Angie'S Spaghetti Dinner
A hearty Italian-inspired spaghetti dinner featuring flavorful meat sauce, sautéed vegetables, and optional wine, perfect for family gatherings or cozy nights in.
Ingredients
- 1 medium eggplant ⓘ
- 1 large onion ⓘ
- 1 large can Progresso crushed tomatoes in tomato sauce ⓘ
- 1 quart prepared spaghetti sauce
- 1 15 oz can tomato sauce ⓘ
- 1 12 oz can tomato paste
- 1 large or 2 small cans mushrooms ⓘ
- 1 tablespoon sugar ⓘ
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon parsley flakes ⓘ
- 1/2 cup dry red wine (optional)
- 2 pounds ground chuck ⓘ
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt ⓘ
- 2 tablespoons light olive oil ⓘ
- 2 pounds vermicelli or thin spaghetti ⓘ
Instructions
- Peel the eggplant, shred it, and place in an 8-quart saucepan.
- Add crushed tomatoes, prepared spaghetti sauce, and tomato paste; simmer about 30 minutes.
- Add sugar, Italian seasoning, and parsley flakes. Cover and simmer for 1 hour.
- In a heavy skillet, sauté chopped onion in olive oil.
- Add ground beef and garlic salt; brown the meat.
- Add the browned meat to the sauce; cover and simmer for 1 1/2 hours.
- Add chopped mushrooms and red wine, if desired, during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
- Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Serve the sauce over cooked pasta.
Tips & Substitutions
To enhance the flavors of Angie’s Spaghetti Dinner, consider adding fresh basil or oregano to the sauce. If you don’t have dry red wine, a splash of balsamic vinegar can add a similar depth. For a lighter version, substitute ground turkey for ground chuck, and for vegetarian recipes, swap the meat for lentils or mushrooms and add some extra vegetables.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Angie’s Spaghetti Dinner with a side of garlic bread and a fresh green salad for a complete meal. This dish pairs beautifully with Italian Queen Cake for dessert, or for a heartier option, consider serving it alongside Spinach Lasagna Rolls. Grated Parmesan cheese on top adds a lovely finishing touch.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, gently warm in a saucepan over medium heat or in the microwave until heated through. If the sauce has thickened, adding a splash of water or broth can help restore the desired consistency.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of Angie'S Spaghetti Dinner contains roughly 147 calories, with 3g protein, 29g carbohydrates, and 3g fat. It is a good source of dietary fiber (19% of the Daily Value), vitamin C (18% of the Daily Value), and potassium (12% of the Daily Value). It also contributes 5g of dietary fiber toward your daily target.
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe ahead of time?
Absolutely! You can prepare the sauce a day in advance and refrigerate it. Just reheat it slowly before serving. This allows the flavors to meld beautifully, making it even more delicious.
What type of pasta works best with this sauce?
While vermicelli is traditional, thin spaghetti or even linguine can work well with this sauce. Choose a pasta shape that will hold onto the sauce for the best experience.
Can I freeze the leftovers?
Yes, this dish freezes well! Store the cooled sauce in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Just cook fresh pasta when you're ready to serve.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).