This Bolognese sauce is loaded with layers of flavor, protein, and vegetables. I have created the quick and lazy way to speed up your weeknight dinner fo the whole family. Ladled over spaghetti squash or pasta of your choice, you will love the flavors that develop in this dish.

A plate of spaghetti squash topped with bolognese sauce and fresh basil.

Hearty and comforting, this veggie packed Bolognese sauce with spaghetti squash is sure to win over any meat sauce lover. 

When I was a kid, spaghetti with meat sauce was always a quick go-to on nights where there wasn’t a lot of time to cook dinner. It’s the ultimate comfort food for many of us.

With just a handful of accessible and wholesome ingredients, this bolognese recipe will provide you a healthier option without giving up the flavor.

I can’t forget to point out that this sauce only has 7 ingredients and it’s super easy to make too. 

This is not only great as a pasta sauce option, but you can use it in other dishes like casseroles, lasagna ravioli, calzones and more. The sky is the limit when it comes to ways to enjoy this healthy bolognese sauce.

Additionally, this bolognese sauce recipe is easy to double or triple so you can make extra ahead of time and freeze it for later use. 

How to Make This Hearty Bolognese Sauce

A pan of fresh and cooked bolognese sauce. There are carrots, celery and ground meat. There are some fresh basil on top.

How to Serve This Delicious Bolognese Sauce

You can pair this bolognese with any pasta you like. If you ARE trying to remain gluten free, it goes great with spaghetti squash or any kind of veggie noodles.

Meanwhile, you can purchase pre-spiralized veggie noodles to save some time which will be a bit more expensive, or you can just use a spiralizer to make your own which is actually super easy to do and it guarantees a fresher “noodle.”

Some of the best veggies to use as noodles are carrots, zucchini, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, and celeriac.

In fact, I love this healthy bolognese sauce so much that I eat it regularly, not just for gluten free. My favorite way to eat it is with spaghetti squash.

Two spaghetti squash are loaded with healthy bolognese sauce. There are a few pieces of fresh basil on top.

If you’ve never made spaghetti squash before, you can check out my post on how to make it here. It’s super easy, I promise. 

What’s your favorite way to use bolognese sauce? Leave a comment below!

A pan of fresh and cooked bolognese sauce. There are carrots, celery and ground meat. There are some fresh basil on top.

Get the recipe:Easy Bolognese Sauce {For Busy Moms}

This Bolognese sauce is loaded with layers of flavor, protein, and vegetables. Ladled over spaghetti squash or pasta of your choice, you will love the flavors that develop in this dish. Perfect to meal prep for a healthy and quick weekday dinner for you or your entire family.
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Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef *
  • 2 -3 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 small shallot, chopped
  • 1 jar 24 oz marinara sauce
  • 2 celery stalk, chopped
  • 2 large carrot, chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, roughly chopped *
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, optional
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 – 3 tbsp olive oil

Instructions 

  • Heat a large skillet over medium heat 2 tbsp olive oil, after 1 minute or so, add minced garlic, chopped shallots, celery, and carrots in.
  • Continue to stir to prevent any burning, until fragrant, and the carrots and celery are softened.
  • Add ground beef, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper. Continue to stir and saute until the meat is no longer pink (about 7 – 8 minutes)
  • Add marinara sauce and basil, lower the heat and stir until the meat and vegetables are completely coated with the sauce. TASTE and season with extra salt and pepper accordingly.
  • Let it simmer for approximately 10 minutes or until the sauce is well combined and thick.
  • Serve over prepared spaghetti squash, zucchini noodles or your favorite traditional pasta.

Notes

If you do not have fresh basil in hand (which I usually do not), I like to swap it with 2 – 3 pieces of dried bay leaves.
1.* My favorite meat to use for this recipe is ground bison. You can also use ground turkey.
2. Check out How to Make Easy Baked Spaghetti Squash yourself In this Post.
Note: Nutrition facts below do not include spaghetti squash used in photos. They may also vary depending on the type of meat and marinara sauce used.
Serving: 1g, Calories: 380kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 24g, Fat: 28g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 74mg, Sodium: 282mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 6g

The Nutrition Facts above are specific to the ingredients I chose to use for this recipe, which may vary.