Pasta Bolognese Recipe
If you’ve ever found yourself daydreaming about a steaming bowl of comforting Italian food, then you’re going to fall in love with Pasta Bolognese. This dish wraps you in a warm hug of slow-simmered meat, tender vegetables, and rich tomato sauce clinging to al dente pasta. It’s loaded with hearty flavors and a balance of creamy, savory, and umami notes that make every bite memorable. Whether you’re gathering with friends for a joyful dinner or seeking the ultimate cozy meal, Pasta Bolognese is the Italian classic that brings everyone to the table with smiles.
Ingredients You’ll Need
What makes Pasta Bolognese truly special is its simple yet purposeful ingredient list. Each component plays a crucial role in building layers of flavor, color, and texture, turning basic kitchen staples into an unforgettable meal.
- Olive oil: The foundation for sautéing, it adds richness and depth to your first layer of flavor.
- Onion (finely chopped): Offers sweetness and gently weaves everything together with aromatic warmth.
- Carrots (peeled and diced): Adds a subtle sweetness and gorgeous orange flecks in the sauce.
- Celery stalks (diced): Celery’s crisp freshness makes the meat sauce lighter and more balanced.
- Garlic cloves (minced): Gives the Bolognese an irresistible savory aroma.
- Ground beef: Traditional and hearty, beef brings classic bite and deep flavor to the sauce.
- Ground pork: Blends with beef for complexity, juiciness, and softness.
- Whole milk: Milk smooths the sauce, rounding out acidity and creating that soul-warming richness.
- Dry white wine: De-glazes the pan and infuses the sauce with subtle complexity and brightness.
- Crushed tomatoes (28 oz can): The heart of the sauce, offering robust tomato flavor and beautiful color.
- Tomato paste: Enhances depth of flavor and adds a rich, concentrated tomato backbone.
- Dried oregano: Infuses the sauce with savory notes reminiscent of classic Italian kitchens.
- Salt: Essential for seasoning, making all the other flavors pop.
- Black pepper: Adds a gentle spark and balance to the sauce.
- Pasta (tagliatelle or spaghetti): These choices catch a hearty Bolognese beautifully, absorbing every drop.
- Grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley: Perfect finishing touches for nutty saltiness and a burst of freshness.
How to Make Pasta Bolognese
Step 1: Sauté Your Aromatics
The first step in crafting a memorable Pasta Bolognese is coaxing out flavor from your veggies. Warm olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat, then add the finely chopped onion, diced carrots, and celery. Sauté for 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally until everything is tender and fragrant but not browned. This classic Italian “soffritto” lays the flavor groundwork for the rest of your sauce.
Step 2: Add the Garlic
Once those veggies are soft and aromatic, stir in the minced garlic and let it cook just for a minute. You’ll notice it bloom with that unmistakable inviting aroma, but don’t cook it longer than that — garlic burns fast!
Step 3: Brown the Meat
Now add the ground beef and ground pork, breaking them up with a spoon to avoid big clumps. Cook until the meat is no longer pink and just begins to brown. This is key for building that depth of flavor that makes a real Pasta Bolognese.
Step 4: Enrich with Milk
Pour in the milk and simmer gently for 5 minutes. This is a secret traditional touch — it tenderizes the meat and gives your sauce a rounded, velvety mouthfeel that elevates Pasta Bolognese far above an ordinary meat sauce.
Step 5: Add Wine for Depth
Turn up the flavor dial by stirring in the dry white wine. Let it simmer for another five minutes, giving the alcohol time to cook off while leaving behind that irresistible complexity. Your kitchen will smell incredible!
Step 6: Bring the Sauce Together
Now’s the time for the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, dried oregano, salt, and pepper. Mix everything in, reduce the heat to low, and let your sauce bubble gently uncovered for 45 to 60 minutes. Stir now and then. The sauce will thicken, the flavors will merge, and your patience will be rewarded! If you want an even deeper flavor, slip in a Parmesan rind and let it work its magic.
Step 7: Cook the Pasta
While your sauce is transforming, bring a big pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your tagliatelle or spaghetti until al dente, according to package directions. Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of the cooking water in case your sauce needs loosening up.
Step 8: Toss and Finish
Combine the hot pasta and Bolognese sauce, tossing gently so every strand is beautifully coated. Serve right away, topped with a generous blanket of grated Parmesan and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley. This is it — the perfect Pasta Bolognese experience!
How to Serve Pasta Bolognese
Garnishes
Transform your Pasta Bolognese from comforting to truly celebratory with a shower of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and a handful of chopped parsley. The cheese melts into the sauce, adding nutty depth, while the parsley gives a burst of color and freshness that brightens up every mouthful.
Side Dishes
Round out your meal with sides that highlight the sauce’s richness without overpowering it. A crisp green salad with a lively vinaigrette, a warm piece of garlic bread, or roasted seasonal vegetables all bring something special to your Pasta Bolognese dinner without stealing the show.
Creative Ways to Present
Show off your Pasta Bolognese in a family-style serving bowl, letting everyone help themselves, or plate it elegantly with a little twist of pasta in each dish topped with extra sauce, cheese, and parsley. For an extra bit of fun, try serving it in small ramekins as a starter or tuck into bread bowls for a surprise centerpiece.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Pasta Bolognese stores beautifully! Transfer cooled leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to four days. The flavors actually deepen and meld, making tomorrow’s lunch or dinner even more delicious.
Freezing
The savory meat sauce portion of Pasta Bolognese freezes like a dream. Place cooled sauce in freezer-safe containers, leaving a little room at the top, and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating, and always cook fresh pasta when you’re ready to eat.
Reheating
To reheat, gently warm your Bolognese sauce on the stovetop over low heat, stirring occasionally. If the sauce seems thick, splash in a little water or milk until it returns to that luscious consistency. Toss the hot sauce with freshly cooked pasta for the best results.
FAQs
What pasta works best for Pasta Bolognese?
While tagliatelle is traditional and wonderfully suited to catching the rich sauce, spaghetti, pappardelle, or even rigatoni work just as well. The most important thing is choosing a shape that can really hold onto all that savory goodness!
Can I make Pasta Bolognese without pork?
Absolutely! If you’d prefer, you can use all ground beef, or substitute with ground turkey or even a plant-based meatless option. The sauce is flexible, and you’ll still capture that comforting, traditional feel.
Is it necessary to use wine in the sauce?
Wine adds a lovely complexity to the Bolognese, but you can substitute an equal amount of beef broth if you prefer to avoid alcohol. The result will still be irresistibly delicious.
What makes Pasta Bolognese different from regular meat sauce?
Classic Pasta Bolognese uses a combination of beef and pork, incorporates milk for richness, and simmers slowly for an intensely flavorful, silky sauce. Regular meat sauces tend to be quicker and less layered in flavor.
Can I double the recipe for a crowd?
Yes! This recipe scales up beautifully for parties or batch cooking. Make sure to use a large pot and give the sauce plenty of simmering time for the flavors to develop. You’ll have a Pasta Bolognese feast that will have everyone reaching for seconds!
Final Thoughts
There’s something magical about sharing Pasta Bolognese with family or friends — it’s food that brings people together, sparks laughter, and satisfies your deepest cravings. If you’re searching for the ultimate comfort food with a touch of Italian tradition, this is the recipe to start with. I hope you’ll give it a try and fall in love, bite by savory bite!
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Pasta Bolognese Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Description
A classic Italian Pasta Bolognese recipe that features a rich and hearty meat sauce served over pasta, topped with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. This comforting dish is perfect for a cozy family dinner or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Meat Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion (finely chopped)
- 2 carrots (peeled and diced)
- 2 celery stalks (diced)
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
To Serve:
- 1 lb pasta (tagliatelle or spaghetti)
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Chopped parsley
Instructions
- Prepare the Meat Sauce: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil and sauté onion, carrots, and celery until soft. Add garlic, ground beef, and pork, cook until browned. Stir in milk, wine, tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 45–60 minutes.
- Cook the Pasta: Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and toss with the sauce.
- Serve: Top the pasta with grated Parmesan and fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, simmer the sauce longer or add a Parmesan rind during cooking.
- This sauce freezes well and can be made ahead.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1½ cups
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 470mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 85mg
