaghetti topped with meat sauce. | foodiffy.com

Using different tomato textures really makes this dish special. Grandma would always taste as she went along, tweaking the spices throughout cooking. She taught me that good cooking isn't just following steps - it's about feeling your way through the process and trusting your tastebuds.

Prep Ahead Tips

A scrumptious serving of spaghetti covered in meat sauce. Save Pin
A scrumptious serving of spaghetti covered in meat sauce. | foodiffy.com

Easy Changes

What To Serve With It

From Italy To America

Common Questions

→ Will other pasta shapes work too?

Absolutely! Though spaghetti works great, you can swap in pasta types like fettuccine or penne with good results.

→ What's the best way to add heat to this dish?

To kick up the spice level, sprinkle some red pepper flakes into your sauce or add a splash of hot sauce at the table.

→ Can I swap out the ground beef?

Sure thing! Ground turkey, chicken, or even plant-based meat alternatives work great in this recipe.

→ Got any swaps for the canned tomatoes?

If you want to go fresher, grab some ripe tomatoes, peel and dice them, then blend them up for a homemade sauce.

→ What's the best way to keep the extras?

Pop any leftovers in a sealed container and stick them in the fridge for up to 3 days. Warm them up on low heat or in your microwave.

→ Can I make the sauce ahead of time?

You bet! The sauce can be cooked a day early and kept in the fridge. Just warm it up before mixing with your freshly cooked pasta.

Family Skillet Pasta

Soul-warming pan pasta with meaty sauce, tomatoes, and herbs for that homestyle taste.

Preparation Time
15 Minutes
Cooking Time
90 Minutes
Overall Time
105 Minutes
Created By: Breanna

Type: Comfort Food

Skill Level: Moderate

Regional Origin: American-Italian

Recipe Output: 4 portions

Diet Preferences: No Dairy

What You'll Need

→ Primary Components

01 2 lbs beef chuck, ground
02 1 can diced tomatoes (14oz)
03 1 can crushed tomatoes (14oz)
04 2 cans tomato sauce (28oz total)
05 3 tbsp oil from olives
06 5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
07 1 big onion, chopped
08 1 chopped bell pepper, green

→ Spices and Flavorings

09 1 tsp powder from garlic
10 1 tsp powder from onions
11 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
12 1 tsp dried basil leaves
13 1 tsp mix of Italian herbs
14 1 tsp dried oregano leaves
15 1 tsp salt from the sea
16 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

How to Make It

Step 01

Warm up oil from olives in your biggest pan over medium flame. Toss in chopped onions with green peppers, let them cook for about 5-7 mins. Then add the chopped garlic and stir until you can smell it and it turns slightly brown.

Step 02

Throw in your ground beef chuck and break it up while cooking until you don't see any pink bits left. Pour off any extra fat that pools in the pan.

Step 03

Add all your spices and flavorings to the cooked meat - the garlic and onion powders, chopped parsley, basil, Italian herbs, oregano, sea salt and black pepper. Pour in all the tomatoes - crushed, diced, and sauce. Stir it all up good.

Step 04

Turn down the heat to low and let everything bubble gently for an hour. Don't forget to stir now and then so nothing sticks to the bottom.

Step 05

Fill a big pot with water and bring it to a rolling boil. Drop in your spaghetti noodles with a spoonful of olive oil (stops them sticking together). Cook about 7-8 minutes, then drain all the water out.

Step 06

Mix your hot pasta with the bubbling sauce. Give it a good stir and serve it up while it's nice and warm.

Additional Tips

  1. Wanna spice things up? Sprinkle some red pepper flakes on top.

Must-Have Tools

  • Really big frying pan
  • Big cooking pot

Nutrition Details (Per Serving)

Please treat this information as general guidance and not as personalized health advice.
  • Calories: 520
  • Fat Amount: 22 g
  • Carbohydrate Count: 58 g
  • Protein Content: 30 g