My Spaghetti with Meaty Lentil Sauce is a nutrient-packed vegetarian dinner that comes together quickly. This hearty pasta recipe is a great, easy weeknight meal the whole family will love. The lentils help bulk the sauce up and add both fiber and protein to this dish. Serve with a side of salad and bread for a complete meal.
Spaghetti with marinara sauce is one of my go-to dinners when I’m short on time or feeling lazy. It’s easy to make, I always have the ingredients on hand, and it comes together quickly. I’ve been really into using canned lentils in my recipes lately, because they’re such a convenient way to add iron, fiber, and protein to meals. I decided to add a couple cans of them to my regular spaghetti recipe, and they really up the heartiness. Not only do they add great flavor, but they also make this cozy pasta dish filling and great for an easy winter dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Hearty Vegetarian Dinner
- Easy to make – This vegetarian pasta comes together quickly, and there are only a few steps. My meaty lentil spaghetti recipe is one I make often as a last-minute weeknight dinner because it is so easy. I usually have all the ingredients on hand, and it goes great with a side of breadsticks and salad.
- Uses pantry staples – Another reason I make this recipe often is that it uses mainly pantry staples, which I try to keep stocked. The canned lentils are such a time saver, and dried spices add so much flavor to the sauce.
- Hearty and filling – Spaghetti is already such a comforting dish, but it gets even cozier when you top it with my meaty lentil sauce. Lentils are packed with protein and fiber and are a great plant-based way to bulk up your pasta.
Why Your Body Will Love This Iron-Packed Pasta
Iron is an essential mineral that helps maintain healthy blood in our bodies. Iron helps to carry oxygen from your lungs to other parts of your body. Without sufficient iron in the blood, the body is unable to transport oxygen as efficiently, resulting in a condition called anemia. There are several types of anemia, but I’m referring specifically to Iron Deficiency Anemia. Anemia can cause several different symptoms, including fatigue, easy bruising, dizziness, shortness of breath, pale skin, and heart palpitations. If you experience any of these symptoms, please bring them to your doctor’s attention. Anemia is diagnosed with a simple blood test.
There are two types of iron, heme iron and non-heme iron. Heme iron is only found in animal protein, like poultry, shellfish, and other meats. Non-heme iron is found in plant-based products, such as lentils, spinach, and nuts. Unfortunately, for us vegetarians, heme iron is more readily absorbed by the body. A diet rich in non-heme iron requires additional factors for absorption, such as vitamin C. This salad recipe is rich in non-heme iron sources, so I added extra vitamin C to aid in its absorption.
Spaghetti with Meaty Lentil Sauce Recipe Ingredients
- Spaghetti – I just used regular spaghetti noodles, cooked in well-salted water. This recipe can also be made with bite-sized pasta.
- Lentils – I used two cans of brown lentils for this recipe. Canned lentils are convenient, so I use them a lot, but you can also use home-cooked lentils. If using lentils that you cooked yourself, use about 2-3 cups.
- Walnuts – Walnuts are optional, but I like to add about 1/4 cup of chopped, raw walnuts to the sauce. They have a nice “meaty” texture and add healthy fats to the recipe.
- Marinara Sauce – I used one jar of marinara sauce, but tomato sauce will also work. I like to pour the sauce in, add about 1/4 cup of water to the jar, shake it, and then pour that in as well. It helps stretch the marinara and helps loosen up the sauce. I also like to add in a few teaspoons of tamari for extra flavor depth.
- Spices – I like to season up this meaty lentil sauce with a mixture of dried herbs and spices, including paprika, smoked paprika, garlic, onion, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. I also like to stir in some fresh parsley at the end of cooking.
- Onion + Garlic – Sautéed onion and garlic add lots of flavor to the base of this lentil sauce. I prefer fresh garlic to jarred, but either will work.
How To Make Meaty Vegetarian Spaghetti
- Spaghetti can be cooked ahead of time or at the same time as the sauce. To cook spaghetti, heat a large pot of water until boiling. Add the pasta along with a big pinch of salt and cook according to package directions. Once pasta is cooked to the desired texture, drain and set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add in the diced onion and a pinch of salt. Mix and cook the onion until softened and translucent, 3-4 minutes. Next, add minced garlic and all the spices, including paprika, smoked paprika, granulated garlic, onion powder, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes, to taste. Mix the onion and spices together, then cook for 1-2 minutes.
- Next, add in the lentils and chopped walnuts. Mix everything well, then cook for 2-3 minutes before adding the marinara sauce. Add the whole jar in and then add 1/4 of water to the empty jar, place the lid on and shake well and then pour what is left into the pan, along with the tamari. Mix everything together well and let sauce and lentils cook together for 4-5 minutes. Give the sauce a taste and season with salt and red pepper flakes, to taste.
- Serve the meaty lentil sauce over spaghetti or your favorite pasta. You can also mix the spaghetti directly into the sauce if you wish. Top with fresh parsley and grated parmesan and enjoy with a side of salad and bread.
Recipe Frequently Asked Questions
- Make this recipe gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free spaghetti noodles.
- This recipe is vegan. If topping with parmesan, use your favorite vegan version.
- How many servings does this recipe make? The sauce makes enough for about four large servings when served over your favorite pasta, but can easily be stretched to 5 or 6 if needed.
- Does this pasta freeze well? Yes, you can easily freeze this pasta recipe. You can either freeze the lentil marinara sauce by itself or mix it with the spaghetti and freeze it together. Freeze in an air-tight container for up to 3 months.
- How long do leftovers last? If stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, leftovers should last about 4 days—reheat leftovers in the microwave or in a pot on the stovetop.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below, and I will get back to you ASAP!
Looking For More Easy Vegetarian Pasta Recipes?
Easy Roasted Vegetable Pasta with Parmesan
Spicy Baked Pasta with Vegetarian Meatballs
Print
Spaghetti with Meaty Lentil Sauce
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
My Spaghetti with Meaty Lentil Sauce is a nutrient packed vegetarian dinner that comes together quickly. This hearty pasta recipe is great for an easy weeknight meal that the whole family will love. The lentils help bulk the sauce up and add both fiber and protein to this dish. Serve with a side of salad and bread for a full meal.
Ingredients
- 350-400 grams uncooked spaghetti (enough for about 4 people)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 small diced yellow onion (about 1/2 cup)
- 2-3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 (24 oz) jar marinara sauce
- 2 teaspoon tamari, or soy sauce (optional)
- 2 (15 oz) cans brown lentils, rinsed and drained
- 1/4 cup chopped raw walnuts (optional)
- Optional toppings: grated parmesan cheese, chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Spaghetti can be cooked ahead of time, or at the same time the sauce is cooking. To cook spaghetti, heat a large pot of water until boiling. Add in the pasta, along with a big pinch of salt, and cook according to package directions. Once pasta is cooked to desired texture, drain and set aside.*
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add in 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once oil is hot, add in the diced onion and a pinch of salt. Mix together and cook onion until softened and translucent, 3-4 minutes. Next, add in minced garlic, as well as all of the spices, including: paprika, smoked paprika, granulated garlic, onion powder, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes, to taste. Mix onion and spices together for cook for just 1-2 minutes.
- Next, add in the lentils and chopped walnuts. Mix everything together well and cook for 2-3 minutes before adding in the marinara sauce. Add the whole jar in and then add 1/4 of water to the empty jar, place the lid on and shake well and then pour what is left into the pan, along with the tamari. Mix everything together well and let sauce and lentils cook together for 4-5 minutes. Give the sauce a taste and season with salt and red pepper flakes, to taste.
- Serve meaty lentil sauce over spaghetti, or your favorite pasta noodles. You can also mix the spaghetti directly into the sauce if you wish. Top with fresh parsley and grated parmesan and enjoy with a side of salad and bread.
Notes
*Spaghetti noodles can be tossed with oil, or butter, to make sure they don’t stick together, but that also may deter the pasta from sticking to the noodles well.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner, Vegetarian
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Leave a Reply