Easy Vegetarian Spaghetti and Meatballs (+ Fave Summer Eats!)

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It has been SO hot here in Georgia and I have been looking for every possible reason to stay out of the kitchen. Somehow these children still need to eat, so that means finding easy recipes to whip up. Today I’m sharing our favorite summer eats – including my easy vegetarian spaghetti and meatballs recipe!

This post is sponsored by Babbleboxx, but all opinions are my own.

Vegetarian Spaghetti and Meatballs

Yes, with a name like Seghetti, we do love to eat lots of pasta. My husband’s dad is Italian and our family is full of pasta jokes and puns! (If you didn’t know it, my kids were called Noodle and Meatball before we decided on their names.)

Although I haven’t yet perfected my Italian cooking skills, I do have a pretty great and EASY vegetarian spaghetti and meatballs recipe!

Here’s how I do it.

Plant-Based Meatballs

While we aren’t vegetarians, we do try to incorporate more plant-based foods in our diet. Especially in the summer, we love adding Pure Farmland plant-based meatballs and burger patties to our meal plan!

Pure Farmland products are gluten and dairy free, are crafted in the USA, and are offered with sustainable packaging. We love that Pure Farmland cares about protecting American farmland and supports community gardens through the Pure Growth Project – an initiative and grant program that provides $100,000 in financial support to eligible community farms, gardens, and nonprofit organizations.

To submit an application or to learn more about the Pure Growth Project, visit www.pure-farmland.com/impact/ .

Pure Farmland meatballs come pre-made, saving this busy mom lots of prep time in the kitchen!

To cook them, I just put them on a baking sheet lined with foil that’s been lightly coated with nonstick spray. Then bake for 15 minutes, turn them over, and bake another 10 minutes.

Mom tip – I tell Alexa to set a timer so I don’t have to watch the clock!

Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

My father-in-law will tell you that fresh tomatoes straight from the garden are an important ingredient when making authentic spaghetti sauce. We are going to do the next best thing and use Tuttorosso Petite Diced Tomatoes with a rich tomato flavor.

Busy moms can have “secret” ingredients too!

There’s a reason that Tuttorosso Tomatoes are the #1 best selling Italian inspired canned tomato brand in the US. They are steam sealed at the peak of freshness without using preservatives, flavors, or colors. They are also sustainably produced with non-GMO ingredients and packed in non-BPA lined cans. No yucky can taste – these are delicious!

To make the sauce, I first drizzle a little oil into my pot and saute my garlic. When I’m really pressed for time (or if I have a kid wrapped around my ankles), I use garlic powder. But for the best taste, taking a minute to chop fresh garlic is the best method.

And it makes my house smell soooo good.

Once the garlic is fragrant, I dump in two cans of Tuttorosso Tomatoes. I scoop in 3 tablespoons of tomato paste to make the sauce thicker, and add basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Fresh herbs from the garden are my favorite, but I’ve been known to reach for dried spices in a pinch.

Get it? In a pinch.

The sauce continues to simmer while the noodles and meatballs cook – meaning I have dinner ready in about 30 minutes with pretty minimal effort! It’s seriously the easiest vegetarian spaghetti and meatballs ever.

If your family prefers a less chunky sauce, use an immersion blender to smooth it out after cooking. (But DO NOT use tomato sauce instead of the diced tomatoes! The flavor won’t be as rich.)

Here’s the full recipe for quick reference (make sure to pin this for later!)

Want more easy meals for busy moms? We have a whole list of ideas here!

Our Favorite Summer Eats

We eat mostly healthy foods in this family, but we love a yummy treat too! My kiddos love to eat ice cream, especially when served in their BOWLZ.

BOWLZ are the best ice cream bowls ever! Insulated bowls with a stainless steel bowl means that anything cold stays cold – even ice cream on a hot summer day. Perfect for the backyard, or even when camping or at the beach.

The fun part? You can turn the bowl over and your ice cream won’t fall out!

Get a super special discount with 32% off by going to this secret offer page for BOWLZ. You will love it for your next outdoor treat!

Crispy treats are my own personal weakness, especially when it’s been dipped in chocolate. Kaiden and I have been eating up these SMASHCRISPY DIPPED crispy rice treats from SMASHMALLOW.

They are made with natural, non-GMO ingredients (unlike traditional crispy rice treats and other snacks) and are gluten-free and peanut-free. It’s great for an afternoon snack, or if you want to slip a little something sweet into your kid’s lunchbox (it’s free of the big 8 allergens, so safe for school!).

You can find SMASHCRISPY DIPPED in Kroger stores – check the locator to find it near you!

Get more ideas for your kids’ school lunches here – a whole month of lunch ideas with no sandwiches!

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