Easy Weeknight Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Heat a large cast iron skillet to medium high heat. Once it’s hot add the olive oil and ground beef. Sprinkle with the salt and black pepper. Brown the meat and cook all the way through. Add the chopped onion, garlic, Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes into the pan with the ground beef. Saute for 3-4 minutes, to soften the onion and garlic.

Pour in the entire jar of marinara sauce, then add the water into the jar and shake it up. Add the marinara water into the pan. Mix the marinara sauce and meat together, and add the thyme and bay leaf.

Simmer the sauce on low for 15-20 minutes, or until most of the moisture has evaporated. You want the sauce to be super thick and meaty. Taste for seasoning and add more salt if needed. Remove the bay leaf and thyme sprigs, toss in the fresh parsley, and stir one final time.

Serve over cooked spaghetti and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, if desired.