This simple spaghetti with meat and mozzarella is the kind of weeknight dinner that disappears fast: juicy ground meat simmered with fresh tomatoes, garlicky warmth, and a blanket of melted mozzarella. Everything comes together in one pan, so dinner is on the table with barely any washing up. For more pasta inspiration, try our Classic Spaghetti Bolognese or a cozy Baked Spaghetti with Camembert and Mushrooms.
Ingredients
- 300-400 g ground meat
- 5-6 tomatoes
- 300 g mozzarella
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- Olive oil
- Salt, red and black pepper
- 200 g spaghetti
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
Instructions
- Cook the spaghetti until al dente.
- Lightly fry the tomatoes in olive oil, score a cross on top of each, add the chopped onion to the center, cover, and stew 10 minutes.
- Peel the tomatoes, add the ground meat to the center of the pan, mash the tomatoes, and mix everything with salt and peppers.
- Stir in the tomato paste, minced garlic, and grated mozzarella.
- Add the spaghetti and toss well.
Tips
- Cook the spaghetti just until al dente — it finishes softening as you toss it through the hot sauce.
- Grate the mozzarella while the sauce simmers so it melts evenly the moment it hits the pan.
- For a deeper tomato flavor, let the sauce simmer a few minutes longer before adding the pasta. Serious Eats has a great guide to building rich tomato sauces.
Nutrition
Per 100 g: 132 kcal, protein 8.2 g, fat 8.3 g, carbs 6.8 g.