Easy Spaghetti Bolognese You’ll Crave Every time!

 

Are you craving a hearty, comforting meal? This classic spaghetti Bolognese recipe is exactly what you need. It’s rich, flavorful, and surprisingly easy to make at home.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour
Serving Size: 6 servings
Difficulty Level: Easy

Nutritional Information (Per Serving)

• Calories: 520 kcal
• Protein: 28g
• Carbohydrates: 58g
• Fat: 18g
• Fiber: 4g
• Sugar: 8g
• Sodium: 680mg

 

 

What Makes This Spaghetti Bolognese Special?

This isn’t just any pasta dish. This spaghetti Bolognese brings together tender ground beef, aromatic vegetables, and a rich tomato sauce. The result? A meal that tastes like it came straight from an Italian kitchen.

The secret lies in letting the sauce simmer slowly. This allows all the flavors to blend together beautifully.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the Bolognese Sauce

• 1 pound ground beef (80/20 blend works best)
• 1 medium onion, finely diced
• 2 carrots, finely diced
• 2 celery stalks, finely diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1/2 cup red wine (optional)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 bay leaf
• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Pasta

• 1 pound spaghetti
• Salt for pasta water
• Fresh parsley for garnish
• Grated Parmesan cheese for serving

 

 

How to Make Perfect Spaghetti Bolognese

Step 1: Prepare Your Ingredients

Start by chopping all your vegetables. Dice the onion, carrots, and celery into small, uniform pieces. This is called a soffritto in Italian cooking. It’s the flavor foundation of your spaghetti Bolognese.

Mince the garlic cloves finely. Keep everything ready before you start cooking.

Step 2: Brown the Beef

Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon.

Cook the beef until it’s nicely browned. This should take about 5-7 minutes. Don’t rush this step. The browning creates incredible flavor.

Season the meat with salt and pepper. Once browned, remove the beef and set it aside.

Step 3: Cook the Vegetables

In the same pan, add a bit more oil if needed. Toss in the diced onion, carrots, and celery.

Cook these vegetables for about 8 minutes. Stir them occasionally. You want them soft and slightly golden.

Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute. Your kitchen will smell amazing right now.

Step 4: Build the Sauce

Stir in the tomato paste. Cook it for 2 minutes. This deepens the tomato flavor in your spaghetti Bolognese.

Pour in the red wine if you’re using it. Let it simmer until reduced by half. This takes about 3 minutes.

Return the browned beef to the pan. Mix everything together well.

Step 5: Add Liquids and Simmer

Add the crushed tomatoes and beef broth. Stir in the oregano, basil, and bay leaf.

Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Then reduce the heat to low.

Let your Bolognese sauce simmer for 30-35 minutes. Stir it occasionally. The sauce will thicken and the flavors will concentrate.

Add the milk during the last 10 minutes of cooking. This adds richness and balances the acidity.

Cooking the Spaghetti

Getting the Pasta Right

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Use about 1 tablespoon of salt per 4 quarts of water.

Add the spaghetti and cook according to package directions. Most spaghetti takes 8-10 minutes.

You want it al dente. This means it should be tender but still have a slight bite.

The Perfect Finish

Before draining the pasta, save 1 cup of pasta water. This starchy water is liquid gold.

Drain the spaghetti but don’t rinse it. The starch helps the sauce cling to the pasta.

Add the cooked spaghetti directly to your Bolognese sauce. Toss everything together gently.

If the sauce seems too thick, add some reserved pasta water. This creates a silky coating on every strand.

 

 

Pro Tips for the Best Spaghetti Bolognese

Choose Quality Ingredients

Good ground beef makes a difference. Look for 80/20 ground beef. It has enough fat for flavor but isn’t too greasy.

Use San Marzano tomatoes if possible. They’re sweeter and less acidic than regular canned tomatoes.

Don’t Skip the Milk

Adding milk might seem unusual. But it’s traditional in authentic Bolognese sauce. The milk adds creaminess and mellows the tomato acidity.

Let It Simmer

Patience is key with spaghetti Bolognese. The longer the sauce simmers, the better it tastes. If you have time, let it go for 45 minutes to an hour.

Season as You Go

Taste your sauce before serving. Adjust the salt and pepper as needed. Sometimes a pinch of sugar helps if your tomatoes are too acidic.

Serving Your Spaghetti Bolognese

Divide the spaghetti Bolognese among serving plates. Top each portion with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Garnish with chopped fresh parsley. This adds a bright, fresh note to the rich sauce.

Serve immediately while it’s hot. Pair it with garlic bread and a simple green salad.

Storage and Reheating Tips

Storing Leftovers

This spaghetti Bolognese keeps well in the fridge. Store it in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

You can also freeze the Bolognese sauce for up to 3 months. Let it cool completely first.

Reheating Instructions

Reheat the sauce gently on the stovetop. Add a splash of water or broth to loosen it up.

You can also microwave individual portions. Heat in 1-minute intervals, stirring between each.

For frozen sauce, thaw it overnight in the fridge before reheating.

 

 

Variations to Try

Make It Yours

Want to switch things up? Try ground turkey or chicken instead of beef. This makes a lighter version.

Add some red pepper flakes for a spicy kick. Or throw in some sliced mushrooms for extra umami.

Different Pasta Options

Spaghetti Bolognese is classic, but you can use other pasta shapes. Pappardelle, tagliatelle, or rigatoni all work beautifully.

The key is choosing pasta that holds sauce well.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t Overcrowd the Pan

Cook the beef in batches if needed. Overcrowding makes it steam instead of brown.

Don’t Boil Too Hard

Keep the sauce at a gentle simmer. Boiling too hard can make the sauce separate.

Don’t Overcook the Pasta

Al dente pasta is crucial. Mushy spaghetti ruins even the best Bolognese sauce.

Why This Recipe Works

This spaghetti Bolognese recipe follows time-tested Italian techniques. The combination of meat, vegetables, and tomatoes creates a balanced flavor profile.

Simmering the sauce slowly allows the ingredients to meld together. Each bite delivers comfort and satisfaction.

The dish is also incredibly versatile. You can make it ahead, freeze it, or double the batch for meal prep.

Making It a Complete Meal

This spaghetti Bolognese is hearty enough to stand alone. But it pairs wonderfully with sides.

Try it with a Caesar salad or roasted vegetables. Garlic bread is always a crowd-pleaser.

For beverages, a glass of red wine complements the rich sauce perfectly. Or keep it simple with sparkling water.

Final Thoughts

There’s nothing quite like a plate of homemade spaghetti Bolognese. It’s warm, filling, and full of flavor.

This recipe brings restaurant-quality pasta to your home kitchen. Best of all, it’s simple enough for weeknight dinners.

The active cooking time is minimal. Most of the work is just letting the sauce simmer. You can even prepare other things while it cooks.

Whether you’re cooking for family or hosting friends, this spaghetti Bolognese always impresses. It’s the kind of meal that brings people together around the table.

So grab your ingredients and get cooking. Your perfect bowl of spaghetti Bolognese is just an hour away!