Clean Eating Skillet Spaghetti Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What to add to spaghetti to make it healthy? ›

Thanks to the iron and protein from the beef, lycopene from the tomato sauce and energy-producing carbs from the pasta, this dish a healthy trifecta. If you stick to modest portions and lean beef, you can enjoy its benefits without overdoing it.

One Pot Skillet Spaghetti recipe is a quick and easy weeknight dinner! Everyone loves spaghetti and this one won't disappoint. This homemade spaghetti is prepared in one skillet for a one pot meal! The spaghetti noodles are cooked right in the homemade pasta sauce with ground beef which gives it an amazing flavor!

Step 1: Heat Your Sauce Separately

You don't want your cooked pasta to heat up in a cold pan of sauce, slowly absorbing more water and becoming mushy.

The healthiest way to cook pasta, according to dieticians, is al dente which literally means “to the tooth” (firm and chewy). Al dente pasta has a lower glycemic index (GI), meaning that it will not spike blood sugar as dramatically as overcooked and mushy pasta.

Best: Barilla Traditional Tomato Pasta Sauce

With 45 calories per serving and less than 1 gram of total fat, Barilla makes a classic marinara sauce that is also healthy. With 2 grams of fiber and 5 grams of sugar, you'll also get a bit more stain power from the fiber and a natural sweetness from tomatoes.

Pasta can be a healthy meal. Since pasta is not very nutritious on its own, it's essential to add other foods to your pasta that are high in nutrients. You can ensure a healthy pasta meal by adding your favorite veggies to your dish and a lean protein, such as chicken, shrimp, or fish.

Season ground beef with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, add the beef and chopped onion and brown. Drain excess grease. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, worcestershire, and sugar to the skillet.

If you love pasta, there's no reason to cut it out from your diet, the experts say. It can be a great way to pack in vegetables, healthy fats from nuts, olive oil and pasta sauces, Linsenmeyer says. "It's fine to include in a regular diet as often as every day. It really is."

What is the healthiest way to cook noodles? ›

Just boil and eat don't fry the noodles. You can add some veggies somes egg whites and some shredded chicken to them to make it more healthy. Some bean sprouts and mushrooms can also be added to make it more healthier.

By skipping the separate boiling of the pasta and instead adding the dried noodles straight to the sauce, you can make a weeknight-friendly meal in just one pot. Bonus: It makes the pasta more flavorful, too.

According to that line of thinking, the starchy pasta water helps to bind and thicken the sauce, and in some cases—such as buttery or oily sauces—emulsifies it into a creamy, non-greasy coating.

The standard Italian place setting has two plates, a flat one called a piatto piano, which is destined for the second course (secondo), and a shallow bowl called a piatto fondo, which is for the primo, or first course, which is usually either a soup or a pasta dish.

Never cook acidic foods in a cast iron skillet.

You can sauté cherry tomatoes in cast iron, but don't try making a long-simmering tomato sauce. If you recently purchased your skillet and it still needs to be "broken in," acidic ingredients can erode the seasoning and even make foods taste metallic.

Pasta is made from grain, one of the basic food groups in a healthy diet that also can include vegetables, fruits, fish, and poultry. It's a good source of energy and can give you fiber, too, if it's made from whole grain. That can help with stomach problems and may help lower cholesterol.

Tossing in strips of basil, a sprig of thyme or some oregano can take your sauce to the next level. Although fresh herbs might pop a bit more, dried herbs and spices can work just as well. Sprinkling in some red pepper flakes, a pinch of parsley and a dash of salt and pepper can liven up your jarred pasta sauce.