This batch style sneaky spaghetti sauce is jam packed with veggies and makes enough to fill your freezer. Win- Win. This recipe makes an appearance almost once a week at our house!
I messed with the man’s spaghetti sauce.
He loves pasta sauce. I love pasta sauce.
We eat it ALL.THE.TIME. I went THREE years making this before he noticed the zucchini in it. 10 years later, I don't even know if he knows I also put carrots in there.
This is what makes this recipe a sneaky spaghetti sauce.
All of the sneaky veggies hidden in it!
Once this sauce is made and in the freezer, I will use it for lasagna or other pasta casseroles too. This sauce is probably the most versatile sauce I have in my freezer.
I have been cooking pasta sauce for years and have now perfected it to make it lean and healthy but not sacrificing any yummy factor.
This is also a pretty budget friendly recipe if you get your ingredients at Costco.
I buy the four pack of ground turkey for $20CDN.
I also buy the flat of both crushed tomatoes and tomato paste as I use those ingredients in so many things.
EXPERT TIPS FOR FREEZING SNEAKY MEAT SAUCE
* Once the sauce is cooked, let it cool down before you package it up for your freezer.
* You can use a Foodsaver vacuum sealer to make for easy flat storage and NO LEAKS.
How can you vacuum seal a sauce?
Use a canning funnel to get the sauce in the bag, and make my husband hold the rig while I load the bags!
Then to seal the sauce, I set it up on my foodsaver like below.
Notice the sauce is below the sealing entry.
Thank you gravity.
Then, press the vacuum seal button and as soon as the sauce starts to move out, press seal.
This doesn't fully remove the air, but it has been 100% leak proof and makes for super easy freezer storage.
Are you ready to sneak in all those veggies without anyone noticing?!
When you make this sneaky spaghetti sauce, I want to see it! Tag me @mealplanaddict on Instagram!
Sneaky Spaghetti Sauce {Batch Cook & Freeze)
Ingredients
- 3 pounds ground turkey
- 3 large cans 796ml diced tomatoes
- 2 small cans 156ml tomato paste - if you like a thinner sauce, use only 1 can.
- 1 cup diced onion
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 cup finely diced or grated carrots
- 1 - 1.5 cups finely diced or grated zucchini
- 1 tablespoon granulated garlic
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 cup water
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a LARGE stock pot, brown the ground turkey until no longer pink.
- In the last minute of cooking, add the onion and garlic. Saute for 2-3 minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients and turn up the heat until you reach a boil.
- As soon as you get a boil, turn down the heat to low (or the bottom will burn).
- Let simmer for a minimum of one hour, with the lid on.
- If the sauce is not thick to your preference after the hour, take the lid off and let it reduce down.
- Let sauce cool completely before storing in the freezer.
Notes
Nutrition
So, there you have it, Fill Your Freezer Sneaky Spaghetti Sauce so you can cook once and have many many easy weeknight dinners!
Emily M says
Had my neighbours over tonight and made your sneaky sauce. It was great and everyone really loved it! Lots of compliments and no mention of the sneaky sneaky!
Steph says
Ha!!! thanks for trying it. Its a favourite over here. No mention of the sneaky sneaky LOL LOL LOL LOL
Mo says
Can I make this in my instant pot? If so, for how many minutes?
Steph says
No, I think it will burn in the instant pot.
Amanda says
How spicy is this sauce? Would you say kid friendly grade spicy?
Steph says
You can control the spice with the Jalapeño. For a sure fire kid friendly version, just leave it out. Although, I don't find the recipe spicy as is, but it would depend on how sensitive your kid's tastes are. I hope you like it!
Phyllis says
Just curious if you can advise how much sauce this recipe will make?
Steph says
Hi Phyllis, it usually makes 4-5 Litres for me.
Stephanie says
I made this yesterday but cut the recipe in half, just in case. I really shouldn't have worried!! My guys loved it!!!
Steph says
oh fantastic!! happy to hear! Yes, its a big recipe!
Ann G. says
Thoughts on using eggplant rather than zucchini? I've got some extra & thought this might be a creative use for them. Thanks!
Steph says
oh well that is interesting, I never even considered eggplant. Honestly, I don't have a lot of experience with eggplant so am not sure. Give it a try and report back!
Meloney says
Would you mind explaining how you seal your sauce with the Foodsaver? I have the newer model but I haven't figured out how to do liquids. TIA
Steph says
My model has a "wet function that I use. I just scoop it in the bag with a ladle and fill it no more than 3/4 full and then use the wet function. I wills stop it and seal it manually if it is headed for disaster!
Diana says
I’m going to make this today for the IP lasagna. Any suggestions on what else I can use it for aside from spaghetti?
Steph says
I use it as a basic sauce on spaghetti!
Sonya Fowler says
Do you ever make this without the meat? More like a base that I can add different meats to when using it?
Steph says
I personally haven't made it without meat. I don't see why you couldn't though and make it like a marinara!
Anonymous says
Oh my gosh! I've always wondered how to get my sauce to freeze in foodsaver bags! Next time I'll try this for sure!!!!!
Ray says
I have emailed foodsaver about freezing liquids, and their reply was to freeze the liquid in a plastic container first, then pop it and seal it in a bag.
Steph says
That is an option as well. I have no issue with this sauce, so I skip the extra step.
Stephanie says
Have you ever tried making this with ground beef?
Steph says
Yes! and sometimes half turkey, half ground beef!
Stephanie says
Thank you! Tried it with beef and it’s delicious. Great recipe, thanks for sharing 🙂
Kristen says
Just making this for the second time and it’s amazing!! Total game changer to have this sauce in the freezer,I love it 😊 Thank you!
Aleasha Loblaw says
This is my new go-to bolognase sauce recipe. It is so delicious! I have been making huge batches and freezing in souper cubes, using for quick dinners, lasagna and everything!
Liz says
How much sauce do you freeze in each bag?
Steph says
The best thing to do is freeze it in portions that make sense for your household. For us, that is about 4 cups.
Staci says
This is a fav in our house. Admittedly, I measure with my heart so it's a bit different everytime and I skip the cayenne power, but it's so good. It is hard to screw up. My husband might divorce me if he knew I was feeding him zucchini, but he loves this sauce!
Susan says
How much sauce are the nutrition facts you listed based upon?
Erin says
In the above you mention that you buy flats of crushed tomatoes at Costco then you state using diced tomatoes, just wondering which one to use.. diced or crushed tomatoes?
Thanks
Sandra says
Dear Steph:
I made the Sneaky Spaghetti Sauce Recipe and it is the BEST sauce. I made a few changes: I added 6 cloves garlic, instead of the zucchini, I added 1 cup diced celery, and I added 1 red pepper, diced. A VERY tasty recipe! It freezes well, too.
Once again, thank you.
Greetings from Ontario, Canada.