Nothing says comfort food like a rich, chunky, and flavorful bolognese sauce. Made with minced meat, tomatoes, aromatic vegetables, and a blend of herbs, this classic homemade bolognese is a go-to for anyone who loves Italian cuisine’s deep, savory flavors.

Simmered to perfection, it makes for a stick-to-the-ribs meal on chilly evenings when served over spaghetti or as a base for this Lasagna Bolognese.

It’s freezer-friendly and reheats well. Make a double or triple batch to enjoy all week long !

What Is Bolognese Sauce

Originating from Bologna, Italy, Bolognese Sauce is a thick, meat-based creation traditionally made with ground beef or a mix of meats like pork, veal, and beef. Its richness comes from layers of ingredients cooked in stages, each carefully added to build deep, complex flavors.

A classic bolognese begins with a soffrito—a blend of finely chopped carrots, celery, and onions slowly sautéed to release their natural sweetness. While traditional recipes often use milk or cream with white wine to enrich the sauce, my recipe leans into the boldness of canned tomatoes and a touch of tomato paste for a creamy, velvety finish.

The secret to an authentic bolognese lies in patience. After adding all the ingredients, the sauce simmers for three to four hours. This slow cooking allows the meat to meld with aromatics and herbs, creating a deeply savory sauce with a texture that’s more about the meat than the tomatoes. The result is a rich, chunky sauce that clings beautifully to pasta.

How to Make Bolognese Sauce

Prepare the Ingredients

Roughly chop the onions, and finely dice the garlic, carrots, and celery into small pieces.

Cook the Minced Meat

Heat the olive oil in a pot over a low heat. Add the minced meat and cook until browned. Season with salt and pepper.

Add the Aromatics

Add the onions, garlic, carrots, and celery to the pot. Brown them while mixing with a wooden spoon to ensure even cooking.

Incorporate the Tomatoes and Spices

Add the blended tomatoes, tomato sauce, and spices (bay leaves, oregano, and basil) to the pot. Mix well to combine all the ingredients.

Slow Simmer the Sauce

Cover the pot and cook over low heat for 3 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom.

Adjust the Seasoning

At the end of cooking, check the seasoning and adjust as needed. If you have fresh basil, add two leaves 10 minutes before the end of cooking for enhanced flavor. Remove the basil leaves before serving.

Serve and Enjoy

Serve the Bolognese sauce over spaghetti or your favorite pasta with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese on the top.

Bolognese Sauce Success Tips

Take Your Time with the Soffritto : Slowly Sauté the onions, carrots, and celery to allow their natural sweetness to develop. This step builds the aromatic base of your sauce.

Don’t Rush the Simmering Process : Bolognese sauce benefits greatly from a long, slow cook. The three-hour simmer allows the flavors to meld beautifully and the meat to tenderize.

Make it Creamier (Optional) : To make the sauce creamier, add a splash of milk or cream during the last hour of cooking.

Store and Reheat Properly : This pasta bolognese tastes even better the next day. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring occasionally, until hot.

Bolognese Sauce FAQs

What is the difference between Bolognese sauce and spaghetti sauce?

Bolognese sauce is a thick, meat-based Italian sauce with a small amount of tomato, while spaghetti sauce is tomato-forward, lighter, and quicker to prepare. Bolognese is rich and slow-cooked, whereas spaghetti sauce is ready in under an hour.

What makes Bolognese sauce sweet?

The natural sweetness in bolognese sauce comes from the caramelization of onions, carrots, and tomatoes during cooking. Slow simmering for hours enhances the sauce’s sweet undertones by reducing acidity and intensifying flavors.

What is the best pasta for Bolognese?

The best pasta for bolognese is wide, flat pasta like tagliatelle or pappardelle, which can hold the rich, meaty sauce well. Depending on your preference, you can also use other hearty pasta shapes, like rigatoni, spaghetti, or fettuccine.

Bolognese Sauce : Homemade Recipe

Samar

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Prep Time 15

Cook Time 3

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

450 g minced meat
800 g canned tomato
2 tbsp olive oil
3 medium onions
3 cloves garlic
1 carrot
½ Can tomato sauce
1 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp basil
2 bay leaves
Salt
pepper
1 stalk celery

Instructions

Start by roughly chopping the onions and cutting the garlic, carrots, and celery into small dice).
Heat the olive oil in a pot, add the minced meat, cook over low heat; add salt and pepper.
Add the onions, garlic cloves, carrots, and celery, browning them and mixing with a wooden spoon.
Add the blended tomatoes, the tomato sauce, and the spices (bay leaf, oregano, and basil), and mix well.
Cover the pot and cook over low heat for 3 hours, stirring occasionally so the sauce does not stick to the bottom.
At the end of cooking, check the seasoning. If you have fresh basil, add 2 leaves 10 minutes before the end of cooking. This will give the sauce a very good taste; you will remove it before serving.
Serve with spaghetti and sprinkle with Parmesan.

The Best Slow cooked Bolognese Sauce : Homemade Recipe