This meat sauce is DELICIOUS! I still remember the first time I made it. I was skeptical because even though I’m Italian I hadn’t ever made my own sauce. However the minute I took the first bite I literally looked at my husband and said …. “ooh! that is delicious!!”. (I’m not kidding!)
SIGNATURE CONCOCTION/NUTRITION
The recipe has my signature concoction of ground turkey and Jennie-O Hot Italian Turkey Sausage. I love these two together because ground turkey is low fat and the hot turkey sausage gives it flavor and that little extra oomph while also helping to not dry out the mixture! Per 2 ladle scoops of sauce this recipe has 295 calories, 12g carbs, 13g fat and 27g protein.
CAN’T TAKE THE HEAT?
I love a little spice (and sass!). If you don’t like spice then just eliminate the cayenne pepper and diced chiles. You can also substitute the hot sausage for Jennie-O sweet turkey sausage and you are back in business!
DIFFERENT RECIPES USING MEAT SAUCE
There are so many ways to use this sauce! All of the ones I mention are also gluten-free! You can make a healthy lasagna and add sliced zucchini to a baking dish. Layer the sauce on top, then add another layer of zucchini (keep layering until you run out) and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. Or you can simply place it on top of spaghetti squash (or real pasta), make lasagna with ricotta or stuff peppers with it! The possibilities are endless!
Products I love to use when making this dish:
Hamilton Beach Can Opener (weirdly obsessed with this thing!)
Amazing meat sauce to use for stuffing peppers, over pasta, spaghetti squash etc!
- 1 tray Jennie-O Hot Italian Turkey Sausage
- 1.5 lbs ground turkey
- 1 medium red onion chopped
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tbsp oregano
- 1 tbsp basil
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt (to taste)
- 1 tsp ground pepper (to taste)
- 28 oz diced tomatoes no salt added
- 1 small can tomato paste
- 4 oz can diced chiles
- 5 handfuls of baby spinach
- parmesan or shredded cheese
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remove casing from sausage and pull into small chunks
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over medium-high heat, add olive oil to pan for about 30 seconds. add garlic for another 30 seconds.
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add onions to the pan and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
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add in ground turkey and turkey sausage and cook for about 5 minutes stirring occasionally. meat will still be a little pink.
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add in seasonings, spinach, tomatoes, tomato paste and diced chiles. stir.
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Continue to cook on low until tomatoes and flavors meld together. about 5-7 minutes.
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use to stuff peppers, over spaghetti squash, lasagna etc. Top with lite shredded cheese or Parmesan cheese and Enjoy!
Sweet Potato Skillet