Cheater's Thick Spaghetti Sauce

Satisfy your pasta cravings in record time with "Cheater's Thick Spaghetti Sauce," a rich and hearty recipe that delivers homemade flavor with minimal effort. Perfect for busy weeknights, this sauce features tender browned ground beef, sautéed onions, and fragrant garlic, all enveloped in the robust flavors of jarred marinara sauce and a touch of tomato paste for an extra-thick, luscious texture. Seasoned with dried Italian herbs, a pinch of sugar, and a hint of red pepper flakes for a subtle kick, this recipe comes together in just 35 minutes. Serve it over spaghetti or your favorite pasta, and elevate each bite with a sprinkle of fresh basil for a restaurant-quality finish. It's the ultimate no-fuss comfort food that's big on flavor and short on prep time!

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:25 mins

Total Time:35 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 onion
• 3 garlic cloves
• 24 ounces jarred marinara sauce
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 0.5 cup water
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 6 fresh basil leaves (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 2

Dice the onion and mince the garlic cloves.

Step 3

Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes.

Step 4

Add the diced onion and cook for 3 minutes, or until softened.

Step 5

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.

Step 6

Reduce the heat to medium and add the jarred marinara sauce, tomato paste, and water to the skillet. Stir to combine.

Step 7

Mix in the Italian seasoning, sugar, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Adjust seasonings to taste if needed.

Step 8

Allow the sauce to simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thick and flavorful.

Step 9

Optional: Garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving.

Step 10

Serve hot over cooked spaghetti noodles, garlic bread, or any pasta of your choice.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1562.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1732.2

Total Fat 109.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 37.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g
Cholesterol 321.1mg	0%
Sodium 4204.1mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 105.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 21.0g	0%
Total Sugars 62.1g
Protein 97.3g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 276.9mg	0%
Iron 19.4mg	0%
Potassium 4701.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 54.8%

Protein: 21.7%

Carbs: 23.5%