If you love Italian food or you’re just looking to elevate your weekly dinners, it’s time to try this Bolognese Recipe!
If your go-to weeknight dinner is still spaghetti and meatballs, it might finally be time to elevate your repertoire. This Bolognese recipe is a simple pasta dish that’s packed with flavor and is sure to impress your kids, significant other, or dinner guests.
Bolognese is a classic Italian dish native to Bologna, which is where it gets its name. “Bolognese” refers to the meat sauce in the pasta dish, but it can also be used in other Italian favorites like lasagna and cannelloni.
Bolognese was a fixture in my house growing up. My grandmother was Italian, and many of my family members even own Italian restaurants. You could always expect to come home to multiple dishes filling the kitchen air (and counter space), and Bolognese was always a staple.
Traditionally, Bolognese recipes are not served with spaghetti, although you’re welcome to swap them out if that’s how you prefer your pasta. Instead, Bolognese is typically served with thicker noodles like pappardelle. The dish is made with many Italian staples like garlic, olive oil, tomato paste, Parmesan, and (my personal favorite) wine. It’s a savory, decadent, and super simple meal to bring to life!
The secret behind the perfect Bolognese sauce
I was raised by Italian chefs, and I’ve learned a thing or two about mastering a pasta dish over the years. Perhaps my favorite tip to share with beginners is the secret of baking soda. Adding a little bit of baking soda to your meat sauce will tenderize the ground beef, resulting in a richer flavor, and it will combat the acidity in the sauce to create an almost sweet undertone. Baking soda is my favorite trick to making dishes like Bolognese, and I would never gatekeep it from you all, so enjoy!
How do I store leftovers?
You can store Bolognese together or keep the sauce and pasta separate. Store Bolognese in an airtight container in the fridge. If you are storing the pasta separately, add a little extra olive oil so the noodles don’t stick together. Your bolognese should last about 4 days in the fridge. The sauce can be frozen in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months, but it’s best to make the pasta fresh.
Serving suggestions
Bolognese makes for a great main course for dinner. Serve a nice salad ahead of your main course, like this Olive Garden Salad dupe, a classic Italian Salad, or a refreshing Greek Cucumber Salad. If you’re looking to stay in the Italian theme, you can also serve Sautéed Squash And Zucchini, Baked Eggplant, and Caprese Salad with fresh tomatoes and mozzarella. For dessert, enjoy affogato: ice cream topped with espresso.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 rib celery finely chopped
- 1 medium carrot peeled and grated
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 10 ounces ground beef 80%
- 10 ounces ground pork
- 2/3 cup dry red wine
- 2 1/3 cups tomato purée
- 2 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 pound pappardelle pasta
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic and sauté until soft and translucent, about 8 minutes.
- Increase heat to medium-high, add ground beef and pork, and cook until browned, breaking meat into small clumps.
- Pour in the red wine, scraping any brown bits off the bottom of the pot. Add tomato purée and tomato paste. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in the milk, season with salt and pepper, and simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
- In a separate pot, bring salted water to a boil and cook the pappardelle until al dente. Drain.
- Toss the cooked pappardelle with the bolognese sauce. Serve topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Nutrition Info:
Nutrition information are estimates only and may vary based on the specific brands, ingredients, and portion sizes you use. This data is provided for informational purposes only.
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