Easy Spaghetti Recipe: One-Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

My easy spaghetti recipe is a delicious one-pot spaghetti dream! Four simple ingredients, water, and seasonings cook together in one pan to create a flavorful dinner you’ll want on repeat.

This easy spaghetti with meat sauce is a true no-fuss, back-pocket meal that saves busy weeknights. Whether you’re feeding a hungry family or just trying to get dinner on the table without overthinking it, this recipe is here to make life simpler—and it’s absolutely scrumptious.

My one-pot spaghetti recipe delivers a cozy, family-favorite dinner and is one of the simplest, most flavorful meals you’ll cook this week.

It’s an irresistible crowd-pleaser and a delicious way to put a satisfying meal on the table, even on the craziest of nights.

The secret is to cook everything together. Trust me! This is an affordable, filling and comforting meal everyone will love.

Ingredient Tips and Info

• Ground Beef (85/15), browned and drained
• Whole Peeled Tomatoes: I know we’ve talked before about how the freshest, most perfectly ripe tomatoes are saved for canning whole, while the blemished and less perfect are made into diced or crushed tomatoes. That means the best flavor comes from the whole tomatoes. Plum tomatoes are best in this recipe, and if you can afford them, nothing can rival the flavor of Cento brand San Marzano Tomatoes. I can’t always afford them, though and have had great success with Wal-Mart’s store brand, Better Goods San Marzano Style Tomatoes. They’re not certified San Marzanos, but they are very good and half the price.
• Tomato Paste: I’ve stopped buying canned tomato paste unless a recipe will use the whole can. There’s just too much waste because I never remember to use the rest later on. I buy tomato paste in a tube, now (mine was Cento brand) and squeeze out just the amount I need. The tube closes right back up and stores in my fridge until I need it again. Best invention ever!
• Minced Garlic
• Onion Powder
• Italian Seasoning
• Dried Basil
• Red Pepper Flakes, optional
• Salt and Pepper, to taste
• Dry Spaghetti (regular or gluten-free): This recipe works beautifully with either regular Great Value spaghetti or with Jovial Brown Rice Spaghetti (gluten-free). I’ve used both with equally delicious results. I can’t speak to any other brand of gf pasta. Jovial is the only one I use.

FAQs About the Best Spaghetti

What to Serve with this Easy Spaghetti Recipe

Nothing beats a great Italian pasta dinner with a crisp green salad and garlic bread. It’s one of my favorite meals!

But, here’s even more side dish inspiration to complete your delectable spaghetti dinner.

There are lots of side dishes that would be a perfect complement to easy one-pot spaghetti. Check your pantry, then choose a side dish from our blog’s side dish category that uses the ingredients you already have on hand.

How to Make One-Pot Spaghetti

1. Brown the ground beef in a large pot or saucepan. Drain off any excess grease.
2. Add the canned whole tomatoes, along with their juice, to the pot with the ground beef. Use your hands to crush and break them into small pieces. You could do this with a knife or utensil if you like, but I find it’s quicker and less messy to do it by hand.
3. Add the tomato paste, water and all the seasonings to the same pot. Stir to thoroughly combine all the ingredients.
4. Bring the sauce to a boil, then add the spaghetti to the boiling liquid.
5. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until the pasta is al dente, stirring frequently to prevent sticking. Add additional water during cooking if too much seems to have evaporated and the pasta isn’t quite done.
6. When the pasta is al dente, most of the liquid will have been absorbed, flavoring the noodles, and a thick meat sauce will remain.
7. Garnish and serve. I like a few grates of Parmesan cheese and a little fresh parsley for color.

The Best Easy Spaghetti Recipe

When dinner needs to be comforting, simple, and dependable, this easy one-pot spaghetti checks all the boxes.

It’s the kind of easy recipe you can keep in your back pocket for hectic nights, tired evenings, or anytime you just want a cozy, satisfying meal without a lot of effort.

With minimal ingredients, one pan, and big, classic spaghetti flavor, this is an easy spaghetti recipe you’ll come back to again and again.

Scroll down to the recipe card to see just how simple it is to bring this family-favorite one-pot spaghetti to your table. Enjoy!