Makes: 8 Servings

Instead of opening a jar of sauce, try this easy spaghetti with meat sauce on a weeknight. Serve with steamed broccoli, garlic bread, and roasted pears for dessert. The recipe makes enough for 8 servings. If you’re serving only four for dinner, cook 8 ounces of spaghetti and freeze the leftover sauce.

Ingredients

• 1 pound whole-wheat spaghetti
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion, finely chopped
• 1 large carrot, finely chopped
• 1 stalk celery, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 pound lean ground beef (90% or leaner)
• 1 14-oz cans crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain.
2. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. 
3. Add onion, carrot, and celery and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is beginning to brown, 5-8 minutes. 
4. Stir in garlic and Italian seasoning; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. 
5. Add beef and cook, stirring and breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, 3-5 minutes. 
6. Increase heat to high. Stir in tomatoes and cook until thickened, 4-6 minutes. 
7. Stir in parsley and salt. Serve the sauce over the pasta, sprinkled with cheese. 

Source: EatingWell Magazine

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 1 serving