This Pasta Recipe Is So Good, It's Allegedly Been Served to U.S. Presidents

 

Pasta is unparalleled in its ability to comfort me. It really doesn't matter what pasta I eat—I know I'm going to enjoy myself. But whenever I make pasta, I find myself caught between making something new and making something I've cooked before that I know I'll love. 

I tend to gravitate toward classic pastas, like pesto, Bolognese, or spaghetti pomodoro, the tomato dish I grew up eating on the regular. Spaghetti is a recipe everyone gets behind, but it can also be a little disappointing if it tastes only of tomatoes.

But we have one spaghetti recipe with some presidential renown that avoids this problem entirely. With an average score of 4.7 stars, our Camp David Spaghetti is a dish with no downsides. Simple, savory, and full of seasonings, this pasta recipe may be one of the best recipes you'll ever try.

Why We Love Camp David Spaghetti

According to Allrecipes member hungryguy, who submitted the recipe, this pasta dish comes from Camp David, the President's country residence in Catoctin Mountain Park, Frederick County, Maryland. The camp is primarily staffed by the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps, lending support to the theory that this recipe originated with a Navy chef stationed there.

Camp David has a long history. Every president since Franklin D. Roosevelt has spent time at this retreat, whether to find some solitude or host foreign dignitaries. So, just imagine the food served here since the 1940s!

Whether or not this recipe was actually on the menu, the pasta is as good as the story makes it out to be. It's meaty, saucy, and full of fresh seasonings. Countless reviewers claim this is the best spaghetti they've ever had, and others have clued in to what makes it great: the Italian sausage.

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"I once asked an Italian guy what the secret was to great spaghetti sauce, and he told me Italian sausage," says reviewer Cheryl Macfarlane Wilson. "I have been making it like that for probably 30 years. It's absolutely the best."

The combination of beef and sausage is just the beginning. This pasta has all the other parts of a successful spaghetti recipe, including whole tomatoes and tomato sauce, basil, fresh oregano, garlic, onion, and a bay leaf.

"I have served it to my family many times, and it is certainly fit for a president!" says hungryguy. "It is best with a garden salad and crusty garlic bread."

Community Praise

• "This was so tasty and so delicious with every mouthful thought," says reviewer Fiona Bunn. "Wow, I'm eating the same food as previous Presidents...a must try from an Aussie girl."
• "Probably one of the best sauces I have ever had," says Allrecipes member Jeff Walls. "Simple and relatively quick. My family loved it!"
• "The beauty of this sauce is in its simplicity," says reviewer Kona Warnock. "It's a bit of a meat lover's sauce, but this makes a great base recipe to do whatever you want to do."
• "Well..well..well...what can I say that hasn't already been said?? This is THE BEST spaghetti I have ever tasted or made in my entire life! It got rave reviews from my family and neighbor," says Allrecipes member CINCASUE. "This will be my go-to recipe from now on. The search is over! I would love to know if this 'navy chef' has any more recipes."

How To Make Camp David Spaghetti

Allrecipes / Abbey Littlejohn

Many reviewers follow this recipe to the letter, while others make a few variations. You can either cook the sausage links first and set them aside, or break them up in the pan and brown with the beef, onion, and garlic.

Then, once the onions are translucent and the beef is brown and crumbly, add in tomato sauce, tomatoes, oregano, salt, basil, bay leaf, and black pepper. Simmer over low heat until the flavors have blended, and the consistency is more saucy than soupy.

Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti according to the package directions, then stir the noodles into the sauce. Transfer everything to an oven-safe baking dish, top with your sausage links (if you did not add them to the ground beef), and Parmesan cheese. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven until the cheese is melted and begins to brown, 5 to 10 minutes.