BEST SPAGHETTI MEAT SAUCE RECIPES

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pot over medium-high heat (we use a Dutch oven). Add the meat and cook until browned, about 8 minutes. As the meat cooks, use a wooden spoon to break it up into smaller crumbles.
• Add the onions and cook, stirring every once and a while, until softened, about 5 minutes.
• Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, oregano, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring continuously for about 1 minute.
• Pour in the water and use a wooden spoon to scrape up any bits of meat or onion stuck to the bottom of the pot. Stir in the tomatoes, 3/4 teaspoon of salt, and a generous pinch of black pepper. Bring the sauce to a low simmer. Cook, uncovered, at a low simmer for 25 minutes. As it cooks, stir and taste the sauce a few times so you can adjust the seasoning accordingly (see notes for suggestions).
• About 15 minutes before the sauce finishes cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to the boil, and then cook pasta according to package directions, but check for doneness a minute or two before the suggested cooking time.
• Take the sauce off of the heat, and then stir in the basil. Toss in the cooked pasta, and then leave for a minute so that the pasta absorbs some of the sauce. Toss again, and then serve with parmesan sprinkled on top.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. Slice squash lengthwise and scoop out seeds. Place squash, cut side down, in a baking dish. Add water and cover tightly with foil. Bake until easily pierced with a fork, 20-30 minutes.
  Meanwhile, in a cast-iron or other heavy large skillet, cook beef over medium heat, crumbling meat, until no longer pink; drain. Add onion, green pepper, herbs and seasonings; cook and stir until onion is tender, 5-7 minutes. Stir in tomato puree. Cover and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally. Scoop out squash, separating the strands with a fork. Just before serving, stir 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese into meat sauce. Serve sauce over spaghetti squash with remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.