Meat Lover's Zoodles Slice of Jess

For decades now, “Pasta Night” has been our favorite weeknight dinner. We make sure to dedicate at least one night a week to this tradition because we just can’t stop craving that warm marinara, crusty bread and red wine to wash it all down. The thing is, pasta can pack on a enormous amount of calories and it can leave you “rolling away from the dinner table”.

What’s the fix? Zucchini “Zoodles”!

We swap our regular pasta noodles for zucchini noodles and it’s absolutely fabulous. You get all the satisfaction of a “Pasta Night” with less than half the calories! Don’t get me wrong, I a big fan of a good pasta recipe. This is just another option for days that you’re looking for something a little lighter.

Ingredients:

1 lb. Ground Beef (You could also use Ground Turkey, Chicken, or your favorite Meatballs)
1 jar of your favorite Pasta Sauce (16 oz)
4-5 Zucchini’s, depending on size
1 Onion, diced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh Parsley, chopped
Red Pepper Flakes, to taste
Fresh Parmesan, to taste
Fresh Jalapeños (optional)
Olive Oil, as needed

Directions:

Spiralize Zucchini “Zoodles”. To do this, you will need a Spiralizer or a Veggetti. Set “Zoodles” aside in a large bowl.
On medium heat, sauté Onion in a dab of Olive Oil for a couple of minutes. Add Garlic and sauté for an additional minute. Add Ground Meat and cook until browned, about 10 minutes.
Add Pasta Sauce and bring to a low simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
In a large sauté pan, cook “Zoodles” for 2-3 minutes, until warm. Drain any excess liquid. Do not salt the “Zoodles”, this will make them extra watery.
To serve: Plate “Zoodles” and then top with Meat Sauce. Finish with fresh Parsley, Red Pepper Flakes, Parmesan and freshly diced Jalapeños (optional).

To Print:

Meat Lover's Zoodles

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 lb. Ground Beef (You could also use Ground Turkey, Chicken, or your favorite Meatballs)
1 jar of your favorite Pasta Sauce (16 oz)
4-5 Zucchini's, depending on size
1 Onion, diced
2 cloves Garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh Parsley, chopped
Red Pepper Flakes, to taste
Fresh Parmesan, to taste
Fresh Jalapeños (optional)
Olive Oil, as needed

Instructions

Spiralize Zucchini "Zoodles". To do this, you will need a Spiralizer or a Veggetti. Set "Zoodles" aside in a large bowl.
On medium heat, sauté Onion in a dab of Olive Oil for a couple of minutes. Add Garlic and sauté for an additional minute. Add Ground Meat and cook until browned, about 10 minutes.
Add Pasta Sauce and bring to a low simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to allow flavors to blend.
In a large sauté pan, cook "Zoodles" for 2-3 minutes, until warm. Drain any excess liquid. Do not salt the "Zoodles", this will make them extra watery.
To serve: Plate "Zoodles" and then top with Meat Sauce. Finish with fresh Parsley, Red Pepper Flakes, Parmesan and freshly diced Jalapeños (optional).