One Pot Spaghetti

This easy one-pot spaghetti recipe is a fast all-in-one meal. Ground beef is combined with onion, mushrooms, and pasta in a spaghetti tomato sauce to create an absolutely delicious meal. You will wonder why you ever made it the traditional way.

Easy One Pot Spaghetti

Rather than using multiple pots, try this one-pot spaghetti for an easy, meal that can feed the whole family with a few budget-friendly ingredients.

A simple main course, a no-fuss dinner that the whole family will enjoy. One pot spaghetti has all the flavors you have come to expect from the best spaghetti recipes making this dish one to try.

This recipe is mixed all together using simple, easy ingredients. I love 30-minute dinner ideas (like my ham cheese pasta casserole and one pan chicken burrito bowl) because they're fast and filling like this which has so much flavor.

ONE-POT MEAL - Easy cleanup as this recipe only uses one pot.
EASY - Unlike most pasta dishes, this one is easily prepared by adding everything together.
FAST - This recipe is super fast and can be served in 30 minutes.

Ingredients for recipe on counter including bowl of raw ground beef, jar of spaghetti sauce, bowl of pasta noodles, chopped onion, canned mushrooms and parmesan.

Recipe Ingredients

You can easily find all these ingredients at your local grocery store. You probably have most of them in your pantry and fridge already.

LEAN GROUND BEEF - I use lean ground beef because it has less fat and really easy to prepare. You could also use ground turkey, Italian sausage, or ground chicken!

SPAGHETTI SAUCE - Grab your favorite jar of spaghetti sauce, pasta sauce, or marinara sauce from the grocery store and use that. You'll need a 22 oz (650 ml) jar of sauce. The entire jar will be added to the one-pot spaghetti recipe.

SPAGHETTI NOODLES - Break the thin spaghetti noodles in half and add to the one-pot meal. Really, this is a great recipe for any noodle but I love spaghetti.

MUSHROOMS - I love to cook canned sliced mushrooms with meat sauce. This makes life easier, especially on busy weeknights. Just drain and dump them right into the large pot. No washing and chopping are necessary.

PARMESAN CHEESE - Grated parmesan cheese is a great addition to any spaghetti recipe. A little is added to the meal, and then extra cheese can be sprinkled on the dish once you're serving.

Pro Tip: Add more veggies. You can always add more vegetables to this recipe - fresh tomatoes, canned diced tomatoes, chopped bell pepper, asparagus, zucchini, corn, fresh parsley, and peas will all work in this pasta sauce.

Flavor Additions

RED PEPPER FLAKES - For some added heat, try sprinkling some red pepper flakes just before serving.

ITALIAN SEASONING - Italian seasoning contains basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. Stir to combine this into the pot while it is simmering.

CHICKEN BROTH - Instead of water, you can use chicken broth or beef broth or try my bone broth recipe for a little added flavor.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE - Italian sausage is made with so many beautiful herbs and spices. Add this to the sauce instead of the beef.

Four images showing steps to make recipe: First is browning beef in a pot. Second, all ingredients in pot but divided. Third, all ingredients mixed together before cooked. Four is cooked complete spaghetti with parmesan sprinkled on top.

How To Make One Pot Spaghetti

Once you make one pot spaghetti, you may never look back. One-pot pasta recipes like this one are so easy and save so much time.

You can use a large dutch oven if you are doubling the recipe for large groups, or a small dutch oven for just the family.

BROWN - Add ground beef to a pot and brown on medium heat while stirring constantly so it browns evenly.
COMBINE - Break the spaghetti in half and stir to combine all other pasta sauce ingredients in the same pot according to the recipe instructions below.
COOK - Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally until noodles are al dente.
SERVE - Serve topped with black pepper, grated parmesan, fresh parsley, and mix in. Include a side of toasted garlic bread for some crunch. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Pro Tip: Break pasta into three sections. While it's uncooked, use your hands to snap it into three sections. These will cook faster in the sauce.

How To Store

If you are preparing in advance, or have some leftovers, you can store and reheat when needed. Below are some suggestions if you find

REFRIGERATE - Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 3 days.
FREEZE - You can freeze leftovers for three months.
REHEAT - You can reheat simply by placing in the microwave for 3-5 minutes or on the stove until heated.

Close up of fork in spaghetti noodles, mushrooms and sauce.

Recipe Tips

Break pasta into three sections. While it's uncooked, use your hands to snap it into three sections. These will cook faster!
Use canned mushrooms. Yes, fresh mushrooms always taste better. But we're short on time and have had a long day! Save yourself that extra effort and just dump in the canned ones. No one will even notice!
Add more water if needed. It will take 20-25 minutes for the pasta to cook to al dente. If the sauce reduces too much, you can add ½ cup of water and mix together. Cover and let it simmer another 2-3 minutes, then check the pasta again.
Add more veggies! You can always add more vegetables to this recipe - fresh tomatoes, canned diced tomatoes, chopped bell pepper, asparagus, zucchini, corn and peas will all work. Try adding ½ cup to 1 cup depending on your preference. Any more will probably be too much.

Ways To Serve

Spaghetti with meat sauce has always been a family favorite. But this one-pot spaghetti will most likely take its place on the dinner table.

There are so many ways to serve this comfort food, and the tomato sauce makes for a perfect dip.

GARLIC BREAD - If you have a large dutch oven, you can add garlic butter to my dutch oven bread recipe.
SALAD - Serve with a side of greek salad for a well-rounded meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you cook raw spaghetti in sauce?

Yes, you can. No need to boil the spaghetti on its own. With a little extra liquid, it can be added right into the pot.

Can I add red wine for extra flavor?

Red wine is commonly added to Italian dishes. But don't use too much! Maybe a ¼ cup.

What other cheese can I use?

Parmesan cheese has a strong flavor. Asiago can be used as well

One pot spaghetti pasta with a fork in a white dutch oven. Parmesan and parsley sprinkled on top.

Recipes like this one-pot spaghetti are a real time saver and a perfect meal for the weekdays. With a few simple ingredients, it's amazing how quickly something so delicious can come together. My family loves it and I know yours will too.