Dollar-Stretching Beef and Lentil Spaghetti Sauce

With the rising cost of groceries (especially meats), many are trying to find ways to stretch their dollars and keep their budgets from groaning. Adding beans to your meat dishes is a wonderful, delicious and healthy way to help stretch your meat and your dollar. 

Mr. Picky and Ms. Neighbor absolutely loved the meal... and they didn't even realize there was lentils in it!

We hope you enjoy it as much as we have! 

Budget-Friendly Dollar-Stretching Beef Lentil Spaghetti Sauce

Ingredients

• 1 pound extra lean ground beef
• ½ cup chopped onion
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon Fennel seed
• 2 Tablespoons Italian Seasoning
• 1 Tablespoon Parsley Flakes
• ½ - 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cups cooked lentils
• 2 – 15 ounce cans tomato sauce
• 6 to 9 ounces tomato paste*
• 3 – 6 ounce cans of water

Preparation 

Brown the meat, onions and garlic in a large skillet along with the spices. When completely cooked, drain the meat mixture and return it to the pan. Add the lentils to the meat mixture in the pan. Cook together, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, tomato paste and water. Reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve over cooked pasta.

* I used 9 ounces of tomato paste just because I had some left over. I am sure 6 ounces would be fine.