Description
A delicious and nutritious spaghetti recipe featuring a hidden vegetable pasta sauce that incorporates shredded zucchini and carrots for added vitamins and fiber. Ground beef and classic Italian herbs create a rich, flavorful sauce perfect for a family dinner.
Ingredients
Vegetables
- 1 small zucchini (about 1.5 cups shredded)
- 2 carrots (about 1.5 cups shredded)
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Meat and Sauce
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 lb. ground beef
- 1/2 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper (optional)
- 1 (24 oz.) jar pasta sauce
Pasta
- 12 oz. spaghetti
Instructions
- Prepare the vegetables: Use a cheese grater to grate the zucchini and carrots until you have about 1.5 cups of each. Dice the onion and mince the garlic to have everything ready for cooking.
- Brown the ground beef: Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until fully browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, sautéing until the onions become soft and translucent, about 3-5 minutes.
- Sauté the vegetables: Add the shredded zucchini and carrots to the skillet along with dried basil, oregano, salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper if using. Cook for about five more minutes until the vegetables wilt and blend into the mixture.
- Simmer the sauce: Pour the jar of pasta sauce into the skillet, stirring well to combine all ingredients. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Let it gently simmer while you prepare the pasta, stirring occasionally.
- Cook the spaghetti: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta using a colander and return it to the pot with the heat turned off.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add about one cup of the prepared vegetable beef sauce to the drained spaghetti and toss to coat evenly. Serve the spaghetti divided into bowls and top with additional sauce from the skillet.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for ground beef if preferred.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the meat and add mushrooms or lentils to the sauce.
- Feel free to add extra vegetables like bell peppers or spinach for more nutrition.
- Adjust the seasoning to taste, more crushed red pepper for spice or more herbs for aromatic flavor.
- Use gluten-free spaghetti to make this dish gluten-free friendly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
