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Classic Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce

Easy Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce

Camila Benitez
This Classic Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce is a delicious dish to prepare for your family. It's a quick and healthy meal that will leave everyone feeling full and satisfied. This recipe is ideal for those nights when you want something flavorful but don't have much time to prepare it. It takes less than 20 minutes to prepare, and the ingredients are fairly inexpensive.
5 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 8

Tools

Ingredients
  

Serving:

  • 1 pound linguine or spaghetti
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan , plus for serving
  • Chopped fresh basil or Italian parsley for garnish

For the Garlic Cheese Bread:

  • 2 teaspoons granulated garlic or fresh garlic clove , peeled
  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 loaf of french bread or a large country rustic baguette , ½ inches sliced or split the bread half lengthwise
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 3 tablespoons grated Parmigiano cheese , optional
  • Mozzarella cheese or Mexican Blend , shredded, as needed (optional)

Instructions
 

For the Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce

  • Bring a large pot of water (about 4 liters) to a full boil. Add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt and the linguine and cook according to the package's directions. Reserve 1-½ cups of the pasta water, then thoroughly drain the pasta.
  • While the pasta is cooking, heat the oil and butter in a 14-inch nonstick pan or work over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the garlic and cook, stirring until it begins to color, about 1 minute.
  • Add the crushed tomatoes, rinse the can with about 1 cup of pasta water, and add the water to the pan—season with kosher salt, red pepper flakes, and sugar. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened and flavorful, about 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Using tongs, lift the pasta out of the colander and add it to the Tomato Sauce, along with the remaining ½ cup of pasta water and the basil, simmer for 2 to 3 minutes. Taste and adjust the seasoning with more kosher salt and red pepper flakes if needed. Transfer the spaghetti with tomato sauce to a large serving bowl and top grated parmesan cheese.

How to Make Garlic Cheese Bread

  • Combine butter, oil, parsley, and granulated garlic or mashed fresh garlic in a microwave-safe dish or a small saucepan. Heat in the microwave for 1 minute or in a small pot over moderate-low heat until the butter melts.
  • For the sliced bread: Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and them liberally with garlic oil mixture—Sprinkle with cheese, if using, and toast under the broiler until golden brown or in a preheated 375 degrees F toast them until very lightly golden brown, about 10 minutes  If you added Mozzarella cheese, return to broiler and bake until golden brown and bubbly for 30 seconds.
  • For split bread: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F and place it on a baking sheet. Liberally with oil and butter mixture—Sprinkle with cheese, if using. Bake until golden brown and toasted, 8 to 15 minutes. If you added Mozzarella cheese, toast under the broiler until golden brown and bubbly for 30 seconds. Cut into 4 pieces and serve alongside the Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce. Enjoy!

Notes

How to Store & Re-Heat 
  • To store: Refrigerated Leftover Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce, covered for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave until hot. Garlic cheese bread can be kept at room temperature for two days, wrapped tightly in plastic or foil.
  • To reheat: Wrap it in foil and bake it for 10-12 minutes in a preheated 350 F oven. Alternatively, you can use the microwave to reheat quickly.
Make-Ahead
Prepared the Tomato Sauce sauce 4 days ahead, cover, and refrigerate until needed. Combine with the pasta (without the cheese topping ) for up to 2 days, cover, and refrigerate until needed. Reheat over a stovetop over medium heat until heated (adding a splash of water if needed). Add the grated cheese. Alternatively, you can heat it in the microwave. I don't recommend making the garlic cheese bread ahead. Garlic cheese bread is best eaten fresh.
How to Freeze
Allow the spaghetti with Tomato sauce to cool to room temperature. Transfer the Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce to a freezer-safe container or resealable freezer bag. Label the container or bag with the date and contents. Store in the freezer for up to 2-3 months.
To thaw and reheat the spaghetti:
Remove the spaghetti from the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator overnight. Transfer the spaghetti to a saucepan and reheat over medium heat until heated, stirring occasionally. You may need to add a splash of water or tomato sauce to the pan to help loosen the spaghetti. Alternatively, you can reheat the spaghetti in the microwave. Place it in a microwave-safe dish and cover it loosely with a damp paper towel. Microwave for 1-2 minutes or until heated through.
Note: It's best to leave the grated Parmesan cheese when freezing the Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce. You can add it after reheating the Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce, as cheese can become rubbery and lose flavor when frozen and reheated.
Nutrition Facts
Easy Spaghetti with Tomato Sauce
Amount per Serving
Calories
586
% Daily Value*
Fat
 
32
g
49
%
Saturated Fat
 
6
g
38
%
Polyunsaturated Fat
 
4
g
Monounsaturated Fat
 
21
g
Cholesterol
 
8
mg
3
%
Sodium
 
501
mg
22
%
Potassium
 
247
mg
7
%
Carbohydrates
 
62
g
21
%
Fiber
 
3
g
13
%
Sugar
 
4
g
4
%
Protein
 
14
g
28
%
Vitamin A
 
482
IU
10
%
Vitamin C
 
6
mg
7
%
Calcium
 
153
mg
15
%
Iron
 
2
mg
11
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods, and portion sizes per household.

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