Homemade Spaghetti Meat Sauce: Calorie Breakdown and Recipe

Spaghetti with meat sauce is a classic, comforting dish that many people love. While it’s delicious and satisfying, it’s also important to be mindful of the calorie content, especially if you’re watching your weight or trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle. By making your own spaghetti meat sauce at home, you can have more control over the ingredients and ensure that it’s a nutritious and balanced meal.

Calorie Breakdown

The calorie content of homemade spaghetti meat sauce can vary depending on the ingredients used and the portion size. However, a typical serving of spaghetti with meat sauce (approximately 1 cup of cooked pasta and 1/2 cup of sauce) contains around 350-400 calories. The majority of these calories come from the pasta and the meat in the sauce.

It’s important to be mindful of portion sizes and to balance your meal with a generous serving of vegetables and a smaller portion of pasta to keep the calorie content in check. Additionally, using lean ground meat and adding plenty of vegetables to the sauce can help reduce the calorie content while increasing the nutritional value of the dish.

Homemade Spaghetti Meat Sauce Recipe

Here’s a simple and delicious recipe for homemade spaghetti meat sauce that you can make at home. This recipe serves 4-6 people and can be easily doubled or halved to suit your needs.

Ingredients:

– 1 pound lean ground beef
– 1 onion, finely chopped
– 2 cloves garlic, minced
– 1 bell pepper, diced
– 1 carrot, grated
– 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes
– 1 can (6 ounces) tomato paste
– 1 teaspoon dried oregano
– 1 teaspoon dried basil
– 1/2 teaspoon salt
– 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
– 1 tablespoon olive oil
– 1 teaspoon sugar (optional, to balance the acidity of the tomatoes)

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, garlic, bell pepper, and carrot, and sauté for 5-7 minutes until they start to soften.

2. Add the ground beef to the pot, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until it’s browned and no longer pink.

3. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, pepper, and sugar (if using). Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat and let it cook for 20-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

4. Taste the sauce and adjust the seasoning as needed. If it’s too thick, you can add a little bit of water to thin it out.

5. While the sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and toss it with the meat sauce.

6. Serve the spaghetti with meat sauce hot, and garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.

This homemade spaghetti meat sauce is flavorful, satisfying, and relatively easy to make. By using lean ground beef and adding plenty of vegetables to the sauce, you can create a healthier and more balanced version of this classic dish. Enjoy!