Perfect for ‘meatless Monday’ or any day when you don’t have time to cook, this lentil marinara sauce is delicious and hearty. Choose your preferred noodle and have dinner ready in less than 25 minutes!

Spoken or not, there are 2 stipulations that almost everyone has when it comes to trying new recipes: budget friendly and easy.  Of course, we also want our entire family to want to eat it too!

Meat, while high in protein, is also one of the most expensive foods in the grocery store.  In the last decade, the cost of lean ground beef has increased 66%. The cost is even more for grass fed or organic beef.  One of the easiest ways to cut the grocery budget is to swap out meat with high protein plant foods like lentils. These protein rich pulses (edible seeds) are also rich in iron, folate, and fiber.

Since we know that spaghetti is one of the most common and easy to make family meals, why not make a quick swap to amp up the nutrition and reduce the cost, without adding anymore work or effort?

When you live with individuals that enjoy having poultry or meat on the dinner table, it can seem like a losing battle to bring up the idea of meatless meals.  As I talked about in Meat-LESS Meal Planning for Carnivores, sometimes it takes a little trial and error to find a strategy that works for your family.  Maybe it means adding more veggies to a favorite meal OR reducing the amount of meat you are cooking OR simply providing a vegetarian version for those at the dinner table that might be interested.

Here are a few things that are important to remember… First, know that if you have ever had conflict over what’s for dinner, know that you are not alone!    Second, it’s not hopeless.

Not sure your spouse or kids will embrace your transformed spaghetti sauce?

This recipe has a hearty texture and just might win over your meat-loving family members.  But, if you don’t think it will fly, here is an idea…

Follow the recipe but also add in ¼ pound of lean ground beef, turkey or chicken to the recipe.  This ensures it still has the meaty texture they are expecting but just a little less than usual.  Sometimes just the presence of a tiny bit of meat is all it takes to make it feel more substantial.  There are no hard and fast rules for meat-LESS meals. You find the strategy that works for you.

This sauce uses brown lentils that maintain their texture well and also means that it freezes well if you make a double or triple batch. However, red lentils could be subbed as these will ‘melt’ into the sauce making them less noticeable.

Want to amp up the nutrition even more?  Try out this trick and add in 2-3 cups of fresh chopped baby spinach.  It wilts in no time once it is stirred into the hot marinara sauce.

Sauteing the garlic clove in oil for a minute before adding the sauce adds so much flavor.  You really want to take the extra minute to do this step as it amps up the flavor of a jarred tomato sauce and makes it taste like it has been cooking for hours.

Go grab your favorite jar of tomato sauce and choose your preferred noodles (find out my recommendations here).  This recipe is fast AND flavorful!

The research is undeniable that we can all benefit from eating more plants.  Finding yummy and satisfying ways to do that is the only way to move from ‘good idea’ to ‘eating pattern.’  Try this Hearty Lentil Marinara Sauce on your next spaghetti night!