The New Spaghetti Night

Looking for a weekday meal that is warm and tasty but keeps you in your zone?

This recipe is simple, low carb, high protein and packed with nutrition. You can make your sauce ahead of time and freeze so it's ready to heat and serve on a busy night. Zucchini noodles come frozen so you can keep those on hand right along with your sauce.

Meat sauce on zucchini noodles

• 1 onion, chopped

• green or red pepper, chopped

• 1-2 Tbsp. olive oil

• 2 chicken or turkey Italian sausage links, out of casing

• 1-2 cloves fresh garlic, minced

• 1 jar marinara sauce

• frozen zucchini noodles

• Parmesan cheese, grated

• Salt and pepper to taste

• Fresh basil in season

Prep your sauce

In a heavy bottomed sauce pan

1. Brown sausage out of its casing till cooked through. Drain on plate with paper towel.

2. Saute the chopped onion and pepper in olive oil. Careful not to brown as that can give a bitter taste to your sauce.

3. When onion is translucent and pepper is cooked, add in minced garlic, saute for a minute. Add in cooked sausage.

4. Pour in marinara sauce, add in 1/4 cup of water.

5. Add in salt and pepper. Simmer for 30-40 minutes.

6. Heat a non-stick frying pan, add a TBSP of olive oil. Place zucchini in pan and saute to cook zucchini. I like to cook long enough to cook the water out.

7. Plate zucchini, pour sauce on top. Top with Parmesan cheese and basil.

This recipe can be easily doubled for meal prep and freezing. I buy containers that hold enough to serve two. That makes it super easy to take out of the freezer, put in the fridge in the morning or the night before for a busy evening's meal. Pair with a salad and you've got a yummy hot meal in no time.