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Spaghetti Bolognese

Traditional spaghetti Bolognese is easy to make has a perfect balance of flavors. You'll love this classic Italian meat sauce!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time1 hour
Total Time1 hour 10 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 5
Calories: 575kcal
Author: Stephanie

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 1 carrot diced
  • 1 celery rib diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • ½ pound ground beef 80% lean
  • Salt/Pepper
  • ½ pound ground Italian sausage sweet, mild, or hot
  • 1 cup red wine see note 1
  • 18 oz crushed tomatoes see note 2
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary or 1/4 tsp dry
  • 1 teaspoon fresh sage or 1/4 tsp dry
  • Salt/Pepper to taste
  • 12 oz. spaghetti (3/4 of a 1 lb. box.)
  • Fresh parsley to garnish
  • Parmesan cheese to garnish

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a large saucepan.
  • Add the onions, carrots, and celery and cook until softened. About 5 minutes.
  • Season the ground beef with salt (1/4 to 1/2 tsp) and add it to the skillet along with the sausage. Cook and crumble until browned and cooked through, about 7-10 minutes. Drain grease, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
  • Deglaze the pan with the wine and use a silicone spatula to "clean" the bottom of the pot.
  • Add the tomatoes and seasonings. Let simmer for one hour, partially covered.
  • Taste it and season with salt and pepper if desired.
  • Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions. Drain well. Use kitchen tongs to toss the spaghetti into the saucepan with the pasta sauce.
  • Garnish with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese and serve!

Notes

Pro Tips:
  • Wine: Chianti, Pinot Pior, and Merlot are the best wines for Bolognese sauce. (I’ve also used Cabernet Sauvignon.)
  • Red Wine Alternatives:
    • Alcoholic Options include white wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio or Orvieto.
    • Non-Alcoholic Options:
  • Crushed Tomatoes: I use a full 28 oz. can of crushed tomatoes when I make this recipe, you can adjust this based on your preference. Authentic Bolognese has less tomato sauce than this.
  • A bay leaf and a pinch of red pepper flakes may also be added during simmering if desired.
  • For a little more savory flavor add 1/2 or 1 whole beef bouillon cube when the crushed tomatoes are added.
  • For a cream to offset the acidity of the tomatoes, add 1-2 tablespoons of softened cream cheese to the sauce mixture.
  • This is great with Garlic Bread with Cheese!
Storage:
  • Store in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months. This freezes really well.

Nutrition

Calories: 575kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 24g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 58mg | Sodium: 430mg | Potassium: 791mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 2258IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 81mg | Iron: 4mg