Meat Sauce – Healthy Recipes

Ready for the best bowl of pasta in 20 minutes or less? This easy meat sauce recipe uses a jar of your favorite marinara sauce to get dinner on the table QUICK. Think of this as an elevated meat sauce! We’re combining fresh ingredients with a jar of sauce to make a 6-ingredient staple sauce recipe, that tastes fancy and could not be easier to throw together!

PREPARATION TIME

PREP TIME 5

COOK TIME 15

Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or butter

1 onion diced

2 garlic cloves minced

1 8- ounce package baby Bella mushrooms finely diced (optional)

1 pound ground beef

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1/4 teaspoon hot pepper flakes more as desired

1 24- ounce jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce

Fine sea salt as needed

Black pepper as needed

OPTIONAL VEGETABLES:

1 green or red bell pepper finely diced

1 zucchini diced (about 1 cup)

FOR GARNISH:

Fresh parmesan cheese

Hot pepper flakes

Ricotta cheese

Fresh basil

Instructions

Heat oil or butter in a large 12″ skillet over medium heat. Once hot, add onion and garlic and sautè for 2-4 minutes, until onions begin to soften and garlic is fragrant.

Add in mushrooms and any other optional diced vegetables you choose (zucchini, bell peppers) and let cook for 5-7 minutes, until veggies begin to soften, and water reduces from mushrooms.

Add in ground beef and seasoning and cook until no pink remains, about 5 minutes.

Add in jar of marinara or spaghetti sauce. Reduce heat to a simmer for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.

Serve hot with optional garnishes and over pasta, zucchini noodles, or spaghetti squash.

Notes

Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Add optional veggies, or if using any veggies, in step 2 and sautè as directed until soft.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 recipeCalories: 355kcalCarbohydrates: 22gProtein: 28gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 900mgFiber: 5gSugar: 13g