Pasta and Homemade Red Sauce

You may not have grown up with a grandma who made you gravy, but this recipe will certainly make it feel like you did.. It takes a bit more time than anything you’ll find in a jar, but trust me, it’s worth every minute. From start to finish, this recipe takes about 2 hours, with 90 of those minutes just roasting away in the oven. It yields 5–8 servings, keeps well in the fridge for up to 5 days, and works great for meal prep or feeding a crowd.

Ingredients

• 10 oz spaghetti
• 2 lbs 93% lean ground beef
• 2 28 oz cans peeled or San Marzano tomatoes
• 1 Tbsp butter
• 2 yellow onions
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan
• 6 cloves fresh garlic or 1 Tbsp jarlic
• 1 Tbsp red pepper flakes
• 2 Tbsp oregano
• 2 Tbsp basil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Brown the Beef
   • In a large pan, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat to cook off excess fat
   • Once browned, drain any fat and set the beef aside
     • Note: If you're using 93% lean beef, there shouldn't be much fat to remove
2. Crush the Tomatoes, Dice the Onions, and Mince the garlic
   • Add the peeled tomatoes to a large mixing bowl
   • Crush them by hand, making sure your hands are submerged below the liquid
     • Tip: Crushing below the surface helps avoid a kitchen that looks like a crime scene
   • Dice the onions and mince the garlic
   • Set aside, this prep is key for the next step
3. Sauté the Garlic and Onions
   • In a large pot or Dutch oven, melt 1 tbsp of butter over medium heat
   • Add the diced onions and cook until soft and golden
   • Once the onions are cooked, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes
   • Sauté for 30–60 seconds, or until fragrant
4. Add the Tomatoes
   • Stir in 2 tbsp of tomato paste and cook for about 30 seconds
   • Add the crushed tomatoes to the pot
     • If any whole pieces remain, gently crush them against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon
5. Add the remaining ingredients
   • Stir in the remaining ingredients
     • Basil and oregano
     • Grated parmesan
     • The browned beef
   • Add a small amount of salt and under-salt intentionally at this stage
     • The sauce will reduce in the oven and become more concentrated in flavor
6. Cook in the oven
   • Cover the pot 3/4 of the way with aluminum foil or leave the lid slightly ajar
   • Place it in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven.
   • Cook for approximately 90 minutes
7. Cook the noodles
   • When the sauce has about 10 minutes left, bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil
   • Cook the pasta for about 10 minutes or until just shy of al dente
8. Salt the Sauce and Combine
   • Drain the noodles and remove the sauce from the oven
   • Taste the sauce and season with salt and pepper as needed
   • Stir the pasta into the sauce until well combined
9. Final Touches & Serve
   • Serve while hot or portion into meal prep containers for late
     • (Optional) Top with a small amount of parmesan when serving