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Spaghetti has long been one of my family’s stand-by easy meals. It’s typically quick to throw together, I almost always have a box of spaghetti and a jar of sauce handy on the pantry shelves, and nobody usually complains when I make it.
The problem? Plain old spaghetti can be a little boring. Half the time, the spaghetti noodles stick together in the bowl while we’re waiting to serve dinner, and then I either put too much or too little sauce and…it just doesn’t do it for me.
A few months ago, I needed to make dinner extra quickly and decided on a whim that I would throw everything together in one pot, cooking the sauce and the meat and the pasta together all at once. I realize that this is not a new concept, but in all of my years as a mom, I had never attempted one-pot spaghetti.
At the time, I wasn’t concerned with making the meal in 15 minutes, specifically, but last week I decided to take out my timer and see if it could be done.
Two things helped us succeed: Instead of regular spaghetti pasta, we used thin spaghetti, which cooks up much faster than the thicker kind…plus less water was needed – so if you are using traditional spaghetti, you may need to increase the amount of water and the cooking time. The other time-saver was using VERY hot water when adding it to the pot.
Another thing that helped cook everything a little faster (wait, did I say there were only two?) was using the lid on the pot, which is something I don’t often think to do.
The result is not only fast, but it is now the preferred way to make (and eat!) spaghetti in our house! The sauce soaks in to the pasta as it cooks and everything is perfectly combined. Even my husband has started asking for “the spaghetti you cook in one pot.” It’s definitely an easy, satisfying, quick-to-prepare crowd pleaser!
One Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce
- 1 pound ground beef (or mild ground sausage, ground turkey, etc)
- ½ cup chopped onion
- ½ cup chopped green pepper
- 1 (24 ounce) jar Spaghetti sauce
- 1½ cups hot water
- 1 (1 pound) box Thin spaghetti, broken into pieces (I usually just break mine in half)
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- Set your stove to medium-high to high. Place ground meat in a large pot; break up the ground meat and spread it evenly across the entire bottom of the pot. Place the lid on the pot and cook, covered, for about 3 minutes.
- Meanwhile, chop your vegetables.
- Remove the lid, stir the meat, adding the chopped onion and green pepper, and cook for 2 minutes longer. Drain grease.
- Add hot water, spaghetti sauce and broken spaghetti noodles. Stir. Cover pot with lid and cook on high for 8 minutes.
- Remove lid, add cottage cheese and cook for a few more minutes, until the water and sauce have been fully absorbed.
Serve with garlic bread that you throw in the oven while the spaghetti cooks on the stove and sprinkle everything with Parmesan cheese!
Note: The photos above are from the first time that I made this dish, so the veggies were not included and I used regular spaghetti. I didn’t want to confuse anyone!
15 Minute Suppers
Have you heard of 15 Minute Suppers yet? We are a group of bloggers passionate about getting a quick, delicious, and {mostly} healthy meal on your table in only 15 minutes. Watch for new recipes every Friday. Keep reading for 5 other great 15 Minute recipes from some great bloggers!
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and look for the #15MinuteSuppers hashtag too!
Quick One-Pot Spaghetti Dinner from Better in Bulk
Quick & Easy Spaghetti with Meat Sauce from Around My Family Table
Chicken Breast Supreme from White Lights on Wednesday
Pan Fried Tilapia Recipe with Basil and Feta from Suburbia Unwrapped
Veggie Omelet from Just 2 Sisters
Low Carb Spicy Steak & Cheese from How To This & That
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This one looks amazing! I don’t know how I missed it, I will have to make it soon!
Definitely sounds like something the kids would enjoy!
This is actually a very good idea! And it looks about the same!
This looks good and easy. I like the cottage cheese added to this recipe, have never had spaghetti with it before. will have to try this out.
This looks delicious! We love spaghetti and I love using the thin noodles, too, because they really do cook faster.
i love Spaghetti yum
I agree! I made a delicious sauce in the crock pot last month (SO much of it!) and then froze it in quart-sized bags for later use. Guess who has already used it all up? :) We’re fans around here!
I hope your family enjoyed it for dinner tonight!
We add cottage cheese to our pasta frequently. It’s one of my little tips. It adds some unique character to the dish. Yum!
I’ve heard of this but never tried it. Guess what’s for dinner tonight! Thanks for sharing the recipe- we prefer using the angel hair pasta too.
I never heard of adding cottage cheese! That sounds really good. I will have to try that. Thanks!
I love how easy your recipe…and it’s funny that we had similar (yet totally different) ideas for this week. I love how versatile a good spaghetti sauce is and how easily it can be adapted to fit our own preferences! Your’s looks delish!