Oma’s Easy German Spaghetti Recipe
Here’s a secret family recipe you’re gonna love! German Spaghetti, aka Oma’s Spaghetti, is an easy, savory pasta sauce recipe that can be ready in 30 minutes.
This German-style spaghetti recipe is made with ground beef, onions, and celery, all sauteed in BUTTER and simmered with fresh tomatoes, it’s sure to be a hit!
This German-style spaghetti sauce is a savory pasta sauce recipe my Oma used to make for me all the time. It’s an heirloom family recipe that is sure to become a favorite in your easy weeknight dinner rotation!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
German spaghetti is a super easy recipe made from a few simple ingredients and can be ready in 30 minutes. It’s a savory pasta dish that is sure to become a go-to comfort food favorite, with a mild tomato flavor that is mellowed by the addition of butter.
Here’s What You Need
- ground beef – We use ground sirloin for its low fat content. May substitute ground round, or ground chuck. However, drain the grease with paper towels if you do.
- tomatoes – We use canned diced tomatoes for convenience. But fresh tomatoes are always best. Substitute 2 or 3 large whole tomatoes.
Canned tomatoes come in a water (preferred), or a thick tomato sauce mixed in with the tomatoes (avoid). Tomatoes in thick sauce alter the texture and alter the flavor profile of the finished sauce by making it too tomatoey.
Variations
If you use tomato sauce instead of diced tomatoes in German Spaghetti, the result will be more like an Italian red sauce.
How To Make Oma’s Easy German Spaghetti
Step 1. Sweat Onions. Sweat the onions on low heat in 1 tablespoon of butter until just translucent.
You don’t want the onions to caramelize. You just want them softened, white in color and kind of opaque.
Step 2. Sauté Ground Beef. Over medium-high heat, add the ground sirloin and some salt and pepper, and stir it in with the onions until the ground beef is browned.
The browned hamburger should be pretty tasty at this point.
So give it a try and add some more salt if it needs it. This way, you are layering the flavors and building the foundation for a great tasting sauce.
Step 3. Simmer. Once the beef is browned and tasty, mix in the tomatoes and the celery.
Put the lid on the pan and let it simmer over medium-low heat until the celery is soft (approximately 15-20 minutes).
Step 4. Finish the Sauce. Turn off the heat, and add the remaining butter to finish the sauce and give it a smooth texture.
Here is a helpful article from The Spruce Eats about Finishing Sauces with Butter.
Serve. Serve this delicious savory German Spaghetti with some chopped parsley and a grating of parmesan cheese.
Recipe Tips
- Be sure to salt the pasta water. Salt flavors the pasta and will enhance the flavor of the whole dish.
- Cook the pasta to just al dente.
- Use the best, freshest ground beef you can find. Fresh ground beef will chop up into a nice texture when it is browned. And the tender ground beef will make for a tastier sauce.
- Don’t skimp on the butter! Butter is essential to making a true Oma’s spaghetti.