Coming up with weeknight dinners night after night can be tough. And if you’re on the hunt for healthy kids meals then it’s even harder. But, this mom’s veggie pasta sauce might be the answer to your problems.
This hidden veggie pasta sauce TikTok video is going viral for all of the right reasons. Whether you’ve been blessed by the veggie gods and have kids that love their veggies or you need to resort to spy tactics to get them in their meals, this is a recipe you’ll want to hold on to. And also because this mama says they taste like the OG SpaghettiOs.
@yummytoddlerfood
Pasta cooked in vegetable broth (“carrot broth” to my kids) is ON REPEAT here. It’s fast, nourishing, flavorful…and it reminds me of my memory of how spaghetti o’s taste! (I should buy some to confirm…) Recipe specifics for the Vegetable Broth are linked in my profile. 1. Bring 1 qt Vegetable Broth to a simmer in a wide pot. 2. Add 8 ounces small shape of pasta. (I used anelli here but orzo, pastina, abc, or mini shells work too) 3. Simmer, uncovered, for the time on the pasta package plus 2-4 minutes. Stir occasionally and check for doneness towards the end of cooking. (Timing varies a lot by shape.) Pasta should be al dente. 4. Add 1 tbsp butter and a little salt. Add Parmesan to taste and 2 tablespoons marinara or spaghetti sauce for more flavor. I like mine with black pepper but the kids prefer theirs plain! #toddlerfood #babyfood #easycooking #toddlerdinner
So, here’s what you do. “You’re gonna simmer carrots, celery, onion and garlic in water until soft and then blend,” she explains. “And that’s your veggie broth. You can thin it out as much as you like.”
Then you add your pasta. “Simmer over medium low until the pasta absorbs the broth and then you can add salt, a little bit of butter and then to give them a sort of SpaghettiOs type flavor add marinara sauce or spaghetti sauce. Stir until nice and creamy.”
“It is seriously good with parmesan and cracked black pepper. It is super satisfying and super cozy and is great with peas or beans or diced chicken.”
The best part of all of this is this toddler mom’s testament to the fact that her children love it. “We have been making it on repeat,” she says.
Toddlers can be picky eaters and sometimes (okay, most of the time) vegetables get a bad rap in toddler world. But, imagine if your kids didn’t know that their favorite pasta sauce actually used veggies as a base and they loved it anyway. That’s a win-win, no?
Plus, if SpaghettiOs bring back your own childhood nostalgia then why not enjoy a bowl of this yourself. I love how this mom mentioned adding in different kinds of protein and different red sauces, so you can experiment in your own kitchen and see what your family loves best. Healthy kids meals could not be any easier.
Her viral video has garnered more than 6 million views and a lot of commenters have already tried the recipe and seemingly loved it.
“found this video a couple hours ago.. my 1yo & i are eating it now 
”
“Ooo I think my toddler husband would love this 
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“Ok just made this tonight and have to say it was freaking delicious!! And I eat like a child lol 
this is going to be our go to fav record now!”
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so smart!”
“Thank you for this. I made this and it’s literally the only food other than yogurt my child will eat.”