This quick and easy Bolognese recipe gives that deep rich flavor from traditional Bolognese but in only a fraction of the time. Add this to your list of weeknight dinners.
What is Bolognese sauce?
Bolognese sauce is a hearty meat sauce made with ground meat (normally ground beef, pork, or even veal). You can even use a mix of the ground meats. This is cooked with sauteed onions, carrots and celery which is also called Mirepoix. The sauce also contains tomato paste, milk and cream and is simmered slowly to create a deep rich flavor. This can be served over the pasta of your choice.
How to make quick and easy Bolognese
- Sauté the vegetables: Finely chopped onions, carrots, and celery are sautéed in olive oil until they begin to soften, about 5 minutes.
- Cook the meat: Add the ground meat to the vegetables and cook until the meat is browned thoroughly.
- Add in tomato paste: Mix in the tomato paste until the meat mixture is coated with tomato paste.
- Add in broth and seasonings: Beef broth is added to the meat mixture along with the seasonings and bay leaves, and is simmered gently for about 15 minutes.
- Finish with milk and cream: Towards the end of cooking, milk and cream is added to mellow the acidity of the tomatoes and add richness to the sauce.
- Serve on top of the pasta of your choice. I prefer spaghetti noodles but any noodle will work!
What is the best pasta to serve with Bolognese
- Spaghetti: A classic choice, the long strands hold the rich sauce well.
- Tagliatelle: Wide, flat noodles that are traditional in Bologna, Italy.
- Pappardelle: Even wider than tagliatelle, ideal for holding the hearty sauce.
- Penne or Rigatoni: Tubular pastas that capture the sauce inside.
My personal favorite pasta to use with Bolognese is spaghetti, however my oldest daughter loves Tagliatelle pasta so I will switch it up occasionally.
What sides to serve with Bolognese
This quick and easy Bolognese can be served with a variety of sides. To pair this dish with something light and refreshing, a nice side salad such as a Caesar salad or mixed greens salad will work great. A buttery garlic bread or a crunchy Italian bread is also great and is perfect for mopping up the sauce.
How to store this quick and easy Bolognese
It’s best to store the pasta noodles separate from the Bolognese sauce. I would drizzle a little olive oil on the pasta to keep it from sticking together and store in an airtight container. Store the Bolognese sauce separately in an airtight container. This should last up to 5 days in the fridge if stored properly.
The Bolognese sauce can also be frozen. Completely cool the sauce first. Transfer to a freezer-safe container or heavy duty freezer bag. Be sure to remove as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Store in the fridge up to 3-4 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
What are some variations to this quick and easy Bolognese?
- Make it vegetarian – Replace the meat with a mixture of finely chopped vegetables like mushrooms, eggplant and zucchini.
- To make a lighter version, replace the ground beef with ground turkey or ground chicken. You may need to add more seasoning due to the milder taste.
- For a richer flavor, use a mixture of ground pork and ground beef. The pork adds a bit of sweetness and fat which complements the beef.
- Make it spicy! Add red pepper flakes or chopped fresh chili peppers to the sauce.
- Use ground veal instead of ground beef. Veal is a tender and subtly flavored alternative to beef. This is one of my favorite ways to make it.
Quick and Easy Bolognese
Ingredients
- 12 oz spaghetti noodles
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup diced carrots
- 1 cup diced celery
- 1 medium sized onion diced
- 2 tsp minced garlic
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 tsp beef better than bouillon paste (or 1 cube)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring 6 cups water to a boil. Cook noodles in salted water per package instructions. Drain.
- Heat olive oil over medium heat in Dutch oven or large pot. Add the diced onions, carrots and celery and sauté for about 5 minutes until they start to soften. Add in minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add in ground beef and cook until the meat is browned, stirring often. Season meat mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
- Stir in the tomato paste until mixed well. Add in the beef broth, bouillon paste, bay leaves and garlic powder and stir until combined. Reduce heat to low and let simmer for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in milk and heavy cream until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove from heat and remove the bay leaves. Serve over the pasta of your choice.