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Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce

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Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce is a secretly healthy marinara sauce recipe made with onions, carrots, celery, mushroom, garlic, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and a few pantry essentials. This 30-minute homemade marinara sauce gets the veg-finicky to eat ALL the vegetables.

Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce

Not everyone loves vegetables, but everyone loves pasta!

So I came up with a homemade marinara sauce recipe that’s secretly loaded with vegetables.

The secret to anyone’s success of getting finicky eaters to eat vegetables is all in how you prepare the vegetables.

For this homemade marinara sauce, you’ll want the veggies chopped as finely as possible so they’ll cook down easily and lend to the texture of the finished product.

Mincing veggies might be the most challenging part of this recipe because not everyone has ninja knife skills.

How do you mince vegetables with a dull knife?

You don’t! You do this instead…

1. run the veggies over a box grater

OR use my favorite method…

2. finely chop the veggies in a food processor, using the chopping blade attachment.

In the end, minced, sautéed veggies lend so nicely to the flavor and texture of this sauce…and no one is the wiser to how healthy it is!

Those mushrooms though, they’re my favorite meat substitute in any meatless meal.

Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce recipe steps

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

* See full recipe below

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!

Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce Recipe Ingredients:

  • 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

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!

Optional secret ingredient in this marinara sauce recipe

I love to add 1/4 cup of VODKA to this recipe.

Since this is not a lengthy simmer sauce, the vodka adds a certain depth of flavor in the short cooking time.

Don’t worry, the alcohol burns off during the cooking process, so you won’t get sauced, or even remotely tipsy, when you eat it 🙂

(top) marinara sauce over spaghetti noodles in white bowl on blue background (center) title text (bottom) chopped veggies on wooden spoon over skillet of veggies

marinara sauce over spaghetti noodles in white bowl on blue background
Print REcipe
5 from 15 votes

Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce

Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce is a secretly healthy marinara sauce recipe made with onions, carrots, celery, mushroom, garlic, canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and a few pantry essentials. This 30-minute homemade marinara sauce gets the veg-finicky to eat ALL the vegetables.
Course Main Course, Sauce
Cuisine Italian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 1-cup servings
Calories 95kcal
Author Traci Antonovich

TOOLS NEEDED

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 No Salt Added Tomato Sauce
  • 2 Tbsp No Salt Added 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.

RECIPE NOTES

Yield: 1 quart
Serving size: 1 cup
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy and are estimates based on unbranded ingredients acquired from a nutrition database. For accurate calculations, please refer to brand packaging information and consult your nutritionist.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts
Hidden Veggie Marinara Sauce
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 95 Calories from Fat 63
% Daily Value*
Fat 7g11%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 1g
Cholesterol 1mg0%
Sodium 387mg17%
Potassium 253mg7%
Carbohydrates 7g2%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 2g4%
Vitamin A 3125IU63%
Vitamin C 3.9mg5%
Calcium 25mg3%
Iron 0.3mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Did you make this recipe? Tag me!Mention @thekitchengirl or tag #thekitchengirl

Traci Antonovich
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Traci Antonovich

Recipe author and food photographer at The Kitchen Girl
I'm on a mission to help you eat healthy AND save money through simple, everyday recipes, product reviews, and budget-friendly kitchen tips.
Traci Antonovich
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Latest posts by Traci Antonovich (see all)

Comments

  1. Jenny says

    03/17/2019 at 5:42 pm

    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

      03/17/2019 at 6:15 pm

      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

  2. Jaimee says

    10/28/2018 at 12:23 pm

    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

  10. Helene D'Souza says

    02/03/2018 at 3:21 am

    5 stars
    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!

    Reply

  12. Natalie says

    02/03/2018 at 12:12 am

    5 stars
    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.

    Reply

  14. Jenn says

    01/09/2018 at 9:40 am

    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.

    Reply

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