Mama's Spaghetti

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Rating:

(4 votes) 3 4

This tried and true recipe is a family tradition with a simple, but delicious, homemade sauce. A sure thing every time.

Ingredients

  • 3 lb. lean ground beef
  • 2 3 lb. jars Prego Traditional Sauce
  • 2 cans diced tomatoes
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • Garlic
  • Oregano
  • Basil
  • 3-4 bay leaves
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Approx. 1 C. red wine, to taste
  • Onion, bell peppers, mushrooms (if desired)

Directions

Place ground beef in large pot or pan (I cook it directly in the pot that I'm going to use for the sauce). Lightly season with salt, pepper, and garlic. Add onions, if desired. Brown beef until no pink remains. Drain and return to pot. Pour Prego sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce over meat. Cook over medium heat. Stir until well mixed. Add red wine and seasonings to taste; don't over-season - it blocks out the robust tomato flavor. Add bell peppers and/or mushrooms, if desired. Continue cooking over medium heat until thoroughly hot, stirring frequently.

Reduce heat to medium/low and let sauce simmer for 1-3 hours (the longer it cooks, the lower the heat should be, but not so low that it does nothing but keep warm). Stir as necessary. Cook pasta according to package directions (I usually remove the sauce from heat at about the same time, to allow the sauce to cool fractionally before serving).

Fill plate/bowl with pasta and sauce.

Review this recipe:

Reviews (15)

  • If it was made in my kitchen, then it is homemade.

    Flag as inappropriate Chiclette  |  July 24, 2009

  • Look people it taste like home made ok. Tell your half starved family to wait 4-5 hours while you make it from scratch!
    Sounds good to me! Can't wait to try it.

    Flag as inappropriate EddieDee  |  July 22, 2009

  • Let's see, if I make another, totally from 'scratch' recipe and pour it over store-bought pasta, does that also make it non-homemade? I don't make my own butter either and buy it ready made from the store, and if I use frozen whipped topping in an (otherwise) from 'scratch' recipe, does that make it less homemade? Be kind.

    Flag as inappropriate oldgrannie  |  July 22, 2009

  • can't read recipe some ingrdients are visible

    Flag as inappropriate brenetteclayton  |  July 22, 2009

  • I use Prego when I'm lazy and don't have time for a recipe

    Flag as inappropriate neddiejojo  |  October 20, 2008

  • Exactly what is it that makes this homemade??

    Flag as inappropriate Mizikar44  |  October 4, 2008

  • This would be a good recipe for an inexperienced cook to try, but not even close to homemeade. At least go for a better jarred sauce, i.e. Newman's Own, Classico or Bertolli. But you get kudos for posting this!!

    Flag as inappropriate Comfortcook  |  October 1, 2008

  • I agree with ostir. Jar sauce isn't homemade. As far as the wine, anything you have in the house: red, white; zinfindel. It all works.

    Flag as inappropriate ilove2cook2  |  September 30, 2008

  • I have never cooked with wine, what kind would you use?

    Flag as inappropriate MELANIECREWS  |  September 29, 2008

  • This 4 sure is not homemade in my cooking

    Flag as inappropriate ostir  |  September 29, 2008

  • Tara.....you need to take the "homemade" out of this recipe, because this is not homemade, when you use 6 lbs. of Prego.

    Flag as inappropriate KJDing  |  September 29, 2008

  • It would help to know some of the spice measurements and just how much does this recipe make? Seems like a very large batch.

    @Vince231
    I would call it homemade as it adds all ingredients to make the sauce taste the way you like it.
    Homemade is not always made starting from scratch.

    Flag as inappropriate calikoala  |  September 29, 2008

  • HOW DO YOU CALL THIS HOME MADE WITH PREGO?

    Flag as inappropriate VINCE231  |  September 29, 2008

  • I would change the ground beef to sausage...no ground beef in my spaghetti sauce.

    Flag as inappropriate A_Bishop  |  September 3, 2008

  • You need to detail the size of the cans you prescribe.

    Flag as inappropriate hambone48  |  May 22, 2008

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