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.
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.
Did You Make This Recipe?Let me know how it was!