A flavorful Bolognese sauce recipe that is made from scratch and tastes better than pasta sauce in a jar. This tomato-based sauce is simmered slowly with a combination of ground beef chuck and minced pork. The sauce is creamy and rich in flavors. It's absolutely delicious!
Jump to:
- Homemade Bolognese Sauce
- What is Bolognese:
- What This Bolognese Meat Sauce Made Of:
- The Best Ground Meat to Use for Bolognese Sauce:
- The Best Wine to Use for Bolognese Sauce:
- What Tomato is Best for Bolognese Sauce
- How to Cook Bolognese Sauce from Scratch:
- Best Pasta for Bolognese Sauce:
- Storing the Leftover
- 📖 Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Homemade Bolognese Sauce
Store-bought pasta sauce is convenient but they are usually loaded with fillers and preservatives. Today, I am going to share my favorite Ragu Bolognese sauce recipe. This Italian meat sauce is so easy to make, and it has tons of flavors. It's also a great recipe to use those fresh tomatoes you have grown in your backyard.
This bolognese is a staple sauce that you can use on pasta, ground beef Italian meatballs, lasagna, manicotti, or even a casserole! Best of all, you can store the leftovers in the freezer for later use, especially on busy weeknights!
What is Bolognese:
Bolognese is a classic sauce in Italian cuisine. It is also known as ragù alla bolognese, or ragù, which has its origins in Bologna, Italy.
What This Bolognese Meat Sauce Made Of:
The bolognese is made of a combination of ground beef chuck, ground pork, and pancetta simmered in a tomato-based sauce.
The tomato-based sauce is consisting of San Marzano tomatoes, sofrito, garlic, milk, oregano, tomato paste, broth, red wine, and rosemary.
The Best Ground Meat to Use for Bolognese Sauce:
I use a combination of ground beef chuck and pork with 20% fat. If you are not a big fan of pork, feel free to use only ground beef. Ground veal is also the perfect meat choice for Bolognese.
The Best Wine to Use for Bolognese Sauce:
Wine is commonly used to add flavor to sauces and for deglazing. In this recipe, I used dry red wine.
However, white wine is more of a traditional ingredient for Bolognese. So, feel free to use either dry red or white wine according to your liking and availability. Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Merlot are good dry red wine choices that are easy to find.
What Tomato is Best for Bolognese Sauce
I highly recommend using plum tomatoes to make bolognese. You can use fresh plum tomatoes or canned San Marzano. San Marzano is a type of plum tomato but it's longer, thinner, and has a taste that is stronger, sweeter, and less acidic. It also has fewer seeds than the typical plum tomatoes.
How to Cook Bolognese Sauce from Scratch:
This meat sauce is so easy, and will never fail. Even those without cooking skills can make this at home. The cooking process is a bit long, it takes about an hour up to an hour and a half of simmering time but it's worth it!
So here are some important steps to follow to make this Ragù alla bolognese:
- First, you want to lightly cook the sofrito (onion, celery, and carrots) with pancetta for about 8 minutes.
- Second, add the garlic, and rosemary and stir for about 2 minutes.
- Next, brown the ground beef and minced pork. This usually takes about 8-10 minutes of cooking time.
- After that, add the tomato paste and red wine and let it simmer until the liquid is reduced in half.
- Lastly, add the tomatoes, milk, oregano, broth, and simmer at low heat for about an hour or an hour and a half or until you reach the desired thickness.
Best Pasta for Bolognese Sauce:
It's important to pair the correct type of noodle with a particular type of sauce. In this case, use thicker kinds of pasta for thicker Bolognese sauce, such as tagliatelle, pappardelle, or rigatoni.
Storing the Leftover
Properly stored, cooked bolognese sauce can last up to 4 days in the fridge or up to 3 months in the freezer. Be sure to let the leftovers cool down completely before putting them in an airtight container, or ziplock bag and storing it in the fridge.
Check Out More Delicious Pasta Recipes
- INSTANT POT PENNE PASTA
- ONE-POT PENNE PASTA
- CANNED TUNA PASTA
- WHITE SAUCE PASTA
- GARLIC BUTTER SHRIMP SCAMPI
- FETTUCCINE ALFREDO WITH CHICKEN SAUSAGE AND KALE
- BRATWURST PASTA RECIPE (IN A BUTTERY BEER SAUCE)
📖 Recipe
Bolognese Sauce Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground chuck beef, (20% fat) - patted dry
- 1 pound ground pork , (patted dry)
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 oz diced pancetta
- 1½ cups grated yellow onion, (from 2 medium-size onion)
- ¾ cup grated carrots, (from 2 medium-size carrots)
- ½ cup grated celery , (from 2 celery ribs)
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 28 oz San Marzano peeled tomatoes
- 1 cup milk
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 2 cups broth, (beef or chicken)
- 2 sprigs rosemary
To serve:
- grated parmesan cheese
- fresh parsley
Instructions
- In a large deep skillet or sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the pancetta and cook for 2 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
- Add the onion, carrots, and celery and saute for about 8 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper.
- Add garlic, and rosemary into the skillet. Cook for about 1 minute.
- Turn the heat to medium-high, push the soffrito to the side of the skillet, then add the ground chuck beef and minced pork to the skillet. Saute, stirring frequently and breaking up any large lumps. Continue cooking for about 8-10 minutes. The meat should be lightly browned but not crisp.
- Add the tomato paste into the skillet, stir for about 30 seconds.
- Lower the heat then pour in the red wine and let it simmer until the liquid is reduced in half or evaporated.
- Add the tomatoes, milk, oregano, and broth. Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to low. Simmer, uncovered for about an hour or an hour and a half or until you reach the desired thickness and taste.
- Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve with pasta.
Jeannette says
Love how there's a mixture of beef and pork in this recipe! So much more flavour and the vegetables add a great sweetness!
Rika Livingston says
I agreed! I love the combination of beef and pork, so perfect!
Emily Liao says
This bolognese sauce was so delicious! Made it last night with pasta and veggies and everyone loved it.
Rika Livingston says
I am glad to hear that! Thanks for sharing your feedback, Emily!
Traci says
Ohhh love the beef and pork combo in this bolognese sauce! So easy and so much yum...thanks for sharing 🙂
Rika Livingston says
You're welcome, Traci!
Alexandra says
Thank you for this delicious recipe - bolognese is a family favourite, and this was a real treat! So well flavoured, and makes for the best comfort food with some pasta
Rika Livingston says
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Alexandra!
Anjali says
Wow! This is such a delicious, classic sauce recipe!! Store bought totally is not the same!
Rika Livingston says
Thanks, Anjali!
Alisha Rodrigues says
Bolognese sauce is my kinda thing. I love your version to this sauce, love that bright red color too.. Thanks for sharing
Rika Livingston says
You're welcome, Alisha!
melissa chapman says
I love red sauce and the store bought is good but not like yours. I know this will be a staple in so many homes.
Amber Myers says
We love pasta, so we need to try this out for sure. It looks so amazing!
Paula Schuck says
What exactly is pancetta? I'd love to make this but not sure I know what pancetta is or where to find it. We make meat sauce all of the time with ground beef. I have never really thought of adding pork and pancetta. Pinning this for later.
Rika Livingston says
You can find pancetta at a local butcher. Trader's Joe sells it too.
heather says
This sauce was delicious. The flavor was incredible and everyone loved it.
Rika Livingston says
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Heather! I am so glad that everyone in your family loved it!