Heart-Healthy Marinara Sauce with Ground Beef

Transform your pasta nights with this **Heart-Healthy Marinara Sauce with Ground Beef**—a delicious yet nutritious take on a classic comfort food. Packed with extra-lean ground beef, fresh vegetables like grated carrot and chopped celery, and no-salt-added crushed tomatoes, this recipe prioritizes rich, wholesome flavors without the extra sodium or fat. Simmered to perfection with dried herbs like oregano, basil, and thyme, and a touch of low-sodium vegetable broth, this sauce achieves a robust and satisfying depth. It's easy to prepare in under an hour and is perfect for serving over whole-grain pasta or zucchini noodles for a balanced, heart-smart meal. Whether you're looking for a family-friendly dinner idea or a dish to fit your health-conscious lifestyle, this marinara sauce is a must-try!

Nutriscore Rating: 80/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:45 mins

Total Time:60 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 0.5 pound extra-lean ground beef (at least 95% lean)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 carrot, finely grated
• 1 celery stalk, finely chopped
• 28 ounces canned no-salt-added crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• 0.25 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional for spice)
• 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

Directions

Step 1

Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the finely chopped onion and sauté for 5 minutes until it becomes translucent.

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute, ensuring it does not burn.

Step 4

Add the grated carrot and chopped celery, sautéing for an additional 5 minutes until the vegetables are soft.

Step 5

Push the vegetables to the side of the pan and add the ground beef to the center. Cook the beef until browned, breaking it into small bits with a wooden spoon, for about 5 minutes.

Step 6

Once the beef is browned, stir in the vegetable mixture and add the crushed tomatoes.

Step 7

Season the mixture with dried oregano, basil, thyme, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using).

Step 8

Pour in the low-sodium vegetable broth to the mixture, stirring well.

Step 9

Bring the sauce to a simmer, reduce the heat to low, and let it simmer uncovered for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 10

Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Stir in the fresh parsley before serving.

Step 11

Serve the heart-healthy marinara sauce over whole-grain pasta or zucchini noodles for a complete meal.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1604.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	772.6

Total Fat 27.4g	0%
Saturated Fat 6.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1.3g
Cholesterol 158.8mg	0%
Sodium 535.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 76.9g	0%
Dietary Fiber 20.8g	0%
Total Sugars 41.8g
Protein 63.6g	0%

Vitamin D 15.9IU	0%
Calcium 317.6mg	0%
Iron 11.2mg	0%
Potassium 3790.6mg	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: 30.5%

Protein: 31.5%

Carbs: 38.0%