The All-Star Ingredients You’ll Need
For the Spaghetti:
- 1 pound spaghetti
- 1 pound ground beef (or Italian sausage)
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)
- Olive oil
For the Garlic Bread Bowls:
- 4 round loaves of bread (about 6 inches in diameter)
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Let’s Get Cooking: Step-by-Step Instructions
Part 1: Crafting the Perfect Spaghetti Sauce
- Brown the Meat: In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef (or Italian sausage) and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Add the chopped onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic!
- Simmer the Sauce: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour, stirring occasionally. The longer it simmers, the more the flavors will meld together. Stir in the fresh parsley, if using, just before serving. You could also make a batch of Homemade Spaghetti Sauce from scratch!
Part 2: Cooking the Spaghetti
- Cook the Pasta: While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain and Combine: Drain the spaghetti well and add it directly to the pot of spaghetti sauce. Toss to coat the spaghetti evenly with the sauce.
Part 3: Assembling the Garlic Bread Bowls
- Prepare the Bread Bowls: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Using a serrated knife, carefully cut a circle out of the top of each bread loaf, leaving about a 1-inch border. Remove the bread from the center of each loaf, creating a bowl shape. You can save the bread you remove to make breadcrumbs or croutons!
- Make the Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, and chopped parsley.
- Garlic Butter Time: Brush the inside and outside of each bread bowl with the garlic butter. Sprinkle the inside of each bowl with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake the Bowls: Place the prepared bread bowls on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and slightly crispy. Keep a close eye on them, as they can burn easily.
- Fill ‘Em Up: Remove the bread bowls from the oven and carefully fill each one with the spaghetti and sauce mixture.
Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks
My Bread Bowls are Getting Soggy!
This is a common concern! Here’s how to combat soggy bread bowls:
- Don’t overfill: Be mindful of how much sauce you’re adding to each bowl. Too much sauce will saturate the bread.
- Bake them longer: If your bread bowls are particularly soft, bake them for a few extra minutes to crisp them up even more.
- Use sturdy bread: Choose a bread with a tighter crumb structure, like a sourdough or Italian loaf. This type of bread will hold up better to the sauce.
- Lightly toast the insides first: For an extra layer of protection, you can lightly toast the inside of the bread bowls before brushing them with garlic butter.
My Garlic is Burning!
Burnt garlic is no fun! Here’s how to avoid it:
- Low and slow: Cook the garlic over medium-low heat, stirring frequently.
- Add it later: If you’re worried about the garlic burning, add it to the pot after the onions have softened. This will give it less time to cook and reduce the risk of burning.
- Use garlic powder: If you’re really concerned about burning the garlic, you can substitute it with a teaspoon of garlic powder.
Variations to Make it Your Own
Spice It Up!
Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the spaghetti sauce for a little kick.
Go Vegetarian!
Omit the ground beef and add your favorite vegetables to the sauce, such as mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant.
Add Some Cheese!
Sprinkle some shredded mozzarella or provolone cheese over the spaghetti in the bread bowls before serving for an extra cheesy experience.
Use Different Pasta!
While spaghetti is the classic choice, you can use other types of pasta, such as penne, rigatoni, or rotini.
Serving Suggestions and Delicious Pairings
These Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls are a meal in themselves, but they also pair well with a variety of side dishes:
- Side Salad: A simple green salad with a vinaigrette dressing provides a refreshing contrast to the richness of the spaghetti and garlic bread.
- Roasted Vegetables: Roasted asparagus, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts are a healthy and flavorful addition to the meal.
- Garlic Knots: For even MORE garlic bread goodness, serve these bowls with some Garlic Butter Bread Rolls.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftover Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls, store them in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Keep in mind that the bread bowls may become a bit soggy during storage.
Reheating
To reheat, you can microwave the bread bowls for a few minutes, or you can bake them in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. If microwaving, consider cutting the bread bowl open to allow steam to escape and prevent sogginess.
Other Pasta Dishes You’ll Love
If you’re a pasta lover like me, you’ll definitely want to check out these other delicious recipes:
- Southern Spaghetti Bake: A cheesy, flavorful casserole that’s perfect for a crowd.
- Chicken Spaghetti Casserole: A comforting and easy-to-make dish that’s always a hit.
- Garlic Bread Spaghetti Bowls: Looking for an easier version, try these!
Why You Should Make These, Like, Now!
These Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls are more than just a meal; they’re an experience! They’re fun, flavorful, and guaranteed to put a smile on everyone’s face. So gather your ingredients, fire up the oven, and get ready to create a memorable dish that your family and friends will rave about. Happy cooking!
How can I prevent my garlic bread bowls from becoming soggy?
To prevent soggy bread bowls, avoid overfilling them with sauce, bake them for a longer time to make them crispier, use sturdy bread with a tighter crumb structure like sourdough or Italian loaf, and lightly toast the insides of the bread bowls before brushing them with garlic butter.
What are some vegetarian alternatives for the spaghetti sauce?
You can omit the ground beef or Italian sausage and add your favorite vegetables to the sauce. Some suggested vegetables are mushrooms, bell peppers, zucchini, and eggplant.
How should I store and reheat leftover Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls?
Store leftovers in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, microwave for a few minutes or bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, until heated through. If microwaving, consider cutting the bread bowl open to allow steam to escape and prevent sogginess.
Can I use a different type of pasta instead of spaghetti?
Yes, while spaghetti is the classic choice, you can use other types of pasta, such as penne, rigatoni, or rotini.
Spaghetti Garlic Bread Bowls
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef (or Italian sausage) and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add the chopped onion to the pot and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour, stirring occasionally. Stir in the fresh parsley, if using, just before serving.
- While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions until al dente.
- Drain the spaghetti well and add it directly to the pot of spaghetti sauce. Toss to coat the spaghetti evenly with the sauce.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Using a serrated knife, carefully cut a circle out of the top of each bread loaf, leaving about a 1-inch border. Remove the bread from the center of each loaf, creating a bowl shape.
- In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, minced garlic, and chopped parsley.
- Brush the inside and outside of each bread bowl with the garlic butter. Sprinkle the inside of each bowl with grated Parmesan cheese.
- Place the prepared bread bowls on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes, or until they are golden brown and slightly crispy.
- Remove the bread bowls from the oven and carefully fill each one with the spaghetti and sauce mixture.
