Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce is a scrumptious, easy marinara recipe that helps vegetable-finicky eat ALL the vegetables. The main ingredients are mushrooms, carrots, celery, and pantry staples, making this one-pot homemade marinara sauce super simple and secretly nutritious!
Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce
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.
Hidden veggie marinara sauce ingredients
* See full recipe below
- extra virgin olive oil
- onion
- garlic
- carrots
- celery
- mushrooms
- canned tomato sauce
- tomato paste
- Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper
- bay leaf
- (optional) crushed red pepper flakes
- (optional) vodka
Hidden veggie marinara sauce recipe steps
* See full recipe below
Step 1. shred veggies in food processor
Step 2. sauté the veggies
Step 3. add the liquids and seasonings
Step 4. simmer until thickened
Step 5. 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 homemade marinara sauce with hidden veggies all these years!
Tools I use for this recipe:
Want more EASY, vegan, pasta recipes?
Check out my Easy Homemade Tomato Sauce Recipe for a classic marinara sauce.
Try my Sesame Kale Noodles made with kale, Brussels sprouts, sesame seeds, and noodles, in a creamy tahini sauce.
Or, for a zoodle-noodle recipe, check out my Thai Peanut Zucchini Noodles. This recipe is so delish and easy to make, it should be in my regular rotation!
These Veggie Lo Mein Noodles will have you skipping takeout on the regular!
Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce
Ingredients
- 2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/2 cup Onion grated
- 2 cloves Garlic grated
- 1 large Carrot grated
- 1 stalk Celery grated
- 1 cup Mushrooms finely chopped
- 1 28oz can Tomato Sauce
- 2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1 tsp Kosher Salt
- 1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 1 Bay Leaf
Instructions
To prep veggies:
- Place ONION, GARLIC, CARROT, and CELERY in a 7 or 9 cup food processor with the chopping blade in place.
- Pulse the blade until all veggies are crumbly in texture (don't overmix or they'll become mushy).
- Pour veggies into a bowl and set aside.
- Repeat the same process with the MUSHROOMS; add crumbled mushrooms to other veggies.
For the sauce:
- In a medium saucepan on medium-high heat, heat OLIVE OIL.
- Add ONION, GARLIC, CARROT, CELERY, and MUSHROOMS; sauté until fragrant and slightly translucent (about 3 minutes).
- Add TOMATOES, TOMATO PASTE, ITALIAN SEASONING, SALT, RED PEPPER FLAKES, BLACK PEPPER, BAY LEAF; bring all to boil; reduce heat to low and simmer about 20 minutes (stir as needed).
- Serve over your favorite pasta, garnish with Parmesan cheese (optional), or allow to cool and store in a refrigerated, airtight container up to 5 days.
TOOLS NEEDED
Nutrition
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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
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
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!!!
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 🙂
That sauce looks so filling and hearty! Love the texture!
Thanks so much Annissa! Hope you give it a try 🙂
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!
That’s too cute Lauren. If you guys try this, I hope the kids devour it! 🙂
You had me at vodka. This marinara sauce is absolute perfection and I am making it this week.
Haha yes this sauce is really good with vodka in it 🙂 and yay! so glad to hear it. Thanks Rae…hope you love it like I do!
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!
Haha yep, hope you love it like we do! Thanks Lisa!
Wow and wow, this is so delicious and it makes my mouth watering.
My whole family would go crazy for these!
THANK YOU!
Thanks Mary! Love your enthusiasm…hope you love it!
This sounds incredible, can’t wait to try it!!
Thanks so much, Emily! Hope you do get the chance…you’ll love it! 🙂
This sauce looks SO good! Love how finely you chop up the veggies — what a great texture!
Thanks so much Michelle! Love it that you noticed that…I love the texture!
That’s such a cool idea with the vodka! I haven’t thought of making a drunken marinara sauce before, but I can see how tasty it must be. Gorgeous flavors!
Thanks Helene! You’re so right…the flavors are gorgeous. Hope you try it sometime! 🙂
Wow this looks great! Vodka in pasta sauce? I’ve got to try this some time 🙂
Thanks Mairi! Yes, hope you do get to try it 🙂
I love marinara sauce! There are so many things you can do with it! Such a great idea to add vodka – it sounds delicious and I just have to try this version.
Thanks so much, Natalie! Yeah, the vodka adds another layer of flavor…and so easy too! Hope you get to try it out 🙂
I love a good vodka based sauce. And packing this one full of veggies is a great idea! It makes me want to eat it nooooowwww! 🙂
Yay Jeni, happy to hear it! Cmon over…there’s plenty! 🙂
This looks delicious. I love mincing veggies into tomato sauce, too, but I’ve never added vodka. Sounds like the perfect Valentine’s Day dish.
You’re so right, Jenn. This is a good V day dish 🙂 Thanks for weighing in!
I’ve been looking for a new pasta sauce recipe, this looks PERFECT! *scribbles down in meal plan* thanks, girl!
Haha Britt, you’re making my day over here. Thank you!!! Hope you love it like I do 🙂
Booze and comfort food? I am so in! What a great way to end dry January.
Oh Dannii, thanks! You make me LOL. And you’re so right…never thought of it that way 🙂
This looks like a super tasty pasta sauce. Yum.
Thanks so much, Ben! The vodka must be speaking to you 🙂
YUMMO!!
Thanks Jess! You flatter me so. I’m making it today…just because 😉