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Dinner

Veggie Packed Meat Sauce

This hearty meat sauce is loaded with hidden vegetables and makes for a perfect family dinner.

By Daily Recipes Book· 🌍 Italian· August 14, 2026
Veggie Packed Meat Sauce
dailyrecipesbook.com
Prep
15 minutes
Cook
30 minutes
Total
45 minutes
Serves
6

This sauce is my go to recipe for busy weeknights when I want to make sure everyone gets their veggies. It is essentially a classic ragu that is filled with finely chopped vegetables, so the kids usually do not even notice they are there.

I love making a big batch of this to keep in the freezer. It tastes just as good after a few weeks as it does on the day you make it, and it is wonderful over pasta or even zucchini noodles.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef or turkey
  • 1 small onion, finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 medium carrots, finely grated
  • 1 zucchini, finely grated
  • 1 bell pepper, finely diced
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. 1

    Heat the olive oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium heat.

  2. 2

    Add the ground meat and cook until it is browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as you go.

  3. 3

    Add the onion, garlic, carrots, zucchini, and bell pepper to the pot.

  4. 4

    Cook the vegetables with the meat for about 5 to 7 minutes until they are soft.

  5. 5

    Stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, oregano, salt, and pepper.

  6. 6

    Turn the heat to low and let the sauce simmer for 20 minutes so all the flavors come together.

  7. 7

    Serve warm over your favorite pasta or store it for later.

💡 Tips

You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days. If you want to freeze it, let the sauce cool completely before putting it into freezer bags and it will stay good for up to three months.

#dinner#family friendly#meal prep#high protein#healthy

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