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Hidden Veggie Spaghetti Sauce

4.85 from 20 votes
Total 30 minutes
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Hidden Veggie Spaghetti Sauce is loaded with simple, everyday vegetables hidden in plain sight. This tomato-ey, hearty vegetarian spaghetti sauce is from our easy vegan recipe collection made for stove or Instant Pot...also made for family dinners.

vegetarian spaghetti sauce over spaghetti noodles in white bowl

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Hidden Veggie Spaghetti Sauce is a delicious, meatless spaghetti sauce with everyday vegetables like mushrooms, carrots, and celery and includes Instant Pot and stove instructions. Sometimes the secret to getting finicky eaters to eat vegetables is all about how you hide the vegetables. This homemade marinara sauce uses a food processor or box grater to mince (not puree) the veggies that are cooked into the sauce. It's full of hearty flavor, plant-based nutrients, and no weird ingredients.

Table of Contents hide
1) Hidden veggie spaghetti sauce ingredients
2) Instant Pot Instructions for Hidden Veggie Spaghetti Sauce
3) Stove Instructions for Hidden Veggie Spaghetti Sauce
4) 📖 Recipe
5) Hidden Veggie Spaghetti Sauce

Hidden veggie spaghetti sauce ingredients

  • extra virgin olive oil (or any cooking oil)
  • onion
  • garlic
  • carrots
  • celery
  • mushrooms
  • canned tomato sauce
  • tomato paste
  • Italian seasoning blend
  • salt and pepper
  • (optional) crushed red pepper flakes
  • vegetable broth (or water)

Instant Pot Instructions for Hidden Veggie Spaghetti Sauce

  1. shred veggies in food processor
  2. saute with oil in the Instant Pot on "saute" setting
  3. Stir in remaining ingredients
  4. Close lid, close pressure valve, and pressure cook for 2 minutes with 10 minute natural pressure release.
  5. Open pressure valve to release any steam, open lid, stir sauce, and serve over pasta.

Stove Instructions for Hidden Veggie Spaghetti Sauce

  1. shred veggies in food processor
  2. sauté the veggies in a sauce pot over medium heat on the stove
  3. add pantry ingredients and simmer until thickened (10-15 min)
  4. serve over your favorite pasta

I know, I know. Sounds too simple...but it really is that simple! Once you make this recipe, you'll be a pro and wonder why you haven't been making vegan / vegetarian spaghetti sauce with hidden veggies all these years!

vegetarian spaghetti sauce over spaghetti noodles in white bowl

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Easy vegan / vegetarian pasta recipes

📖 Recipe

marinara sauce over spaghetti noodles in white bowl on blue background

Hidden Veggie Spaghetti Sauce

Hidden Veggie Spaghetti Sauce is loaded with simple, everyday vegetables hidden in plain sight. This tomato-ey, hearty vegetarian spaghetti sauce is from our easy vegan recipe collection made for stove or Instant Pot.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total time30 minutes
Yield 5 1-cup servings
Author Traci
4.85 from 20 votes
Print Pin it for later 📌

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Note about scaling

When scaling (2x or 3x), the light gray ingredient amount doesn’t scale. Please adjust those accordingly.

Ingredients 

  • 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil, or any cooking oil
  • ½ medium Onion, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 large Carrot, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 1 rib Celery, coarsely chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 3 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 cup Mushrooms, coarsely chopped
  • 2 (15 ounce cans) Tomato Sauce
  • ⅓ cup Tomato Paste, about half of a 6-ounce can
  • 1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
  • ⅛ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • ⅛ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes, optional
  • ⅓ cup Vegetable Broth, or water

Instructions

Prep veggies

  • Place ONION, CARROT, CELERY, GARLIC, and MUSHROOMS in a food processor with the mixing blade in place. Note: you can grate everything by hand with a box grater.
  • Pulse the veggies into coarse crumbles (avoid "blending" vegetables into a puree).

Instructions for stove method

  • Heat OIL in a 3 quart saucepan on medium-high heat.
  • Add chopped veggies and sauté until fragrant (about 3 minutes), stirring as needed.
  • Add TOMATO SAUCE, TOMATO PASTE, ITALIAN SEASONING, SALT, BLACK PEPPER, (optional) RED PEPPER FLAKES, and BROTH (or water). Bring to boil, reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring as needed.

Instructions for Instant Pot method

  • Press the “Sauté” button and add OIL to the pot.
  • When the display reads "Hot", add chopped veggies and sauté until fragrant (about 3 minutes), stirring as needed.
  • Add TOMATO SAUCE, TOMATO PASTE, ITALIAN SEASONING, SALT, BLACK PEPPER, (optional) RED PEPPER FLAKES, and BROTH (or water). Stir to combine.
  • Secure lid, turn pressure valve to "Sealing", and select "Manual" or "Pressure Cook" on HIGH for 2 minutes.
  • When cook cycle completes, allow cooker to sit undisturbed for a 10-minute natural pressure release (NPR).
  • Once depressurized, flip pressure valve to "Venting" to release any remaining steam. Press "Cancel", open the lid, and stir ingredients.

Serving and storage

  • Serve spaghetti sauce over your favorite pasta and (optional) garnish with Parmesan cheese.
  • To store, allow sauce to cool and refrigerate up to 5 days or freeze up to 90 days.
Did you make this? We'd love your feedback!!Please rate and review it here or below ⤵️

Equipment

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 81kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 444mg | Potassium: 295mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 2713IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 1mg
Course Main Course, Sauce
Cuisine Italian
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Traci

About Traci

I’m the recipe author, photographer, and videographer behind The Kitchen Girl food blog established in 2013. I test and share all of my original recipes here so you can make great food with simple ingredients for everyday meals and special occasions.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    4.85 from 20 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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  1. Dacid says

    2 stars
    Too coarse

    Reply

    • Traci says

      Hi Dacid, can you elaborate? I'd love to help you get the results you're looking for. Thanks so much!

  2. J Allen says

    5 stars
    Man I was skeptical about how the texture would turn out on this one. Then we made it. Delicious! Looking forward lunch leftovers today. The only thing missing was your homemade French bread 😉

    Reply

    • The Kitchen Girl says

      Lol, yep! This pasta sauce totally wants to be mopped up with my French bread I'm so glad you love this recipe!!

  3. Jenny says

    5 stars
    Hi! I was looking for an easy pasta sauce recipes with lots of veggies to make for my family. I’m a vegetarian, but my children and husband are not, so I needed one that would make everyone happy.

    I’ve attempted to make my own pasta sauce before and it was a failure so I’ve been buying the organic veggie chunky kind at the supermarket.

    I tried this recipe today and just had to come here to tell you that you are so correct about everything you claim this sauce to be! It is delicious, it is veggie packed, it is SO EASY!

    I topped the pasta with freshly grated Parmesan. I made a cucumber, tomato, red onion salad to go with it and had a delicious French bread with pats of butter. Along with a glass of red wine.

    Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It is most definitely a keeper. It was so delicious. X

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Jenny, I literally have goose bumps reading your comment. I just love when someone takes my word, makes my recipe, and LOVES it as much as I do. Thanks for taking the time to let me know...I really appreciate it! PS, I want this entire meal now + wine! 🙂 xoxox

  4. Jaimee says

    5 stars
    Traci, this is going to be served to about 40 tween choristers b4 mass...thanks for helping me find a vegetarian option that doesnt lack in flavor!!!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      So glad to hear it, Jaimee! Let me know if you have any questions at all. Feel free to ask them here in the comments and I'll answer 🙂

  5. Annissa says

    5 stars
    That sauce looks so filling and hearty! Love the texture!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks so much Annissa! Hope you give it a try 🙂

  6. Lauren Vavala says

    5 stars
    My fiance makes a sauce kind of like this, but he doesn't hide his veggies and my son won't eat it lol. Definitely giving this recipe a try next time!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      That's too cute Lauren. If you guys try this, I hope the kids devour it! 🙂

  7. Rae says

    5 stars
    This marinara sauce is absolute perfection and I am making it this week.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Yay! so glad to hear it. Thanks so much!

  8. Lisa Bynum says

    5 stars
    I am just imaging all the flavor that must come from adding all those veggies. And my kids won't even know they are in there!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Haha yep, hope you love it like we do! Thanks Lisa!

  9. Mary Bostow says

    5 stars
    Wow and wow, this is so delicious and it makes my mouth water.
    My whole family would go crazy for these!
    THANK YOU!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Mary! Love your enthusiasm...hope you love it!

  10. Traci Antonovich says

    Thanks Mairi! Yes, hope you do get to try it 🙂

    Reply

  11. Emily says

    5 stars
    This sounds incredible, can't wait to try it!!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks so much, Emily! Hope you do get the chance...you'll love it! 🙂

  12. Michelle says

    5 stars
    This sauce looks SO good! Love how finely you chop up the veggies -- what a great texture!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks so much Michelle! Love it that you noticed that...I love the texture!

  13. Helene says

    5 stars
    I can see how tasty it must be. Gorgeous flavors!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Helene! You're so right...the flavors are gorgeous. Hope you try it sometime! 🙂

  14. Natalie says

    5 stars
    I love this marinara sauce! There are so many things you can do with it!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks so much, Natalie! So easy too! So glad you can enjoy this one!

  15. Traci Antonovich says

    Oh Dannii, thanks! You make me LOL. And you're so right...never thought of it that way 🙂

    Reply

  16. Jeni says

    5 stars
    I love a good marinara sauce. And packing this one full of veggies is a great idea! It makes me want to eat it nooooowwww! 🙂

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Yay Jeni, happy to hear it! Cmon over...there's plenty! 🙂

  17. Jenn says

    This looks delicious. I love veggies into marinara sauce too!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      You're so right, Jenn. Thanks for weighing in!

  18. Britt says

    5 stars
    I've been looking for a new pasta sauce recipe, this looks PERFECT! *scribbles down in meal plan* thanks, girl!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Haha Britt, you're making my day over here. Thank you!!! Hope you love it like I do 🙂

  19. Ben Myhre says

    5 stars
    This looks like a super tasty pasta sauce. Yum.

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks so much, Ben!

  20. Jess says

    YUMMO!!

    Reply

    • Traci Antonovich says

      Thanks Jess! You flatter me so. I'm making it today...just because 😉