30 Minute Beef and Franks Spaghetti Meal

This post is is sponsored by Prego® Sauces. All opinions are mine alone. 

Ready in 30 minutes, this Beef and Franks Spaghetti Meal with only 5 main ingredients is the perfect dinner solution for busy moms. With ground beef, hot dogs, vegetables and a rich Italian sauce served over pasta, a delicious weeknight family meal has never been easier.

When it comes to comfort food, one that will always be on top of our list is a pasta dish. There is just something so deliciously comforting in a plate of spaghetti smothered in your favorite sauce and topped with cheese. While I sometimes attempt to make my pasta sauce from scratch there are days when I simply don’t have the time to wait 2 hours to make the perfect Bolognese.

I am glad that for busy days when my family craves pasta I can simply get a bottle of Prego® Traditional Italian sauce and be assured that our dinner would be delicious. Prego Italian sauce is made only from real ingredients and tastes just like homemade sauce. It is low in fat and saturated fat, a good source of fiber and is also gluten-free. Most of all, I love its rich flavor which makes it the perfect option for dinner any night of the week.

Growing up in the Philippines, I remember my mom making us our favorite pasta dish which we often ate with rice. I know that sounds weird and a carb overload but that’s how we ate it – pasta and rice together with a thick and rich meaty sauce. My mom made a rich pasta sauce with ground beef and yes, franks or hot dogs thrown in for good measure. I don’t know if that was her way of making sure we ate our dinner but it surely worked and we definitely loved it.

I recalled those moments when I thought about what post to make for this week. I know my kids love pasta and hot dogs so that’s already a winning combination right there. I also added some fresh vegetables to the mix (sweet bell peppers and carrots) because I know they won’t mind, it’s good for them and for extra flavor, too. It’s a very easy and quick recipe which doesn’t require a lot of prep. You can simply cut up one or 2 vegetables, whatever you have at hand, to the mix. I also used an all natural, 100 % beef, nitrate-free hot dogs so it’s a real healthy dish over-all.

You begin by by browning the ground beef in a little oil and then adding the sliced hot dogs or franks.

After a quick sauté of the meats, I dump the veggies and then give them a stir.

After about 3 minutes or so, I pour in the delicious thick red Prego Italian sauce.

And then I leave it to simmer for a few minutes, usually while the pasta cooks.

This is what you get – a rich and very flavorful sauce which looks like you fussed over it but really did not. All that done in 30 minutes total, including prep time.

The verdict? Everyone loved it! Yes, including my English husband who’s never had hot dogs in his pasta sauce before ever! This is a huge batch but because my kids (ages 6 and 9) ate a lot of this (ok, me and hubby did, too) we only had about 2 servings left out of possibly 6-8. I consider that a major success!

Ingredients

• 1 lb. uncooked Spaghetti, or pasta of your choice
• 2 Tablespoons, Olive Oil (optional if your beef has a little fat)
• 1 lb. ground Beef
• 6 Frankfurters or Hot Dogs, sliced (preferably all natural, 100% beef and nitrate-free)
• Vegetables (1 large carrot, cubed and 1 sweet bell pepper, chopped)
• 1 45 oz bottle Prego Traditional Italian sauce
• 2-3 Tablespoons fresh Parsley, chopped (optional)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta al dente or according to package directions.

In a large frying pan or skillet, brown the ground beef in a little oil. Season with a little salt and pepper as it cooks. When the beef has changed its color, add the sliced frankfurters or hot dogs. Saute for about 2 minutes.

Stir in the chopped vegetables and let cook for another 3 minutes. Pour in the sauce and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes (or however long the pasta cooks). During the last 2 minutes or so of cooking add the fresh parsley (if using) to the sauce and stir.

Mix the sauce with the cooked pasta and garnish with extra parsley, if desired. Serve with freshly grated parmesan cheese on the side.

Serves: 6-8