Fill a large pot with salted water and bring it to a boil.
Add 8 ounces of spaghetti to the boiling water and cook until al dente (about 8-10 minutes).
In a separate pan, brown 1/2 pound of ground beef (optional) over medium heat.
Heat 24 ounces of marinara sauce in a saucepan.
Combine the cooked ground beef with the marinara sauce and season with salt and pepper.
Wash and tear/chop 4 cups of lettuce (e.g., Romaine or iceberg).
Halve 1 cup of cherry tomatoes and slice 1 cucumber.
In a bowl, combine the lettuce, cherry tomatoes, and cucumber.
Drizzle 1/4 cup of salad dressing over the salad ingredients.
Toss the salad to evenly distribute the dressing and serve it alongside the spaghetti with marinara sauce.