Spaghetti with Beef Marinara Sauce
Ingredients (2 servings, 30 minutes):
- 1/2 pound (225g) whole wheat spaghetti pasta
- 1/2 pound (225g) ground beef (90% lean)
- 1/2 onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 15 ounces (1/2 jar) Marinara pasta sauce
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Shredded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese for serving
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions:
Cook spaghetti:
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Prepare marinara sauce:
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
- Add ground beef to the skillet. Cook, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned and no longer pink.
- Add chopped onions and green bell peppers, and sauté about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in Marinara pasta sauce. Mix well to combine.
- Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to incorporate.
- Simmer the sauce over low heat for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly.
Combine sauce and pasta:
- Once the sauce has thickened to your liking, add the cooked spaghetti to the skillet.
- Toss the spaghetti with the marinara sauce until well coated.
- Let it cook together for an additional minute or two to allow the pasta to absorb some of the flavors from the sauce.
Serve:
- Serve the spaghetti beef marinara hot.
- Shredded Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and fresh basil leaves if desired.
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