This Trader Joe's Fall Lentil Ragu is made with just 4 ingredients and comes together effortlessly in a few steps in under 15 minutes to make the most perfect healthy and balanced weeknight dinner! Pair this with a side salad to add some additional fiber to this vegetarian dish!
While you can enjoy a variation of this dish year round, this particular recipe uses Trader Joe's seasonal Autumnal Harvest pasta sauce to make a cozy dish perfect for fall!
If you love this recipe, you will love my Trader Joe's Salmon Bite Bowls, Trader Joe's Lemon Ricotta Ravioli Recipe, or my Trader Joe's Pesto Chicken Recipe.
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Ingredients
- Avocado Oil
- Small Onion, Finely Chopped
- Trader Joe's Organic Fall Zuchette Pasta
- Trader Joe's Steamed lentils
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
- Trader Joe's Creamy Autumnal Harvest Pasta Sauce
- Optional: Grated Parmesan to Garnish
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Start by finely chopping your small onion. You can use a veggie chopper to make this easier and quicker or chop using a knife and cutting board, per preference.
- Boil some water and cook your pasta according to the instructions on the packaging.
- While your pasta is cooking, add some avocado oil to a medium dutch oven or large pan over medium heat. when your oil is hot, add in your chopped onions and saute for 2-3 minutes until they start to become translucent and soften.
- Once your onions appear cooked through, lower your heat and then add in your package of steamed lentils, and use a wooden spoon to break the lentils apart. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir occasionally until your lentils appear heated through. Next, add in your jar of creamy autumnal harvest pasta sauce. Stir again and cook for 1-2 minutes until your pasta sauce is completely heated through.
- Drain your pasta and then add the pasta into the pan with the sauce. Mix until everything is well combined. Serve with a side salad or veggie of choice. Garnish with grated parmesan, if using and enjoy!
Hint: Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water and add into your sauce before adding in your pasta. The pasta water's starch content can thicken the sauce and help it to bind to the pasta and it also can improve the overall texture of jarred pasta sauces!
Substitutions
- Lentils - feel free to use ground chicken, turkey or lean ground beef or bison either instead of lentils or in addition to lentils to add some additional protein to this dish!
- Gluten-Free - use a gluten-free pasta instead of the fall zuchette pasta to make this recipe gluten-free.
- Dairy-Free- choose a dairy-free pasta sauce and skip the grated parmesan to make this dish dairy-free!
If you do not have a Trader Joe's nearby, feel free to use store substitutes that are similar to make this dish! Many places will have fall shaped pastas and a variation of the creamy autumn pasta sauce!
This recipe is already vegetarian as is!
Variations
- Spicy - add chili pepper flakes while cooking to add some heat to this dish!
- Non-fall- I make this recipe all year round by using regular pasta sauce and a high fiber pasta!
This recipe is already toddler and kid-friendly as is!
Equipment
All you need to make this fall lentil ragu is:
- A Medium (6-7 quart) Dutch Oven: Here is a cheap dutch oven if you are in the market for one. I have the Le Creuset Enamled pan as well as the Caraway dutch oven which I also love!
- Alternatively, you can use a large pan. Here is the large Caraway pan I love and use often.
- You will also need a medium pot. Here is the medium Caraway pot I love and use!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means I make a small commission if you choose to purchase through qualifying links.
Storage
You can store this fall lentil ragu in the fridge in an air tight container for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Top Tip
You can freeze portions of this lentil ragu into a souper cube and then thaw and serve as a perfect portion for your toddler or young kiddo on a busy week!
Dinner
Looking for other easy dinner recipes like this? Try these:
Fall
Looking for some other easy fall recipes like this one?Try these:
Jump to: Recipe
Trader Joe's Fall Lentil Ragu
Equipment
- 1 6-7 Quart Dutch Oven or Large Pan
- 1 Medium pot
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil
- 1 Small Onion Finely Chopped
- 1 Package Trader Joe's Organic Fall Zuchette Pasta
- 1 Package Trader Joe's Steamed lentils
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 1 Jar Trader Joe's Creamy Autumnal Harvest Pasta Sauce
- Optional: Grated Parmesan to Garnish
Instructions
- Start by finely chopping your small onion. You can use a veggie chopper to make this easier and quicker or chop using a knife and cutting board, per preference.
- Boil some water and cook your pasta according to the instructions on the packaging.
- While your pasta is cooking, add some avocado oil to a medium dutch oven or large pan over medium heat. when your oil is hot, add in your chopped onions and saute for 2-3 minutes until they start to become translucent and soften.
- Once your onions appear cooked through, lower your heat and then add in your package of steamed lentils, and use a wooden spoon to break the lentils apart. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir occasionally until your lentils appear heated through. Next, add in your jar of creamy autumnal harvest pasta sauce. Stir again and cook for 1-2 minutes until your pasta sauce is completely heated through.
- Drain your pasta and then add the pasta into the pan with the sauce. Mix until everything is well combined. Serve with a side salad or veggie of choice. Garnish with grated parmesan, if using and enjoy!
- Hint: Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water and add into your sauce before adding in your pasta. The pasta water's starch content can thicken the sauce and help it to bind to the pasta and it also can improve the overall texture of jarred pasta sauces!
Notes
Nutrition
FOOD SAFETY
- Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
- Never leave cooking food unattended
- Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
- Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove
Michele says
This was super yummy and easy. My toddlers loved it. I added spinach & a little additional pasta water to make it more saucy. Will definitely make again.
christina.klapper says
Yay!!! So glad to hear it was a toddler win!!! Thank you for your sweet review!!