Spaghetti with meat sauce, frozen entree
Whole food · Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes
Photo: Wikipedia
This is a classic frozen convenience meal featuring tender spaghetti noodles tossed in a savory, tomato-based meat sauce, typically made with ground beef. The texture is soft and saucy, with the pasta offering a familiar, comforting chew and the sauce providing a mild, savory depth. Nutritionally, it's a low-calorie, low-fat option, but its protein content is modest for a main dish.
Calorie split: 22% protein · 68% carbs · 10% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for the ultimate convenience and nostalgic comfort—it delivers the satisfying, savory taste of a home-cooked pasta dish with zero cooking required. Its mild flavor makes it a reliable, crowd-pleasing staple for busy weeknights.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The low protein and fat content can leave you feeling hungry soon after eating, and the simple carbs may cause a quick blood-sugar spike and crash. To counteract this, pair it with a side salad and a source of protein like grilled chicken or a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese to boost satiety and balance the meal.
Key benefits
- Extremely low in calories and fat
- Provides a quick, no-prep meal solution
- Contains a small amount of dietary fiber
- Offers a familiar, comforting flavor profile
- Long shelf life reduces food waste
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The term 'Bolognese' comes from Bologna, Italy, where the authentic sauce, Ragù alla Bolognese, is a slow-cooked meat sauce with very little tomato, unlike the tomato-heavy versions common in frozen entrees.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 77.8 g |
| Energy | 90.0 kcal |
| Energy | 377 kj |
| Protein | 5.0 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 1.0 g |
| Ash | 0.88 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 15.2 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.8 g |
| Total Sugars | 2.6 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 18.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.3 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 15.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 49.0 mg |
| Potassium, K | 144 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 238 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.51 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.13 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.21 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 11.9 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 5.4 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.12 mg |
| Riboflavin | 1.3 mg |
| Niacin | 0.18 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.07 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.07 mg |
| Folate, total | 46.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 37.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 9.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 72.0 ug |
| Choline, total | 12.2 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.06 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 9.0 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 104 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 174 iu |
| Lycopene | 3200 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 7.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.50 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.70 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.35 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 13:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.22 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.09 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.33 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.02 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.30 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.32 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.29 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.03 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 6.0 mg |
| Phytosterols | 0.00 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
| Tryptophan | 0.08 g |
| Threonine | 0.21 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.24 g |
| Leucine | 0.44 g |
| Lysine | 0.20 g |
| Methionine | 0.07 g |
| Cystine | 0.10 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.29 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.13 g |
| Valine | 0.27 g |
| Arginine | 0.27 g |
| Histidine | 0.14 g |
| Alanine | 0.22 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.39 g |
| Glutamic acid | 1.8 g |
| Glycine | 0.21 g |
| Proline | 0.59 g |
| Serine | 0.28 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.00 g |
FAQ
Is this a good source of protein?
No, at about 5g per 100g, a standard serving provides only 10-12g of protein, which is low for a main meal. It's best to add a protein side.
Why is the fat content so low?
Frozen entrees often use lean ground meat or meat analogs and controlled portioning to keep fat and calories down for a 'light' product profile.
Can I improve the nutrition quickly?
Absolutely. Stir in a handful of frozen spinach or mixed vegetables while heating, and top with a dollop of ricotta or a handful of shredded mozzarella for more protein and fat.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 0.90 kcal/g · 22% calories from protein · 1.8 g fiber · 2.6 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 1.65 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.