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Got a picky eater on your hands? Sneak in an extra serving of vegetables with this hidden veggie pasta sauce. Just cook and blend ingredients and top onto your favorite pasta. Your kiddo (or adult!) won’t know any different!

Hidden veggie pasta sauce over penne noodles in a green kids bowl.

Lately I’ve been sharing a lot of kid-friendly recipes since I’ve got my own little picky eater under my roof. My once “will eat anything to matter the taste, color or texture” baby won’t touch a vegetable with a 10 foot pole.

Pasta on the other hand? Can’t get enough! Can you really blame her? So to ensure she’s getting proper nutrition I developed the perfect hidden veggies pasta sauce to sneak in an extra dose of veggies into her diet. I’m now going through the same experience with my second kiddo and he’s exactly the same! Hidden veggie sauce to the rescue!

This recipe is the perfect mix of veggies and flavor but tastes just like tomato sauce! It can also be frozen into individual servings and stored in the freezer. Here’s how to make it:

Maven’s Quick Tips

Pick your veggies – I like including carrots, bell pepper and spinach because it’s a good balance of vitamins and lots of minerals. Feel free to swap in different veggies if you prefer. Just note that it may change the taste a bit. I find cauliflower works well without altering the taste!

Blend Blend Blend. The key to tricking your kiddos is to blend the sauce. In an ideal world your kids wouldn’t be bothered by the colorful veggies but let’s be real, they’ll probably put up a fight so be sure to blend.

Use in a variety of ways. From pasta to pizza to dipping sauce these veggie pasta sauce is super versatile.

Freezer-friendly. I like making a double batch of this and storing in the freezer. I quickly pop one in the microwave (or thaw on the stove top) for an easy and healthy meal for my kiddos.

Ingredients in Hidden Veggie Pasta Sauce:

Canned tomatoes – 1 x 28 ounce can. You can also use fresh tomatoes if you prefer.
Olive oil – for cooking veggies
Garlic + Onion – For extra flavor but also provide immune-boosting and antibacterial properties.
Carrots– A great source of vitamin A for baby.
Bell Pepper– You can use any color but I prefer red peppers which are also a great source of vitamin C.
Spinach– a fantastic source of all sorts of vitamins and minerals and especially calcium.
Herbs + Salt – I use dried Italian seasoning (you can also use a mix of oregano and thyme). You can reduce or eliminate the salt if you’re concerned about sodium content for your kid.

How to Make Hidden Veggie Tomato Sauce:

STEP 1: COOK ONIONS + GARLIC

Heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Add olive oil and onions. Cook onions until translucent (3-5 minutes). Add in garlic and cook for an additional minute.

sauteed onions and garlic in a white dutch oven.

STEP 2: COOK REMAINING VEGGIES

Add in carrots and bell pepper. Cook for 2 more minutes and then stir in spinach and cook until wilted.

Cooked onion, garlic, carrot, red bell pepper and spinach in a white dutch oven.

STEP 3: ADD TOMATOES + HERBS

Add herbs, salt (if using), canned tomatoes and water/stock. Bring to a boil and then lower to a simmer for 15-20 minutes. Turn off heat and allow sauce to cool to room temperature.

Overhead photograph of a recipe for pasta sauce for kids in a white dutch oven pot.

STEP 4: BLEND SAUCE

Add sauce to a blender and blend to your desired consistency. You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your blender.

Blended hidden veggie pasta sauce in a blender.

How to Serve For Babies + Toddlers:

You can serve your pasta sauce on any type of pasta. Sprinkle with cheese and fresh basil (if desired).

If your child is 6-9 months go for an easy pasta to grab like penne or fusili.

If your baby is a little older use a smaller pasta like macaroni for practicing the pincer grasp.

This hidden veggie pasta sauce also works great on pizza or as a dipping sauce for mozzarella sticks.

Hidden veggie tomato sauce in a red 3 oz ice cube tray for freezing.

Storage Instructions

Store your pasta sauce with hidden veggies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. See note below about freezing.

Can You Freeze Hidden Vegetable Pasta Sauce?

Absolutely! I like to freeze mine in 3 oz cubes for individual servings. I use a silicone mould (like this one) and freeze for 4 hours. Then I place them in a ziplock bag in the freezer for up to 6 months.

I allow my tomato sauce to thaw in a bowl for several hours. Then I’ll serve over an individual serving of pasta or pizza.

Alternatively you can freeze your hidden veggie pasta sauce in any airtight container in the freezer.

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