Description
Master this incredible sizzling spaghetti recipe that combines perfectly cooked pasta with rich meat sauce and bubbling cheese in one skillet. This restaurant-quality dish delivers maximum flavor with minimal cleanup, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or impressive family meals.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb ground beef (or Italian sausage, if you’re feelin’ fancy)
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce (or your homemade favorite)
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional, for a little kick)
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella (for that melty, bubbly finish)
Instructions
- Boil the pasta: Bring a big ol’ pot of salted water to a boil. Toss in your spaghetti and cook it ’til it’s al dente—firm but with just the right amount of bite. Drain and set aside. Don’t forget to save about ½ cup of that starchy pasta water!
- Cook the meat: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Toss in the ground beef and onion. Cook, breaking up the meat as you go, ’til it’s browned and the onions are soft—about 7-8 minutes. Drain the excess grease if needed.
- Add the flavor: Stir in your minced garlic and cook for just about a minute—don’t let it burn. Then pour in the marinara sauce, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Let that goodness simmer for about 10 minutes. If it gets too thick, splash in a bit of your reserved pasta water.
- Toss and combine: Add the cooked spaghetti right into the skillet. Give it a good toss so it’s all coated in that rich, meaty sauce.
- Make it sizzle: Sprinkle the top with mozzarella and Parmesan, then cover the skillet for 2-3 minutes until the cheese melts and gets nice and gooey. You’ll hear a little sizzle—music to your ears.
- Finish it off: Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve it up hot, straight from the skillet, with garlic bread on the side if you’re feelin’ real homey.
Notes
- Save pasta water before draining – the starch helps create the perfect sauce consistency
- Don’t rush the meat browning process – those caramelized bits add incredible flavor
- For best results, use freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Italian sausage can be substituted for ground beef for extra flavor
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your heat preference
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 65mg