Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce

My boys are a love hate relationship with vegetables.  One day they love them, the next day they hate them.  It’s a lose lose on the balanced nutrition front most days.  However, they will eat Kale and Spinach if it’s cooked so there is hope for a balanced diet!  Like most kids, my boys love pasta and anything with grated Parmesan Cheese on it so I modified an old favourite recipe to include lots of veggies hidden in the sauce thus creating our Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce recipe.

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Hidden Veggie Crockpot Pasta Sauce

An easy way to hide veggies in your kids pasta sauce. Filled with great flavours and cooked in the Crock Pot it is an easy dish for any dinner.

Course: Main

Author: Kerrie @ Family Food and Travel

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef pork or turkey
• 4 slices of bacon or pancetta chopped
• 2 onions chopped
• 1 clove garlic minced
• 2 carrots diced
• 2 stalks celery chopped
• 1 cup broccoli slaw or chopped broccoli
• 1 tsp each basil parsley, salt, pepper
• 1 can tomatoes 28 oz
• 1 can diced tomatoes 28 oz
• 1 cup red wine
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 cup spinach/kale
• pinch sugar

Instructions

1. In a large skillet sauté beef over medium high heat until crumbly and no longer pick. Drain fat.
2. Add bacon, onions, garlic, basil, parsley, salt and pepper over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until onion is translucent.
3. Stir in red wine, mixing until coated.
4. Scrape all contents of skillet into slow cooker.
5. In a Vitamix (or high powered blender) add carrots, celery, and broccoli blending until vegetables are chopped to a fine mixture.
6. Scrape blended veggies into crockpot and add canned tomatoes and sugar, stir until combined.
7. Cover and cook on low until vegetable are tender and sauce is thick (about 5 hours).
8. Discard Bay Leaf, and serve over your favourite pasta noodles.
9. Top with grated parmesan cheese.

Looking for some great family-friendly pasta dishes? Check out Frugal Mom Eh’s Garlic Lemon Pasta with Roasted Shrimp, Shannon’s View From Here’s Stuffed Cheesy Chicken and Spinach Shells and Along Came Kid’s Love Mussels Linguine

What is your favourite way to hide veggies in your kids’ food?