Classic and cozy homemade Bolognese Sauce served over pappardelle pasta is the ultimate comfort food.
If you love the vibrance of homemade Marinara Sauce, adding ground meat and simmering low and slow will produce a winning pasta sauce. Top it with parmesan cheese and serve with a fresh Caesar Salad for the perfect weeknight (or weekend) dinner.
Bolognese Recipe
Bolognese Sauce is classic comfort food. I learned how to make bolognese sauce from Chef Lidia Bastianich’s Cookbook. We make this recipe on repeat in our family, and we’ve tweaked it a little over time to suit our preferences. This adaptation is officially the gold standard of bolognese sauce in our house.
Rich and flavorful bolognese sauce is perfect to serve warm over a bowl of pasta or baked between layers in Lasagna. This easy pasta sauce recipe is so simple and satisfying. It also keeps really well so you can make a big batch to have leftovers for later!
What Is Bolognese Sauce?
Bolognese is a classic Italian meat-based sauce, often made from a mixture of ground meats which can include ground beef and pork, or veal. Fun fact on the history of Bolognese sauce – it originated in and was named after the city of Bologna, Italy. Here’s why you’ll love it:
- Easy – this sauce comes together fairly quickly and the ingredients are simple. Once it’s in the pot, the stove does most of the work as it simmers and putters away.
- Adaptable – Many bolognese sauces use a mixture of ground meats, but you can use only ground beef if that’s what you have on hand.
- Kid-Friendly – Pasta bolognese is a meal that the whole family will enjoy. Who doesn’t love beefy, saucy noodles topped with plenty of freshly grated parmesan?
- Versatile – Bolognese sauce is perfect for dressing tagliatelle or spaghetti (or any pasta you’d like), or use it to make lasagna alla bolognese. See later in the post for more ideas.
- Make-ahead – It keeps so well in the refrigerator and freezer which is great for meal prep or easy weeknight dinners (see make-ahead tips below).
Ingredients
Below is an overview of the ingredients you’ll need to make bolognese sauce. Remember to refer to the recipe card below the post for the full recipe details.
- Olive Oil and Butter – Just about every Italian recipe starts with good-quality EVOO (extra virgin olive oil). This one also includes unsalted butter for extra richness.
- Onion, Celery, and Carrot – This trio of aromatics forms the flavor base for the sauce, also known as Italian sofrito, or mirepoix in French cooking.
- Garlic – We also mince up some fresh garlic cloves, because everything is better with garlic.
- Ground Beef – I recommend using beef with 20% fat. You can also use a combination of ground beef and pork.
- Wine – Use a dry white, like Pinot Grigio, which is traditional for bolognese, or a dry red wine like Merlot. If you prefer to leave out the wine, substitute it with beef broth instead.
- Tomatoes – This recipe uses canned crushed tomatoes. San Marzano tomatoes are best, but any canned tomatoes will work in a pinch. You’ll also need tomato paste.
- Fresh Herbs – We add finely-chopped fresh parsley or basil, to enhance the flavor and also to garnish our pasta when serving.
- Milk – The secret to the best bolognese? Whole milk. 2% milk will also work, but whatever you do, don’t skip it.
Pro Tip: You’ll need your choice of pasta for serving. Bolognese is traditionally served over wide ribbons of pasta (like pappardelle or tagliatelle), but you can also dish it up over spaghetti, penne, or any other kind of pasta you prefer. Don’t forget the freshly grated parmesan cheese.
How to Make Bolognese Sauce
This savory bolognese sauce recipe only takes a few minutes of attention before it’s left to simmer for a couple of hours. Here’s how to make it:
- Saute – First, sauté diced onion in a large pot with olive oil and melted butter, Add the celery and carrot, stirring until golden, then stir in the garlic.
- Add Beef – Add the ground beef to the pot along with a pinch of salt and pepper to season. Break up the beef while it browns.
- Add Wine – The beef will start to release its juices, and at this point, stir in wine. Bring the pot to a boil to cook off the liquid.
- Form the Sauce – Next, stir in the tomatoes along with 1-2 cups of hot water, tomato paste, parsley, and milk.
- Cook – Let the sauce come to a boil, then reduce the heat to the lowest simmer, partially cover and simmer for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally and add water as needed to keep it from sticking to the bottom.
Pro Tip: Bolognese sauce is ready when the ground meat is completely tender. Most of the liquid will have evaporated, and the meat should look suspended in a thick sauce, a bit like the consistency of Sloppy Joes. You might notice that the fat has separated from the sauce also, which is totally normal.
What’s the Best Pasta for Bolognese?
In Italy, bolognese sauce is often served with pappardelle or tagliatelle, as the broad ribbons hold up well in the thicker sauce. However, you can serve it with your preferred pasta, including spaghetti noodles for classic spaghetti bolognese. Here’s how to prepare your pasta for serving:
- Boil – Cook the pasta according to the package directions in a pot of boiling, salted water.
- Drain – Reserve some pasta water if you want to thin the sauce later. Drain the pasta, then toss it with a bit of butter or olive oil to keep it from sticking.
- Serve – Toss the pasta in your bolognese sauce, then garnish with freshly grated parmesan and a sprinkle of chopped herbs, like parsley or basil.
