Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce for Kids Recipe

Introduction

This Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce is a delicious way to sneak extra vegetables into your child’s meal without them even noticing. Roasted for rich flavor and blended smooth, it pairs perfectly with any pasta for a nutritious family dinner.

Ingredients

• 1 head garlic, unpeeled
• 2 large carrots
• 1 small yellow squash
• 1 small zucchini
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 6-8 fresh Roma tomatoes
• 1/2 medium onion
• 4-6 oz white mushrooms
• 2 tbsp olive oil, plus more for the garlic
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat your oven to 425°F and line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Use two pans if necessary for all the vegetables.
2. Step 2: Trim about 1/4 inch from the top of the garlic head, drizzle lightly with olive oil, then wrap it tightly in foil and set aside.
3. Step 3: Cut the carrots, yellow squash, and zucchini into even sticks—typically slicing the squash lengthwise into quarters, then halving them crosswise. Halve the red bell pepper and remove seeds, halve the Roma tomatoes top to bottom, and cut any large mushrooms in half. Leave the onion half whole.
4. Step 4: Place all the prepared vegetables on the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Toss everything gently to coat evenly.
5. Step 5: Add the foil-wrapped garlic to the pan. Roast in the oven for 35-45 minutes, stirring once halfway through. If using two pans, rotate their positions midway for even roasting.
6. Step 6: Transfer all the roasted vegetables to a high-speed blender. Unwrap the garlic and squeeze out the softened cloves into the blender. Blend until smooth, adding a little water or broth if the sauce is too thick.
7. Step 7: Serve the sauce warm over your favorite cooked pasta.

Tips & Variations

• For a creamier texture, stir in a spoonful of cream or grated cheese after blending.
• Swap Roma tomatoes for canned tomatoes in a pinch, but fresh roasting adds more depth to the flavor.
• Add a pinch of red pepper flakes for a mildly spicy kick if your kids are adventurous eaters.

Storage

Store leftover sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave, adding a splash of water or broth if it has thickened. This sauce also freezes well for up to 3 months—thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other vegetables in this sauce?

Yes, feel free to add or substitute vegetables like spinach, kale, or bell peppers of different colors to tailor the sauce to your family’s preferences.

Is this sauce suitable for freezing?

Absolutely. Store the sauce in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before warming to maintain the best flavor and texture.

Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce for Kids Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 109 reviews

This Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce is a nutritious and delicious way to sneak a variety of roasted vegetables into a flavorful sauce perfect for kids. Roasting the vegetables enhances their natural sweetness while blending them into a smooth sauce makes it appealing for even picky eaters. Made with garlic, carrots, zucchini, yellow squash, bell pepper, tomatoes, mushrooms, and seasonings, this sauce is simple to prepare and pairs wonderfully with any pasta.

• Author: Naya
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: About 4 cups of pasta sauce, enough for 4–6 servings 1x
• Category: Sauce
• Method: Roasting
• Cuisine: Italian
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Vegetables

• 1 head garlic, unpeeled
• 2 large carrots
• 1 small yellow squash
• 1 small zucchini
• 1 medium red bell pepper
• 6–8 fresh Roma tomatoes
• 1/2 medium onion
• 4–6 oz white mushrooms

Seasonings and Oil

• 2 tbsp olive oil, plus more for the garlic
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1 tsp dried basil
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven: Heat the oven to 425°F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Use two sheet pans if your pan is small.
2. Prepare Garlic: Cut about 1/4 inch from the top of the garlic head. Drizzle it lightly with olive oil and wrap tightly in foil. Set aside to roast with the vegetables.
3. Chop Vegetables: Cut carrots, squash, and zucchini into even sticks by quartering lengthwise and halving crosswise. Halve the bell pepper and discard seeds. Slice tomatoes in half top to bottom. Halve large mushrooms if needed. Leave onion half intact.
4. Toss Veggies: Place all chopped vegetables on the prepared sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Toss well to coat everything evenly.
5. Roast Vegetables and Garlic: Add the foil-wrapped garlic to the sheet pan with the veggies. Roast in the oven for 35-45 minutes until vegetables are soft, stirring halfway through. Rotate sheet pans if using two.
6. Blend Sauce: Transfer all roasted vegetables to a high-speed blender. Unwrap roasted garlic and squeeze the softened cloves from their skins into the blender. Blend until smooth. Add a little water or broth if the sauce is too thick.
7. Serve: Serve the hidden veggie sauce warm with your favorite cooked pasta.

Notes

• Roasting the vegetables brings out natural sweetness, making the sauce tastier for kids.
• Adjust the thickness of the sauce by adding water or vegetable broth while blending.
• Use a high-speed blender for the smoothest texture, especially for younger children.
• Leftover sauce can be refrigerated for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
• Feel free to add extra herbs or a pinch of red pepper flakes for more flavor if desired.

Keywords: hidden veggie pasta sauce, kids pasta sauce, roasted vegetable sauce, healthy pasta sauce, vegetable sauce, Italian sauce, roasted garlic sauce