Spaghetti with Meat & Andouille Sausage Sauce
This hearty spaghetti recipe combines smoky andouille sausage, savory ground beef, and sweet Italian sausage with bell peppers, onions, and garlic in a rich tomato sauce. Perfect for family dinners, this flavorful pasta dish is comforting, bold, and sure to be a crowd favorite.
Ingredients
- For the Meat Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 2 –3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 pound mild or sweet Italian sausage casings removed
- 1/2 pound andouille sausage diced
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil or 2 tablespoons fresh, added at the end
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes optional
- 1 6-ounce can tomato paste
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce or diced tomatoes
- 1 cup water + 1 chicken bouillon cube or 1 teaspoon bouillon powder
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon sugar optional
- For the Pasta:
- 1 pound pasta of your choice
- Salt for pasta water
- For Serving:
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley chopped
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, red pepper, and green pepper. Cook until softened, about 5–7 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 more minute.
- Add ground beef, Italian sausage, and andouille sausage. Cook until browned, about 8–10 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Stir in salt, pepper, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Add tomato paste and cook 2–3 minutes to caramelize.
- Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, bouillon water, bay leaf, and sugar (if using). Stir well and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat, cover, and cook 30–60 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Cook pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Remove bay leaf from sauce. Stir in 1/4–1/2 cup pasta water to adjust consistency. Toss pasta into sauce until well coated.
- Serve hot with Parmesan and fresh herbs.