50-Minute Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Ingredients

Recipe serves 4, with leftovers if you are two.

• 12 ozspaghetti
• 1 lbground beef
• 1onion, diced
• 3 clovesgarlic, minced
• 1 tbspolive oil
• 28 ozcrushed tomatoes
• 1 tspkosher salt, plus more for the pasta water
• 1/2 tspblack pepper
• 1 tspdried oregano
• 1 tspdried basil
• 1/2 cupgrated Parmesan, plus more to finish
• a pinchred pepper flakes, optional

Steps

1. Step 1

   Heat the oil in a wide pot over medium. Cook the onion until soft, about 5 minutes.

2. Step 2

   Add the beef and break it up. Cook until it is browned. Pour off extra fat if you need to.

3. Step 3

   Stir in the garlic, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and pepper flakes. Cook 30 seconds.

4. Step 4

   Add the crushed tomatoes. Simmer uncovered about 25 minutes, until the sauce thickens. Stir now and then.

5. Step 5

   Boil the spaghetti in well-salted water until al dente. Save 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.

6. Step 6

   Toss the pasta with the sauce, a splash of pasta water if it looks tight, and the Parmesan.

7. Step 7

   Serve with more Parmesan on top.

The sauce keeps. Cool it and refrigerate it for up to 3 days.