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Spaghetti with Italian Sauce
This hearty spaghetti dish combines a rich tomato-based sauce with a medley of Italian sausage, ground beef, mushrooms, olives, and spices for a full-bodied flavor. It's a classic homemade comfort food recipe popular in mid-20th-century American kitchens, especially in homes that blended Italian-American cooking with pantry staples. The addition of pimiento-stuffed olives gives it a savory, slightly tangy kick that sets it apart from other sauces. Served over spaghetti and topped with grated cheese, this meal is perfect for family gatherings or casual weekend dinners.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8
Calories 982 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • ½ lb fresh mushrooms (sliced)
  • 1 onion (medium, sliced)
  • 1 green pepper (medium, diced)
  • ½ cup olive oil ( or salad oil)
  • ½ lb sweet Italian sausage (cut in pieces)
  • 2 1/2 lb ground beef ( or ground chuck)
  • 28 oz tomatoes
  • 12 oz tomato paste
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 tsp basil leaves
  • ½ tsp oregano leaves
  • ⅛ tsp pepper
  • ½ cup pimiento-stuffed olives (sliced )
  • 3 tbsp salt (for pasta water)
  • 6 - 9 qts boiling water
  • 1½ lbs spaghetti

Instructions
 

Step 1: Sauté the Vegetables

  • In a Dutch oven, sauté mushrooms, onion, and green pepper in oil until crisp-tender.
  • Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.

Step 2: Brown the Meats

  • In the same Dutch oven, brown the sausage.
  • Remove the sausage and brown the ground beef.
  • Remove any excess fat.

Step 3: Combine Sauce Base

  • Return vegetables and sausage to the pot.
  • Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, water, salt, and seasonings (garlic powder, bay leaf, basil, oregano, pepper).
  • Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.
  • Uncover and simmer 15 minutes more, stirring occasionally.

Step 4: Add Final Touches

  • Stir in sliced olives.
  • Simmer an additional 15 minutes.

Step 5: Cook the Spaghetti

  • Meanwhile, bring 6 quarts of water to a boil.
  • Add 3 tablespoons salt.
  • Gradually add spaghetti to water.
  • Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender.
  • Drain in colander.

Step 6: Serve

  • Serve spaghetti topped with sauce.
  • Sprinkle with grated cheese if desired.

Tips

  • Substitute part of the water with dry red wine for deeper flavor (as noted on the card).
  • Use hot Italian sausage for a spicier sauce.
  • Make a day ahead, this sauce improves with time.
  • Add fresh basil at the end for brightness.
  • Use ground pork or a beef, pork blend instead of all beef.
  • Serve over other pasta shapes like rigatoni or penne.
  • Freeze leftover sauce for up to 3 months.
  • Finish with freshly grated Parmesan or Romano cheese.

Nutrition

Calories: 982kcalCarbohydrates: 79gProtein: 48gFat: 53gSaturated Fat: 16gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 27gTrans Fat: 2gCholesterol: 132mgSodium: 1165mgPotassium: 1552mgFiber: 7gSugar: 12gVitamin A: 1543IUVitamin C: 37mgCalcium: 94mgIron: 6mg
Keyword classic spaghetti, comfort food, family dinner, from scratch, hearty pasta, meat sauce, vintage recipe
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