Leftovers Spaghetti Sauce

Transform your kitchen scraps into culinary gold with this hearty Leftovers Spaghetti Sauce! This budget-friendly recipe breathes new life into leftover meats and vegetables, combining them with pantry staples like canned crushed tomatoes and Italian seasoning for a rich, savory sauce bursting with flavor. Ready in just 40 minutes, it’s a sustainable, no-waste solution that’s perfect for weeknight dinners. Customize it with a pinch of red pepper flakes for heat or a sprinkle of parmesan and fresh basil for a gourmet touch. Serve over spaghetti or your favorite pasta for a comforting, homemade meal that tastes anything but leftover.

Nutriscore Rating: 72/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:30 mins

Total Time:40 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup leftover meats (e.g., ground beef, sausage, cooked chicken), chopped
• 1 cup leftover vegetables (e.g., bell peppers, zucchini, mushrooms), diced
• 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
• 0.5 teaspoons red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoons sugar (optional)
• 0 to taste parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
• 0 to taste fresh basil (optional, for garnish)

Directions

Step 1

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

Step 2

Add the chopped onion and sauté for 3-5 minutes, until softened and translucent.

Step 3

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.

Step 4

Add the leftover meats and sauté for 2-3 minutes to warm through.

Step 5

Stir in the leftover vegetables and cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing them to soften slightly.

Step 6

Pour in the crushed tomatoes and add the tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and black pepper.

Step 7

If the sauce tastes too acidic, stir in the sugar to balance the flavors.

Step 8

Lower the heat to a simmer and cook the sauce for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, to allow the flavors to meld together.

Step 9

Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.

Step 10

Serve the sauce over cooked spaghetti or your favorite pasta.

Step 11

Top with parmesan cheese and garnish with fresh basil, if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1472.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1236.5

Total Fat 74.8g	0%
Saturated Fat 22.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.7g
Cholesterol 170.7mg	0%
Sodium 4895.5mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 83.0g	0%
Dietary Fiber 21.5g	0%
Total Sugars 52.1g
Protein 66.1g	0%

Vitamin D 25.8IU	0%
Calcium 431.9mg	0%
Iron 17.3mg	0%
Potassium 4278.5mg	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: 53.0%

Protein: 20.8%

Carbs: 26.1%