This collection of my kid-approved Favorite Vegetarian Pasta Sauces promises to elevate your pasta night game. With the perfect balance of simplicity and flavor, these easy, wholesome recipes appeal to both little ones and the whole family.
Veggie-Loaded Pasta Sauce Recipes
These Veggie-Loaded Pasta Sauces are a easy yet delicious way to get extra veggies into your child's diet, especially if they’re pasta lovers like mine. Yet, the challenge is real when it comes to breaking the repetitiousness of tomato sauce every day. But fear not – mixing up the sauce can be a game-changer.
And guess what? These sauces aren't just limited to pasta; they go well with any cooked grain your family enjoys – think rice, quinoa, lentils, you name it. Get creative and use them as dips, pizza sauce, or spreads for a versatile and delicious twist!
What's even better is that you can whip up these sauces in advance, making them a lifesaver for those hectic weeknights. Having a batch of frozen pasta makes for a quick and hearty meal. Perfect for meal prepping to sail through a busy week.
Jump to:
- Veggie-Loaded Pasta Sauce Recipes
- Green Pasta Sauce (Hulk Pasta)
- Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce
- Carrot Pasta Sauce
- Broccoli Pesto Pasta
- Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
- Beet Pasta Sauce
- Sweet Potato Pasta
- Zucchini Pesto Pasta Sauce
- Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
- Iron-Rich Red Lentil Pasta Sauce
- Tips for Making the Best Vegetarian Pasta Sauce
- Equipment
- How to Store Veggie Pasta Sauce
Green Pasta Sauce (Hulk Pasta)
Get ready for the ultimate kid-approved dish – Green Pasta Sauce, a.k.a. Hulk Pasta! In just 20 minutes, create this green pasta sauce with a handful of ingredients, a pot, and a blender.
Not only will it have your little ones devouring spinach, but it's also a budget-friendly, versatile, and fresh-tasting alternative to traditional red sauces. Perfect for school lunch boxes, my kids can't get enough of it – served cold for extra convenience!
Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce
Change up your family's veggie game with this Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce, a lifesaver for picky eaters. It can be a struggle getting kids to eat their veggies, but this flavorful sauce, packed with colorful vegetables, is a delicious solution.
It also freezes like a dream, making mealtime almost effortless!
Carrot Pasta Sauce
Brighten up your pasta night with a vibrant Carrot Pasta Sauce – a nutrient-packed, sweet and savory alternative to traditional sauces. Perfect for weeknight meals. Customize with cheese, herbs, or proteins for a delightful family dinner!
Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Whip up this creamy Broccoli Pesto Pasta in just thirty minutes. With white beans adding a nutritious twist and creating a creamy texture without nuts, this homemade pesto is perfect for school lunches or snacks.
Whether you spread on mini pizza, sandwiches, or mixed with cooked pasta, it's a kid-friendly hit that makes broccoli irresistible!
Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
This fresh Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce is creamy and flavorful making it perfect for embracing fall comfort. With just a handful of healthy ingredients, including the pairing of butternut squash and beans.
For an extra layer of comfort, consider stirring in some yogurt or parmesan cheese. Even better, it doubles as a yummy soup option!
Beet Pasta Sauce
Whip up this Beet Pasta Sauce with simple, wholesome ingredients in just minutes – a perfect choice for the whole family. Bursting with flavor and nutrients, it's a visually stunning addition to any meal, and its versatility allows for creative serving options, from pasta to bread or as a dip.
Sweet Potato Pasta
This baby and kid-friendly Sweet Potato Sauce is so simple to make. While it is pairs perfectly with pasta and grains, it's also amazing as a dip for crackers and veggies.
Both budget-friendly and easily customizable, it is a healthier substitute for traditional sauces with an added protein and iron boost, ideal for little ones.
Zucchini Pesto Pasta Sauce
Take your pasta to the next level with this simple and healthy Zucchini Pesto Pasta Sauce, delivering a light and creamy twist in just 15 minutes! This vibrant green zucchini variation is a must-try. Its versatility and refreshing flavor make it an ideal choice for pleasing even the pickiest eaters!
Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
Savor the convenience of this Pumpkin Pasta Sauce, ready in under 30 minutes - using canned pumpkin for year-round enjoyment. Simple, scrumptious, and nutritionally rich, enhance it with cheese, red pepper flakes, and fresh herbs to add a burst of flavor to your dish!
Iron-Rich Red Lentil Pasta Sauce
Treat your little ones with this salt and sugar-free Iron-Rich Red Lentil Pasta Sauce. A forgiving recipe that accommodates flexible ingredient measurements and vegetable choices, it suits both baby-led weaning and spoon feeding.
Perfect for the entire family to enjoy, it boasts a thick texture, ideal for your baby's hands-on exploration!
Tips for Making the Best Vegetarian Pasta Sauce
- Meal prep - The most time-consuming part is prepping the veggies, whether it's chopping or roasting, so consider prepping them over the weekend or whenever you find a pocket of time for a quick weeknight meal.
- ALWAYS reserve some pasta water before draining. This starchy liquid not only helps the sauce cling to the noodles but also adds a creamy texture to the dish.
- While any pasta shape will work, I recommend the short pasta shapes with ridges or grooves, like fusili, rigatoni, or corkscrew, as they really soak up the creamy veggie pasta sauce.
- While a few of these sauces come with their own protein punch, feel free to pair them up with your preferred protein sources - tofu, shrimp, salmon, or beans.
Equipment
A powerful blender is essential for achieving perfectly smooth pasta sauces. My Vitamix has been a staple in my kitchen for over 8 years now, and I find myself reaching for it every single day.
I've had mine for 7+ years and it's worth every penny! I use it to make all my blender muffins, dips/sauces, smoothies, veggie nuggets, pancakes...it's hands down my number one workhorse.
While a food processor can also do the job, the result won't be as smooth. Originally, I bought my food processor for making energy balls easy bliss balls, chocolate balls, peanut butter balls and apricot balls. But I'm finding more uses for it like when I want to make a more chunkier, textured sauce, like pesto.
How to Store Veggie Pasta Sauce
While you can refrigerate leftovers once the pasta is tossed in the sauce, it tastes best with fresh cooked pasta.
So I strongly recommend combining enough pasta and sauce for one meal and reserving the rest of the sauce to enjoy in various ways throughout the week.
Store leftover sauce in an airtight container or jar and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
They freeze really well too. I personally like to freeze in individual portions. This freezer tray is really great! Once frozen, you can pop the molded sauce out and transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container.
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