Tasty Eats // Quick Spaghetti Sauce with Zucchini Noodles

Have you guys tried zucchini noodles before? I have to say, I've been skeptical for a long time, but decided to finally give it a shot this past week, and am SO glad I did!! They were seriously delicious, and such an easy way to cut out pasta carbs. You just saute some onion and garlic in olive oil, then toss in the zuccini noodles, season with salt and pepper, and briefly saute them all together. The zucchini softens slightly, but still has a nice crunch/texture to it, which is perfect for serving spaghetti (or any sauce) over. So good!

It's now officially become my favorite way of eating zucchini, and I love that you're not only eating less pasta, but you're also eating more veggies - win win! To prepare the zucchini for this dish, you just need a vegetable julienne peeler (or a spiralizer if you want to get fancy) that will slice the zucchini into uniform, pasta-like strips. It's so simple delish! I definitely suggest giving it a try.

Quick Spaghetti Sauce with Zucchini Noodles

Spaghetti Sauce:

- 1 lb. ground beef or turkey
- half of a large onion, chopped
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28 oz. can crushed or pureed tomatoes
- 1 15 oz. can diced tomatoes, optional
- 1/4 cup red wine
- 1 Tbsp. dried basil
- 1 1/2 tsp. dried oregano
- 1 tsp. dried parsley
- 1/4 tsp. dried rosemary, optional
- 2 small bay leaves
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, or more to taste
- 1 tsp. sugar
- 1 tsp. salt
- black pepper, to taste

Zucchini Noodles:

- 1 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1/4 cup onion, diced
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 medium zucchini, sliced into strips using a julienne peeler or spiralizer
- salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

For the spaghetti sauce, cook the ground beef and onion in a large dutch oven or saucepan until the meat is no longer pink, and the onion is tender. Spoon out any excess grease, if any, and add the minced garlic and a pinch of salt. Saute for 1-2 minutes so that the garlic softens and cooks a little, then stir in the remaining sauce ingredients, and bring to a boil.

Reduce heat, then cover and simmer for an hour, stirring occassionally. Taste, and adjust salt or seasonings if needed.

When sauce is ready, it's time to do the zucchini noodles. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add the olive oil, onions, and garlic, and cook until fragrant and softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add the zucchini, and generously season with salt and pepper. Cook the zucchini for several minutes, making sure to stir often so that they cook evenly... You want the zucchini to be cooked through, but still firm.

Divide the zucchini noodles into 3 or 4 bowls, and serve the spaghetti sauce over it. Top with parmesan or feta cheese, if desired, and enjoy!