Lots o' Veggies Sausage Spaghetti Sauce

Italian sausage and ground beef are simmered with tomatoes, onion, bell pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, carrots and garlic and herbed with basil, oregano and thyme in this slowly cooked rich sauce.

• Preparation Time: 30 mins
• Cooking Time: 3 hr 20 mins
• Total Time: 3 hr 50 mins
• Calories: 339 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 carrots, shredded
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
• 4 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 tablespoon fresh oregano
• 1 zucchini, quartered and sliced
• 12 ounces mushrooms, sliced
• 4 ounces fresh basil, julienned
• 3 (28 ounce) cans peeled and diced tomatoes
• 0.25 cup olive oil

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Cook sausage and ground beef in a medium skillet over medium heat until browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Drain.

Step 2

Heat oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, carrots, bell peppers, and zucchini; cook until just tender, 3 to 5 minutes.

Step 3

Add sausage and beef mixture to the pot, then stir in spinach, basil, garlic, thyme, oregano, sugar, salt, and pepper. Cook for 2 to 5 minutes, then pour in tomatoes and stir well. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 3 hours.