Dirty Spaghetti

Ingredients

• 12 oz spaghetti
• 1 lb ground beef
• ½ cup red bell pepper, diced
• ½ cup green bell pepper, diced
• ½ cup yellow onion, diced
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1–2 cups reserved pasta water
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• ¼ cup all-purpose flour
• 6–7 garlic cloves, minced
• ½ tsp seasoned salt blend (like Nature Seasoning)
• ½ tsp Cajun seasoning (like Slap Ya Mama)
• ½ tsp Italian seasoning
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)

Method

1. Cook the spaghetti in salted boiling water until al dente, reserving 1-2 cups of pasta water before draining.
2. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat, breaking it apart as it cooks.
3. Add the diced bell peppers and onion to the beef and cook until softened.
4. Stir in the minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking briefly until fragrant.
5. Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture and stir to coat, cooking for a minute to remove the raw flour taste.
6. Pour in the beef broth, stirring to combine and prevent lumps, then bring to a simmer.
7. Add the seasoned salt blend, Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, and cayenne if using.
8. Simmer the sauce until it thickens slightly, adjusting consistency with reserved pasta water as needed.
9. Toss the cooked spaghetti into the sauce until fully coated and heated through.
10. Serve hot.