Print

Ultimate Slow-Simmered Bolognese Sauce Recipe

Close-up of wide pappardelle pasta generously coated in rich, slow-cooked bolognese sauce.
Print Recipe
Save Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

No reviews

Create a rich, hearty, and authentic Italian Bolognese sauce from scratch. This recipe focuses on slow simmering for deep flavor, perfect for serving over pasta or using in lasagna.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 recommended)
  • 4 ounces ground pork or Italian sausage
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 2 carrots, finely chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine (like Chianti or Merlot)
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes, high quality
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 pound pasta (tagliatelle or pappardelle recommended)

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat.
  2. Add the ground beef and pork/sausage. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned. Drain off excess fat.
  3. Add the chopped onion, carrots, and celery to the pot. Sauté until the vegetables soften, about 8 to 10 minutes.
  4. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Pour in the red wine. Let it simmer and reduce by half, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  6. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, milk, beef broth, oregano, and basil. Season with salt and pepper.
  7. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Once simmering, reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover the pot partially, and let it cook slowly for a minimum of 2 hours, or up to 4 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. The longer it simmers, the richer the flavor.
  8. About 15 minutes before serving, cook your pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the starchy pasta water.
  9. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. Toss the drained pasta directly with the Bolognese sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach your desired consistency.
  10. Serve immediately. This rich tomato meat sauce is excellent for spaghetti bolognese or lasagna meat sauce recipe preparation.

Notes

  • For a weeknight shortcut, simmer the sauce for at least 45 minutes instead of several hours. The flavor will still be good, though less deep.
  • Using a mix of ground beef and pork provides the best texture and richness for this hearty comfort food recipe.
  • If you do not use wine, substitute with an equal amount of beef broth and a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar for acidity.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookingzenith.com/bolognese-sauce-ultimate-slow-simmered-recipe/