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Nest of spaghetti with meat sauce and fresh parsley on a white plate

High-Protein Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

Budget-friendly spaghetti with a rich lean beef and tomato sauce. About 27 g of protein per serving for roughly $2.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 415
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Meat sauce
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb lean ground beef 93% lean, or ground turkey
  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 1 carrot grated
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes 1 can
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • salt and black pepper to taste
To serve
  • 12 oz spaghetti 340 g, or high-protein spaghetti
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • fresh parsley or basil chopped, optional

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 6–7 minutes, breaking it up, until well browned.
  2. Add the onion and carrot and cook for 4–5 minutes until soft. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring.
  3. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, add the oregano, basil, salt and pepper, and bring to a simmer. Cook uncovered for 15–20 minutes, stirring now and then, until thick.
  4. Meanwhile, cook the spaghetti in a large pot of well-salted boiling water according to the package directions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water and drain.
  5. Toss the spaghetti with the sauce, adding a splash of pasta water if needed. Serve with Parmesan and fresh herbs.

Notes

High-protein pasta: using a legume-based spaghetti raises the protein to about 30 g per serving.
Cost is about $2.10 per serving using September 2026 US average prices.