This easy weeknight meat sauce uses only FIVE INGREDIENTS (not counting the actual spaghetti) and is ready in under half an hour. I call it my semi-homemade meat sauce because it uses a jar of store-bought marinara. It’s based off a recipe from our family friend, Mary Asami, who shared it with my mom. My mom has been cooking it for our family for YEARS ever since, and now I cook it for mine!
Despite all the baking that I do, my most popular blog posts have been my savory dishes! Whaaaat? I know. I’ve even had readers message me on instagram requesting more savory recipes. Well, here you go, readers! This easy spaghetti and meat sauce is a family favorite. We’ve made it over and over again for years and have not yet found a replacement.
Tips and Notes about the Recipe
I call this meat sauce semi-homemade because it uses a jar of store-bought marinara. Choose your favorite! Any size from 18-24 oz will do; the recipe is very flexible. My favorite is Trader Joe’s Traditional Marinara Sauce, but I’ve used Prego or whatever else is in the cupboard.
I don’t have salt or sugar listed in the ingredients, because your jar of marinara will have already added salt and sugar in different amounts depending on the brand. You can always add salt and sugar at the end to taste. But don’t forget, you should salt your pasta water for the spaghetti too.
That’s all I have to say about this recipe. That’s how easy it is! Give it a try and let me know what you think.
5-Ingredient Meat Sauce for Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 tbsp ground black pepper
- 10 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 jar marinara sauce (any size from 18-24 oz)
- olive oil or butter as needed to saute
Instructions
- Saute onions in a pot over medium-high heat using olive oil, butter, or oil of your choice.
- When onions are soft (about 5 minutes), add in black pepper and garlic. Saute until fragrant, about a minute.
- Add in ground beef and cook until browned.
- Add in jar of your favorite marinara sauce. Stir well and bring to a simmer.
- The meat sauce can be served immediately or covered and left a simmer until ready to serve over pasta. The longer the simmer, the better the flavor!