Prep: 15 Minutes Cook: 5 Hours Medium Cook Numbers of Serves: 8 - 10 Serves

easy-does-it-spaghetti-american-homemade-recipe

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef, cooked and drained
  • 1 can (46 ounces) tomato juice
  • 1 can (15 ounces) tomato sauce
  • 1 can (8 ounces) mushroom stems and pieces, drained
  • 2 tablespoons dried minced onion
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon ground mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground mace
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 package (7 ounces) spaghetti, broken in half

  • Instructions

    1. In a 5-qt. slow cooker, combine the cooked beef, tomato juice, tomato sauce, mushrooms, and all seasonings.
    2. Cover and cook on high for 4 hours.
    3. Stir in the broken spaghetti.
    4. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour longer or until the spaghetti is tender.

    Note: This recipe features a unique spice blend of allspice and mace, giving it a distinct, warm flavor profile.


    For Nutritional And Health Benefits

    This delicious and appetizing dish is packed with healthy nutrition that not only provides the body with instant energy but also perfectly meets all the requirements of a balanced diet. The ground beef it contains is an excellent source of protein and iron, considered highly beneficial for muscle strength and for addressing anemia. Tomato juice and sauce are a boon for heart health because they contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene in large amounts, which boosts the body's immune system and protects cells from damage. The addition of mushrooms makes the dish rich in vitamin D and fiber, which helps maintain a healthy digestive system and keeps you feeling full for longer. Garlic, onions, and various spices not only improve blood circulation but also boost metabolism, making this dish perfectly suited to become a complete, balanced, and healthy family meal as part of an everyday diet.

    For Pro Tips And Substitute Ingredients

    To make this traditional Italian dish perfectly and exceptionally flavorful in the traditional style, slow cooking is the most important step, because it allows all the spices to infuse thoroughly into the meat and sauce. When cooking, a common mistake is adding the pasta too early, which makes it soft and gooey, so always add the pasta in the last hour to preserve its texture. If you want to make this recipe lighter and healthier, you can use ground chicken or turkey instead of ground beef, as they are very low in fat. Additionally, you can double the fiber content and avoid the harmful effects of carbohydrates by replacing the regular all-purpose flour pasta with whole wheat or semolina pasta alternatives.

    For Serving And Storing

    Serving this hot, aromatic dish with a mixed salad of freshly chopped green vegetables and olive oil, along with lightly fried garlic naan, proves to be an excellent choice. To store leftovers, let them cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate, where they can be kept for up to three days. When reheating, be sure not to let the pasta dry out. To prevent this, add two to three tablespoons of water or tomato juice while reheating and cover it, heating over low heat so that its original flavor, moisture, and the pasta's characteristic al dente texture are preserved just like freshly cooked food, with no loss in deliciousness.