Nothing smells better than spaghetti sauce simmering in the kitchen. The smell would drive me crazy when my mother made it. I tried to get some of her recipes, but she didn’t make it easy. “Mom, how do you make gravy?” I’d ask. “It’s gravy, Conover. You just make it.” Sigh. That was my mother.
This is my mom’s spaghetti recipe.

She was raised on a farm, and they didn’t measure different ingredients. It was a pinch of this and a pinch of that. So, I’d watch her in the kitchen to learn to make some of my favorite things. That’s right; I stalked my mother in the kitchen. Don’t be judgy now.
This isn’t the first time I’ve stolen one of her recipes. 😔
What Is the Secret to Making a Delicious Spaghetti Sauce?
You can certainly make spaghetti sauce in less than 30 minutes, but for this spaghetti recipe, we’re going to let the sauce simmer for at least an hour and a half. An old friend of mine who cooked delicious Italian meals taught me how to make the quick spaghetti sauce, and it was good. Thanks, Alma!
However, when you have the extra time to leave it in the pot for a while on your stove, I think it not only tastes more flavorful, but the smells filling up your home, is out of this world. Alma’s sauce didn’t contain meat, and we’re making a spaghetti recipe with meat sauce.
Chop up Your Veggies Ahead of Time
I try to use fresh garlic, and parsley when possible, It’s not necessary, but it does make this dish even more flavorful.

You probably have most of the ingredients in your kitchen, and as a plus, spaghetti sauce can be frozen. Leftovers are always handy when you don’t feel like cooking a meal after a long day. You’re still thinking about me stalking my mother, aren’t you? Stop that.
How Easy Is This Recipe?
Easy peasy. You just brown the meat, then add the celery and onions to the pot, then the mushrooms. Then the rest of the ingredients, aside from the pasta and parmesan, go in the pot. Cover it, and simmer for up to 3 hours. And that’s it!

Take out the bay leaves when it’s done, and you’re good to go.

Will You Just Shut up for Once and Give Me the Recipe? Just.This. Once.
Sure thing, Ms. Bossy Boots.
Let’s do this.
Serves 8
Prep time: 25 minutes
Cook time: 2 1/2 hours
Total time: 2 hours, 55 minutes
Ingredients
1/2 lb. of ground beef
1/2 lb. Italian sausage, no casing
½ small onion, diced
1 rib celery, diced
3 cloves garlic
1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
2 3 ounce cans of tomato paste
1 15 oz can of tomato sauce
12 oz sliced Bella mushrooms (You don’t have to use this much, but you’d be disparaging my mother’s memory if you don’t:)
1 cup of chicken broth
½ cup red wine
½ teaspoon basil
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
½ teaspoon oregano
1/4 cup parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
1 lb. spaghetti
Serve with parmesan cheese
Instructions:
In a heavy pot, brown the ground beef and sausage over medium heat.
Add onions and celery as you stir until they are soft. Add your minced garlic for 30 seconds, then add the remaining ingredients except for the pasta and parmesan.
Cover the pot, and simmer for at least one hour, up to 3 hours.
Cook the spaghetti according to the instructions on the box. Drain.
Sprinkle spaghetti and sauce on your plate with parmesan cheese. Let’s eat!
Nutrition:
Good Old-Fashioned Spaghetti Recipe
Ingredients
- .5 pound ground beef I use lean
- .5. pound Italian sausage
- 3/4 onion small, diced
- 1 rib celery diced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 14 ounce can tomatoes diced
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 2 bay leaves
- 12 ounces mushrooms bella
- 1 cup chicken broth
- .5 cup red wine
- .5 teaspoon basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed
- .5 teaspoon oregano
- 1/4 cup parsley fresh, chopped
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 pound spaghetti
- serve with parmesan
Instructions
- In a heavy pot, brown the ground beef and sausage over medium heat.
- Add onions and celery as you stir until they are soft. Add your minced garlic for 30 seconds, then add the remaining ingredients except for the pasta and parmesan.
- Cover pot, and simmer for at least one hour, up to 3 hours.
- Cook the spaghetti according to the instructions on the box. Drain.
- Add spaghetti and sauce on your plate with parmesan cheese.
- Enjoy!
Nutrition
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