Bolognese Sauce

Pasta in Bolognese has always been a favorite around here and I love to play around with different ways to make the sauce. Bolognese sauce, in case you’re wondering, is a meat sauce that originated from, you guessed it, Bologna, Italy.

This is part of our collection of 50+ Budget Friendly Ground Beef Dinners and a great way to stretch a pound.

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Why this recipe works

An important thing to note is that a Bolognese sauce is a meat sauce complemented by tomatoes. It is not a tomato sauce or marinara with meat added. Big difference. In Italy it’s a type of ragu. So no, the Ragu brand pasta sauce you see in the stores didn’t get its name from some marketing guru.

A Bolognese starts with cooking vegetables and the meat, adding liquid to meld flavors, and simmering to finish it off.

Save yourself some time and use a food processor to do all the chopping. If you don’t use your food processor very often then you’ll want to check out my post called The Food Processor: 13 Ways to Use It and 20 Recipes to Prove It.

Ingredients you will need

Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable version at the end of this post.

How to Make Bolognese Sauce

These step by step photos and instructions are here to help you visualize how to make this recipe. You can Jump to Recipe to get the printable version of this recipe, complete with measurements and instructions at the bottom.

1. Brown ground beef in a large pot or 6 qt dutch oven. You can use a meat chopper to break up ground beef into small pieces. Drain, leaving about 2 tablespoons of fat.
2. Add the celery, carrot, onion, green bell pepper and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables start to soften and are fragrant, about 5 to 10 minutes.
3. Add remaining ingredients to the pot, stir to combine everything. Lower heat, and allow sauce to simmer, uncovered, for about 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is bolognese?

Bolognese is a type of ragu or meat sauce that originated in Bologna, Italy in the 1800s.

What is the difference between bolognese and other sauces?

Most pasta sauces are tomato based, while bolognese is a meat based sauce featuring tomatoes, vegetables, wine, and most importantly the addition of milk.

Why add milk to bolognese?

Milk adds a richness and creaminess to the sauce, while helping to tenderize the meat and help cut back on the acidity of the tomatoes.

How do I serve bolognese sauce?

Bolognese is traditionally served with a wide noodle such as pappardelle. Rigatoni, penne, or spaghetti noodles are also great options. It also makes a delicious sauce for lasagna, mixed with rice, and used in stuffed peppers or zucchini.

Can I freeze bolognese sauce?

Yes. Allow the sauce to cool completely, then transfer to an air tight container or freezer bag. It will be good in the freezer for up to three months. When ready to use again, just thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stove top.

This bolognese sauce makes a hearty weeknight meal on top of a plate of pasta, especially when it’s served up alongside some homemade Italian bread!

More Ground Beef Recipes

• Ground Beef Casserole
• Italian Lasagna
• Homemade Chili
• Baked Ziti
• Spaghetti and Meatballs in Marinara Sauce
• Veal Osso Buco

Looking for more ground beef ideas? See our collection of 90 best ground beef recipes here.

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Save yourself some time and use a food processor to do all the chopping. If you don’t use your food processor very often then you’ll want to check out my post called The Food Processor: 13 Ways to Use It and 20 Recipes to Prove It.

A good simmer with little bubbles is always a good thing.