Looking for a super easy pasta meal idea? Perfect for a busy weekday? Then I have something for you – this Spaghetti Pasta with Veggie Sausage and Marinara Recipe. This one has been on repeat in my home recently because it tastes great while being so simple. And it’s plant-based! You could use regular sausage if you’d like, but this is a great one that can easily meet both needs. Woop!
If you’re experimenting with going plant-based, this may be a good intro recipe for you as you make your transition.
Who Else Is a Pasta Lover?
Who doesn’t love pasta? I’m thinking if you’re reading this blog, then you’re likely not into carb-restricting diets like gluten-free*, paleo, etc. Because you know I LOVE CARBS!
And although I love spaghetti squash and zucchini, neither will satisfy my need to eat pasta when the mood strikes. On its own, sure. I do love the stringy, pasta-like nature of spaghetti squash. But not when I want to swirl spaghetti pasta on my fork. Lol!
But you do you. If you want to adapt this recipe to replace the pasta, that should be fairly easy.
*Though thank goodness for those GF pasta options out there, right?!
Healthier Eating > Perfect Eating
And while I do try to focus this blog on healthy recipes, sometimes it’s about making the healthier choice. Actually, a lot of what I try to share is about making the healthier choice versus the perfect choice.
Why?
the non-restrictive approach to healthy eating is what has saved me from a life of being unhappily healthy
Because the non-restrictive approach to healthy eating is what has saved me from a life of being unhappily healthy. Personally, I’d much rather enjoy pasta now and again while making a slightly healthier version of it than deal with the anxiety I used to feel trying to restrict pasta from my diet. At least where I am in life now.
Cleanish Eating Pasta Recipe
Clean eating is (to me) eating as close to the source as possible
Clean eating is (to me) eating as close to the source as possible. 100% clean eating isn’t realistic for my lifestyle working a 9-to-5 in addition to managing this blog. I don’t have time to grind my own wheat and make pasta from scratch. Props to those of you who do, though!
This is why I do the Cleanish style of eating, which is still striving for clean eating but taking as clean-as-possible shortcuts where necessary (mostly due to time or resource constraints).
Cleanish style of eating, which is still striving for clean eating but taking as clean-as-possible shortcuts where necessary
So while I’ll probably roast vegetables myself completely from scratch using whole foods, I’ll probably buy pre-made pasta.
And some pastas are pretty good. The whole wheat organic spaghetti by Whole Foods that is currently in my pantry has one ingredient: organic durum whole wheat flour. In this case, I’m okay paying for someone else to make my pasta to save me time. Especially when I don’t have to consume chemicals to do so.
Is Veggie Sausage Cleanish?
A quick note on the vegetarian sausage I use. I’m currently enjoying the Plant-Based Original Sausage in the Italian flavor by Tofurkey.
In this case, I’m valuing eating plant based over eating clean.
The ingredient list isn’t terrible (compared to many faux meat products out there):
- organic tofu (water, organic soybeans, magnesium chloride, calcium chloride)
- vital wheat gluten
- expeller pressed non-gmo canola oil
- water
- shoyu soy sauce (water, non-gmo soybeans, wheat, salt, culture)
- organic soy flour
- sun dried tomatoes
- basil
- granulated garlic
- sea salt
- spices
Thanks to the product being organic, it’s non-GMO. And while “magnesium chloride” and “calcium chloride” don’t sound super appetizing or like anything you’d actually cook with in your pantry, neither are on the Whole Foods list of unacceptable ingredients. That’s my shortcut to checking ingredients btw. While I don’t eat 100% to this list, it’s a good general guideline to start research.
Due to the long list, this isn’t the type of food I’m going to try to eat every day. But on occasion, sure! I’ll go for it.
Spaghetti Pasta with Veggie Sausage and Marinara Recipe
Description
This Spaghetti Pasta with Veggie Sausage and Marinara Recipe is so EASY and TASTY! Great for weeknight meal ideas for your busy work day dinners. This is mostly clean eating and you can use regular or veggie sausage.
Ingredients
- 8 ounces of spaghetti pasta (about half a box)
- 1 25-ounce jar marinara sauce
- Garlic powder, to taste
- Italian spices, to taste
- Sea salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 2 veggie sausages, cut into small discs (about 1/4″ wide) – I used Tofurkey Plant Based Sausage in Italian flavor (see note if using meat sausage)
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti to package directions.
- Meanwhile, heat sauce in a large saucepan over medium heat. Season with garlic powder, Italian spices, salt, and pepper, as needed.*
- When pasta is done cooking, drain and set aside.
- Add sausage slices to sauce, stir in, and cook for 2-3 minutes to warm through. Note: for non-veggie sausage, you may want to brown the sausage in a sauté pan while the pasta is cooking. The veggie sausage used is already cooked through, so for these directions, they only need to be warmed up.
- Add pasta to sauce and stir to evenly coat pasta. Cook for 1-2 minutes to combine.
- Serve with roasted or steamed veggies and enjoy!
Notes
*Many marinara sauces are pretty good straight from the jar. As you’re cooking, do a taste test on the sauce and add spices till it tastes like you like. I usually add about 1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon Italian spices, couple dashes of garlic powder, and little salt and pepper.
You may even want to try other jarred sauces. Experiment and enjoy!
If you do use other sausages, do ensure they’re cooked prior to adding them to the sauce.
More Healthy Recipe Ideas
Easy Black Bean Pasta with Quick Tomato Sauce
Watermelon Arugula Salad Bites
Healthy Chocolate Pumpkin Oatmeal Recipe
***
Thank you so much for reading and stopping by! Hope you enjoy this Spaghetti Pasta with Veggie Sausage and Marinara Recipe. And this encourages you to enjoy more plant-based dinners. Cheers!
