Description
Chicago Spaghetti is a hearty and flavorful pasta dish featuring a rich meat sauce made from Italian sausage, ground beef, and a blend of aromatic spices. This recipe simmers a robust tomato sauce with fresh vegetables and herbs, then tosses it with thick spaghetti and parmesan cheese for a comforting and satisfying meal perfect for family dinners.
Ingredients
Meat and Vegetables
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 lb. Italian sausage
- 1/2 lb. ground beef
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup green bell pepper, small diced
Tomato Sauce
- 28 oz. crushed tomato
- 6 oz. tomato paste
- 2 cups water
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Final Ingredients
- 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
- 1 lb. thick spaghetti
- Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook Spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the thick spaghetti and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes depending on the pasta. Drain and set aside to keep warm.
- Brown Meats: In a large pot over medium-high heat, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the Italian sausage and ground beef, breaking them up with a wooden spoon as they cook. Continue to cook until the meat is browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add diced onion, minced garlic, and diced green bell pepper to the pot with the browned meat. Cook, stirring frequently, for 3 to 4 minutes until the vegetables soften and become fragrant.
- Add Tomato Paste and Spices: Stir in the tomato paste, granulated sugar, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, dried basil, and cayenne pepper. Mix everything well to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Deglaze and Simmer: Pour in the 2 cups of water and crushed tomatoes to deglaze the pot, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and allow it to simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Season and Combine: Taste the sauce and season with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper as needed. Add the cooked spaghetti and parmesan cheese to the sauce, tossing well to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
- Serve: Serve the Chicago spaghetti hot, garnished with extra parmesan cheese if desired, and enjoy a flavorful, comforting meal.
Notes
- Use thick spaghetti or similar pasta shapes like bucatini for the best texture with this hearty sauce.
- To reduce fat, you can drain excess grease from the browned meat before adding the vegetables.
- Simmering the sauce for 30 minutes helps develop rich layers of flavor.
- This dish contains gluten from the pasta and is not suitable for a gluten-free diet.
- Adjust cayenne pepper amount to control the spice level.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American, Italian-American