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Recipe: spaghetti squash with meat sauce

Ground Beef Italian
spaghetti squash with meat sauce recipe image
Spaghetti squash with meat sauce serving suggestion

spaghetti squash with meat sauce

You'd be amazed at how easy it is to add an extra serving of veggies with this recipe! Hearty Ground Beef in tomato sauce on top of cooked spaghetti squash.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • 1 can (15 ounces) no salt added or regular tomato sauce
  • 1 can (14.5 ounces) Italian-Style diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
  • 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
  • 1 medium spaghetti squash (about 3 to 3-1/2 pounds, cut in half lengthwise, seeds removed
  • TOPPINGS OPTIONAL
  • Thinly sliced fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

  1. Heat stockpot over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef, onion and garlic; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking beef into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally.
  2. Stir in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and crushed red pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 20 minutes to develop flavors, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; stir in basil, if desired.
  3. Meanwhile, place squash in 8 x 8-inch microwave-safe baking dish, overlapping halves slightly. Microwave on HIGH 10 to 12 minutes or until squash is tender. Let stand 5 minutes. Scrape squash with fork to separate strands.
  4. Serve sauce over squash. Serve with Toppings, if desired.

Italian-Style Beef Sausage Variation:
Prepare Italian-Style Beef Sausage by combining 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner) with 1 teaspoon fennel seed, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon coriander, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper and 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly. Proceed as directed in step 1.

To Roast Spaghetti Squash: Place squash halves, cut-side down, in 13 x 9-inch ovenproof baking dish. Bake in 350°F oven 45 to 55 minutes or until squash is tender.

Test Kitchen Tips: Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed Ground Beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160ºF. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.

NUTRITION INFORMATION
Nutrition information per serving, using no salt added tomato sauce 326 calories; 9 g fat (4 g saturated fat; 3 g monounsaturated fat); 76 mg cholesterol; 514 mg sodium; 34 g carbohydrate; 7.2 g fiber; 29 g protein; 8.5 mg niacin; 0.6 mg vitamin B6; 2.3 mcg vitamin B12; 6.3 mg iron; 19.0 mcg selenium; 6.4 mg zinc; 100.1 mg choline.

This recipe is an excellent source of fiber, protein, niacin, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, iron, selenium and zinc; and a good source of choline.

Ground Beef |  Italian