Classic Bolognese Sauce

Name: Classic Bolognese Sauce
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 6 servings
Ingredients: 0.8 oz 1 tablespoon olive oil; 10 dash 1/4 cup pancetta, diced (optional); 8.7 package 1 pound ground beef; 8.6 as needed 1/2 pound ground pork (optional); 7.2 qt 1/2 pound ground veal (optional); 4.8 to taste 1 medium onion, finely diced; 1.3 kg 1 carrot, finely diced; 6 jar 1 celery stalk, finely diced; 10 inch 2 cloves garlic, minced; 0.8 cm 2 tablespoons tomato paste; 4.8 g 1/2 cup dry red wine (optional); 2.2 cm 28 ounces crushed tomatoes; 7.7 cm 15 ounces tomato sauce; 4.1 ml 1 cup beef broth; 5.9 package 1 bay leaf; 3.6 kg 1 teaspoon dried oregano; 6.6 can Salt and pepper to taste; 5.1 dash 1/2 teaspoon sugar (optional); 4.7 jar Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving; 5.9 g Fresh parsley, chopped, for serving

By Dana Crawford

November 14, 2025

6399 views

This classic Bolognese sauce is a rich, hearty, and flavorful meat sauce that's perfect for pasta dishes. It’s a slow-cooked sauce, allowing the flavors to meld together beautifully. The combination of ground meat, vegetables, and tomatoes creates a depth of flavor that is both comforting and satisfying. Serve it over your favorite pasta, such as spaghetti, tagliatelle, or pappardelle, for a truly authentic Italian experience. The sauce can also be used as a base for lasagna or other baked pasta dishes. Feel free to adjust the seasoning to your liking, and don’t be afraid to experiment with adding other vegetables or herbs to customize the flavor profile. A glass of red wine is the perfect complement to this dish, enhancing the flavors and creating a memorable meal.

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil - 0.8 oz
1/4 cup pancetta, diced (optional) - 10.0 dash
1 pound ground beef - 8.7 package
1/2 pound ground pork (optional) - 8.6 as needed
1/2 pound ground veal (optional) - 7.2 qt
1 medium onion, finely diced - 4.8 to taste
1 carrot, finely diced - 1.3 kg
1 celery stalk, finely diced - 6.0 jar
2 cloves garlic, minced - 10.0 inch
2 tablespoons tomato paste - 0.8 cm

Cooking Steps

Step 1

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the pancetta (if using) and cook until crispy. Remove the pancetta and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pot.

Step 2

Add the ground beef, pork, and veal (if using) to the pot. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.

Step 3

Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery to the pot. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 4

Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, to caramelize the paste.

Step 5

Pour in the red wine (if using) and scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze, lifting any browned bits. Let the wine reduce slightly.

Step 6

Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, bay leaf, and dried oregano. Stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and let simmer for at least 2-3 hours, or longer for a richer flavor, stirring occasionally.

Step 7

Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar to taste. Remove the bay leaf before serving. Stir in the reserved pancetta (if using).

Step 8

Serve the Bolognese sauce over your favorite cooked pasta. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

# Berries # Hearty # Valentine's Day

Classic Bolognese Sauce

By Dana Crawford

November 14, 2025

6399 views

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil - 0.8 oz
1/4 cup pancetta, diced (optional) - 10.0 dash
1 pound ground beef - 8.7 package
1/2 pound ground pork (optional) - 8.6 as needed
1/2 pound ground veal (optional) - 7.2 qt
1 medium onion, finely diced - 4.8 to taste
1 carrot, finely diced - 1.3 kg
1 celery stalk, finely diced - 6.0 jar
2 cloves garlic, minced - 10.0 inch
2 tablespoons tomato paste - 0.8 cm

Cooking Steps

Step 1

In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the pancetta (if using) and cook until crispy. Remove the pancetta and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pot.

Step 2

Add the ground beef, pork, and veal (if using) to the pot. Cook, breaking the meat apart with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.

Step 3

Add the diced onion, carrot, and celery to the pot. Cook until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes.

Step 4

Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Add the tomato paste and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, to caramelize the paste.

Step 5

Pour in the red wine (if using) and scrape the bottom of the pot to deglaze, lifting any browned bits. Let the wine reduce slightly.

Step 6

Step 7

Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar to taste. Remove the bay leaf before serving. Stir in the reserved pancetta (if using).

Step 8

Serve the Bolognese sauce over your favorite cooked pasta. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley.

Reviews (14 Reviews)

Isaac Thomas3

It was alright. I'm not sure it's worth the long cooking time. The flavor was good, but not amazing. Could use a bit more salt.

Mark Martin5

Outstanding! So rich and flavorful. Definitely worth the slow cooking. Will make this my go-to recipe. Highly recommend it to anyone looking for a traditional Bolognese.

Kevin White4

Very tasty sauce. I added a splash of red wine at the end, and it enhanced the flavors wonderfully. A good recipe to keep.

Hannah Anderson4

Pretty good. I added some mushrooms and it turned out great. The slow cooking really does make a difference. I would definitely make it again.

Diana Miller5

This is my go-to Bolognese recipe now! The depth of flavor is incredible. I love that it’s slow-cooked, as it truly makes all the difference. Highly recommend!