Skillet spaghetti is a favorite on Amish farms. Unlike the Italian kitchens I grew up in, spaghetti is often prepared differently. In my childhood, spaghetti was treated with almost religious reverence.

🤌 Italian to Amish
The for spaghetti in my Grandma's Italian kitchen was prepared, oil and salt added to the water and brought to a roaring boil. The sauce simmered elsewhere on the stove. My grandmother would declare spaghetti done when a piece stuck to the wall. She'd take out a small strand and stick it to the wall. And then, when it was time, spaghetti would be piled high on plates and that was the meal.
In Amish kitchens, spaghetti is more of an afterthought, an addition to a meal. That doesn't mean spaghetti isn't loved, it's just not revered in the same way. Amish One-Pot Skillet Spaghetti is an example of where spaghetti places a supporting role, sharing equal billing to the meat and cheese.
🍝 What is Skillet Spaghetti?
Skillet spaghetti is a one-pot meal that combines spaghetti noodles, ground beef, tomato sauce, and seasonings in a single skillet. It is a quick and easy dish that is perfect for a weeknight meal.
Instead of having to heat up a pot of water, wait for it to boil, then toss the spaghetti, this simmering skillet meal cooks everything all into one meal. Good stuff!
📜 Tips For Super Skillet Spaghetti
One Pot Skillet Spaghetti is easy to make, but here are some tips to make it even better!
- Use a good-quality ground beef. Many Amish cooks like to use a blend of 80 percent beef and 20 percent ground sausage turkey, or venision, but you can use whatever you prefer.
- Don't overcook the meat, It should be browned but not dry.
- Add the onion and garlic to the skillet while the ground beef is still cooking. This will help to infuse the flavor of the vegetables into the meat.
- Use a good-quality tomato sauce. Most Amish cooks like to use a homemade sauce, but you can also use a commercially bought jarred sauce. If you are using a jarred sauce, be sure to choose one that is low in sodium.
- Add some herbs and spices to the sauce. Many Amish cooks like to add oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
Here are some additional tips:
- If you want to add more vegetables to the sauce, you can do so. Some good options include mushrooms, bell peppers, or zucchini.
- You can also use different types of pasta, such as penne or rotini.
- If you don't like Parmesan cheese, you can top the dish with another type of cheese, such as mozzarella or cheddar.
- You can also add some Italian seasoning to the sauce for an extra boost of flavor.
- If you want to make a vegetarian version of this dish, you can use vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
- You can also add some cooked ground turkey or ground chicken to the sauce.
- This dish is also great for meal prepping. You can make it ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator or freezer. When you are ready to eat, simply reheat the dish in a skillet or in the microwave.
🍲 Grandma Miller's Easy Amish One-Pot Skillet Spaghetti Recipe
This recipe comes to us from a Mary Miller in the Amish settlement around New Wilmington, Pennsylvaia, home of the beautiful brown buggies.
🍝 Ingredients
- 1 pound hamburger
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 2 cups broken spaghetti
- 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 3 /4 cup chopped green peppers
- 1 /2 cup water
- 1 8 ounce can sliced and drained mushrooms
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 /4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
📋 Instructions
- In large skillet brown hamburger, onions, and drain.
- Stir in all other ingredients except for the cheese and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until spaghetti is tender.
- Sprinkle with cheese, cover and heat until melted.
🍝 Additional Spaghetti Recipes
Classic One Pot Spaghetti Recipe
Amish Cheesy Beef Casserole
Amish Easy 4 Ingredient Noodles
Dorcas Raber's Spaghetti Supreme
Amish Baked Spaghetti Pie
Mennonite Mushroom Spaghetti
Amish Beefy, Cheesy Spaghetti Bake
Easy Homemade Amish Noodles
Amish Ham-it Up Spaghetti
🖨️ Full Recipe
One-Pot Skillet Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 1 pound hamburger
- 2 medium onions chopped
- 2 cups broken spaghetti
- 1 28 ounce can diced tomatoes undrained
- 3 /4 cup chopped green peppers
- 1 /2 cup water
- 1 8 ounce can sliced and drained mushrooms
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 /4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In large skillet brown hamburger, onions, and drain.
- Stir in all other ingredients except for the cheese and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until spaghetti is tender.
- Sprinkle with cheese, cover and heat until melted.
Kathleen
I missed something what happened with Lovina's family?
Kevin
Nothing, there was a glitch an accidental old merging with an old column.