Are you preparing meals for a mom or family with a new addition to the household? This spaghetti sauce recipe is wonderful for postpartum meal planning. Feel free to adapt it however you like!

I have been making this spaghetti sauce forever.

As a kid I always had carrots in my pasta sauce. It wasn’t until years later when I saw Giada De Laurentiis simmer her marinara with whole carrots in it did I realize that adding the carrots actually cuts the acidity of the tomatoes… who knew?

And I just thought it was for extra nutrition!

A Spaghetti Sauce Recipe That’s Perfect for Postpartum Meal Planning

I’m someone who always enjoys a warm bowl of nutrient-dense pasta and sauce. It’s nourishing, comforting, and easy to just heat and eat after a busy day running kids all over and back again.

This spaghetti sauce recipe is a great one for a family right after they have a baby. Like my other postpartum recipes it freezes beautifully, and can be packaged and delivered in easy-to-prepare-and-eat formats. Hello MASON JARS!!!!

This version of the pasta sauce is the way that I make it most often, but I have been known to just throw in whatever veg I have lying around.

So go crazy! Or check in with the family you are making this recipe for to support their postpartum eating, and find out what all their favorites (or least favorite) veggies are.

Veggie Packed-Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

Veggie-Packed Spaghetti Sauce Recipe for Postpartum Meal Planning

Corinne Gutstadt | The 730 Project

A vegetable-packed, nutritious spaghetti sauce that you can make ahead and freeze to eat during postpartum recovery. This is also wonderful to make as a gift for someone who is having a baby, or for everyday family meal prep.

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Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian, Mediterranean

Servings 8

Calories 563 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 4 Tbsp olive oil, separated into 2 x 2 Tbsp
• 1 large white or yellow onion, diced
• 2 large carrots, peeled and diced
• 3 stalks celery, diced
• 1 large red pepper, diced
• 3 portobello mushroom caps, cleaned and diced
• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 lbs ground turkey
• 1 large can diced tomatoes
• 1 large can crushed tomatoes
• 1 jar marinara sauce
• 1 Tbsp tomato paste
• 2–3 cups spinach leaves (optional)
• 1/2–1 cup parmesan cheese (optional)
• 1 Tbsp dried oregano (or more/less to taste)
• 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped (or more/less to taste)
• salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

 

• In a large pot heat 2 Tbsp of the oil. Add onion, carrots, celery and red pepper. Sautee for 5–8 minutes.
• Add mushrooms, and cook until the water has cooked off.
• Add garlic, cook for another 5 minutes.
• Remove the vegetables from the pan and add 2 more Tbsp of oil.
• Add the ground turkey and saute until it turns brown. Drain off excess fat.
• Add the vegetables back into the pot and continue cooking, stirring the meat and veg together.
• Add the cans of tomatoes, marinara sauce and tomato paste. (Optional: Add spinach and/or parmesan cheese.)
• Stir through the basil and oregano.
• Allow the sauce to simmer on low for 2 hours, stirring occasionally, or put in a slow cooker on low for 4–6 hours.
• Test for seasoning and add salt and pepper to taste.
• Serve over pasta of your choice.

Notes

This spaghetti sauce can be frozen in small portions for future use, or frozen with pasta in small single-serve mason jars for a complete ready-made meal for postpartum family support.

Keyword freezer meals, kid-friendly meals, meal prep, pasta sauce, postpartum meal planning, spaghetti sauce