A super simple recipe for spaghetti and tomato sauce, perfect to whip up for a quick and easy kid-friendly meal!
Do you have a house full of pasta lovers? My kids adore it, and we often have pasta for dinner at least twice a week because it’s a meal they’ll happily finish every time.
I often make hidden-vegetable sauces, like my Hidden Veggie Tomato Sauce or Butternut Squash Mac & Cheese, because I like sneaking extra veggies into meals. Still, sometimes you just need a quick, basic tomato sauce that comes together in minutes on a busy weeknight.
This Simple Spaghetti Sauce fits the bill. It uses a handful of store-cupboard ingredients plus a few fresh vegetables, all of which I usually have on hand.
Prep time is minimal — mostly chopping — and the sauce cooks while the pasta is boiling, so you get a hot meal on the table quickly.
I recommend chopping the onion, carrot and celery finely so they cook through in the short cooking time and stay less noticeable for picky eaters. Likewise, chopping the capers into halves or thirds helps distribute their flavor and keeps them mild for sensitive palates.
Make a double batch to save time later: the sauce keeps in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you try this recipe, I’d love to hear how it goes. Share a photo and tag me on social media — it’s always great to see your creations.
Simple Tomato Spaghetti for Kids
5 from 4 reviews
- Author: Ciara Attwell @ My Fussy Eater
- Prep Time: 3 mins
- Cook Time: 14 mins
- Total Time: 17 minutes
- Yield: 4-6
- Category: Main Meal
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
A quick and reliable spaghetti and tomato sauce that’s ideal for busy family evenings. Simple ingredients, minimal prep and a flavour kids enjoy.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tbsp butter
- ½ tbsp oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 large carrot, finely chopped
- 2 stalks of celery, finely chopped
- 1–2 cloves garlic, crushed
- 2 tins (800g) chopped tomatoes
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 20 capers, cut in half or thirds
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Add the butter and oil to a pan over medium heat and melt. Add the onion and cook for 2–3 minutes until it begins to soften. Add the carrot, celery and garlic and fry for another 2 minutes, stirring regularly.
- Pour in the chopped tomatoes, add the dried oregano and the chopped capers, then stir to combine.
- Bring to a high simmer and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt and pepper and serve over cooked spaghetti.
