Description
Spaghetti Bolognese is a comforting Italian-inspired classic featuring a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce made with ground beef, aromatic vegetables, and herbs, served over tender spaghetti. This hearty and flavorful dish is perfect for family dinners and offers a delicious taste of traditional Italian cuisine.
Ingredients
Bolognese Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 1 celery stalk, finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef (or beef/pork mix)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup beef broth
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Pasta
- 12 oz spaghetti
- Salt, for pasta water
To Serve (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil: Heat olive oil in a large skillet or pot over medium heat to prepare for cooking the vegetables and meat.
- Sauté vegetables: Add finely chopped onion, diced carrot, and celery to the hot oil. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn it.
- Brown the ground beef: Add the ground beef (or beef/pork mix) to the skillet. Cook until browned, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Drain any excess fat if necessary.
- Incorporate tomato paste: Stir in tomato paste with the browned meat and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
- Add tomatoes and seasonings: Pour in crushed tomatoes and beef broth. Season with dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Simmer the sauce: Reduce heat to low and simmer the sauce uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally to meld flavors and thicken the sauce.
- Cook spaghetti: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Assemble and serve: Serve the rich Bolognese sauce over the cooked spaghetti. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil or parsley if desired.
Notes
- For deeper flavor, simmer the sauce longer—up to 1 hour—for a richer texture.
- Add a splash of milk or cream at the end of cooking for a more traditional, creamy Bolognese sauce.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day as the flavors continue to develop.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
