Heart-Healthy Classic Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Dive into a flavorful and guilt-free twist on an Italian classic with this Heart-Healthy Classic Spaghetti with Meat Sauce. This recipe swaps traditional ingredients for wholesome, nutritious options, featuring tender whole grain spaghetti and lean ground turkey, ensuring a lighter, yet equally delicious spin on the beloved comfort food. Packed with sautéed onions, garlic, red bell pepper, and grated carrot, this robust sauce gets a boost of natural sweetness and nutrients, while aromatic herbs like oregano and basil add an irresistible Italian flair. Simmered with no-salt-added diced tomatoes and low-sodium chicken broth, it’s rich in taste but light on sodium, perfect for those seeking heart-smart meal options. Ready in under an hour, this nourishing dish, garnished with fresh parsley and optional Parmesan, is an easy, family-friendly dinner choice that balances flavor, health, and satisfaction.

Nutriscore Rating: 81/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:35 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 12 oz Whole grain spaghetti
• 1 lb Lean ground turkey
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 medium Onion, chopped
• 4 Garlic cloves, minced
• 1 medium Red bell pepper, diced
• 1 medium Carrot, grated
• 28 oz Canned diced tomatoes, no salt added
• 2 tbsp Tomato paste
• 1 tsp Dried oregano
• 1 tsp Dried basil
• 0.5 tsp Red pepper flakes
• 0.5 tsp Black pepper
• 1 cup Low-sodium chicken broth
• 0.25 cup Fresh parsley, chopped
• 0.25 cup Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

Step 1

Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add a pinch of salt, and cook the whole grain spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside, reserving 1 cup of pasta water.

Step 2

In a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Once hot, add the chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened.

Step 3

Add the minced garlic, diced red bell pepper, and grated carrot to the skillet and sauté for an additional 4-5 minutes until the vegetables are tender.

Step 4

Add the lean ground turkey to the skillet. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until it is no longer pink and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 5

Stir in the canned diced tomatoes with their juices, tomato paste, dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, and black pepper. Mix well.

Step 6

Pour in the low-sodium chicken broth and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let it simmer uncovered for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until it thickens.

Step 7

Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if necessary. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water to reach the desired consistency.

Step 8

Toss the cooked spaghetti with the sauce, ensuring the pasta is well-coated.

Step 9

Serve the spaghetti hot, garnished with fresh chopped parsley and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2303.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1770.0

Total Fat 70.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 21.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g
Cholesterol 371.6mg	0%
Sodium 1450.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 171.1g	0%
Dietary Fiber 37.5g	0%
Total Sugars 47.3g
Protein 147.5g	0%

Vitamin D 0IU	0%
Calcium 1187.2mg	0%
Iron 22.9mg	0%
Potassium 5147.0mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 33.2%

Protein: 30.9%

Carbs: 35.9%