Easy Bolognese Sauce

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This Bolognese sauce is rich, saucy and thick enough to perfectly coat pasta. It’s an easy recipe that is perfect for weeknight dinners, and is sure to become a family favorite.

Easy Bolognese Sauce

Ingredients You’ll Need:

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion peeled and diced
  • 2 carrots peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 4 garlic cloves finely diced or minced
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 2 cups tomato puree
  • 2 tsp Italian herbs
  • 1 tsp beef bouillon powder
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp dried red pepper flakes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese for serving
  • Fresh basil leaves for serving (optional)
Bolognese Sauce with Spaghetti

How to Make Bolognese Sauce:

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the onion, diced carrots and diced celery, and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes or until softened.

2. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring and breaking up any lumps with the black of a wooden spoon, until no longer pink.

3. Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant.

4. Add the red wine and simmer for 1 minute or until reduced.

5. Add the tomato puree, Italian herbs, bouillon powder, granulated sugar and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

6. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.

7. Garnish with the grated parmesan and basil leaves, if using, before serving.

Bolognese Sauce Close Up

Notes:

  • While red wine adds a delicious flavor, the red wine is completely optional, and can be replaced with ½ cup beef broth.
  • Add a small amount of water during the simmering phase if the sauce starts to look too dry.
  • This sauce can be left to simmer longer on the stovetop, which will further deepen the flavors.
  • This Bolognese sauce can be cooked in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours.
  • Additional vegetables could be added to the sauce, such as sliced mushrooms and diced zucchinis.
Bolognese Sauce with Spaghetti Sauce

Storage:

Store this Bolognese sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat until piping hot using the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop.

This sauce freezes extremely well. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating according to the above directions.

Bolognese Sauce

Easy Bolognese Sauce

This Bolognese sauce is rich, saucy and thick enough to perfectly coat pasta. It’s an easy recipe that is perfect for weeknight dinners, and is sure to become a family favorite.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Servings 4

Ingredients
  

  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 1 onion peeled and diced
  • 2 carrots peeled and diced
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 4 garlic cloves finely diced or minced
  • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
  • ½ cup red wine
  • 2 cups tomato puree
  • 2 tsp Italian herbs
  • 1 tsp beef bouillon powder
  • 1 tsp granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp dried red pepper flakes
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese for serving
  • Fresh basil leaves for serving (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat. Add the onion, diced carrots and diced celery, and cook, stirring, for 4 minutes or until softened.
  • Add the ground beef and cook, stirring and breaking up any lumps with the black of a wooden spoon, until no longer pink.
  • Add the garlic and tomato paste and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until fragrant.
  • Add the red wine and simmer for 1 minute or until reduced.
  • Add the tomato puree, Italian herbs, bouillon powder, granulated sugar and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Garnish with the grated parmesan and basil leaves, if using, before serving.

Notes

  • While red wine adds a delicious flavor, the red wine is completely optional, and can be replaced with ½ cup beef broth.
  • Add a small amount of water during the simmering phase if the sauce starts to look too dry.
  • This sauce can be left to simmer longer on the stovetop, which will further deepen the flavors.
  • This Bolognese sauce can be cooked in a slow cooker on low for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours.
  • Additional vegetables could be added to the sauce, such as sliced mushrooms and diced zucchinis.
 
Storage:
Store this Bolognese sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat until piping hot using the microwave or in a saucepan on the stovetop.
This sauce freezes extremely well. Freeze in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating according to the above directions.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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