Easy Bolognese Sauce

Instead of simmering for hours on the stove, this easy Bolognese Sauce requires just an hour to develop layers of rich flavor! Toss this Bolognese recipe with your favorite pasta or use it to make lasagna bolognese. You’ll love all the flavor in this meat sauce!

Making this Easy Bolognese Sauce

I picked up many great tidbits of knowledge at BlogHer Food, but the overarching message the speakers aimed to share was an idea so simple, yet so easy to forget.

Does what I’m doing make me happy? That is how I measure my success as a food blogger. It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks as long as the work I put on my blog is bringing me joy.

That’s not to say it isn’t nice when I receive positive comments on my posts, great blog traffic, and take photos worth complimenting. Who wouldn’t want that?

But, none of that matters if I don’t like what I’m doing. Then, there were the tidbits of knowledge that I can use to improve what I’m doing once I’ve considered if I enjoy it to begin with.

What I Love About this Easy Bolognese Sauce

Are you wondering how this relates to Pasta Bolognese? Pasta Bolognese is basically spaghetti with meat sauce.

Growing up I felt like this dish had been playing on repeat. Brown some ground beef, add a jar of sauce, boil water and cook the spaghetti.

As I began my own family and created my own home with our own unique traditions, I wanted complex flavors, new exciting recipes, homemade from scratch sort of meals.

Making, eating, and sharing those kinds of foods – that is what makes me happy.

And so that’s why even though days are hectic with two little kids, one who wants 150% of my attention, I cook the way I do and make the time to blog about it.

The time it takes to make this recipe for Pasta Bolognese is worth it if eating homemade from scratch, deliciously flavored and textured foods is something that makes you happy.

What Is Bolognese Sauce? 

If you’ve ever eaten in an Italian restaurant, you’ve likely seen bolognese sauce on the manu. It’s a classic Italian meat sauce that originated in the Bologna region of Italy (hence the name!).

Bolognese is traditionally made with ground beef and / or ground pork. The sauce starts with a soffritto, i.e. a mixture of celery, carrot, and onion. The rest of the sauce is built up from there. 

Other common ingredients in a homemade bolognese are tomatoes (for flavor and acidity), milk (for added creaminess), and time (all of those ingredients need time to get to know each other!). 

Most bolognese sauce recipes require hours of simmering, but the version I’m sharing with you today takes just 1 hour to prep from start to finish.

You can certainly leave it to simmer for longer, but I don’t often have the luxury of time when cooking for my family! 

Once you’ve prepared this quick and easy bolognese sauce recipe, you can toss it with your favorite al dente pasta, layer it in a lasagna, add it to pasta bakes and casseroles, and more! 

What Does Bolognese Sauce Taste Like? 

There’s no doubt that bolognese is a meaty tasting sauce. 

It’s incredibly hearty, with a slight acidity from the tomatoes and white wine, and layers of complex flavor from the soffritto and dried herbs. 

Bolognese vs Marinara

Both bolognese and marinara are Italian tomato-based sauces, but they’re distinct in a few ways: 

• Marinara is a thinner sauce that doesn’t call for meat. It often has a short ingredient list and the cook time is generally shorter. 
• Bolognese is often made with at least two types of ground meat, is simmered for hours to achieve a deep flavor, and contains more aromatics than a marinara sauce. 

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Tools Needed for Making Homemade Bolognese 

Keep these kitchen tools on hand to make for easy bolognese sauce prep:  

• Measuring spoons — For measuring out the dried herbs and spices. 
• Glass measuring cup — For measuring out the water, wine, and milk. 
• Colander — Makes it easier to drain large quantities of pasta. 
• Kitchen tongs — For tossing the cooked pasta with the bolognese meat sauce. 
• Cutting Board and Knife – To chop the soffritto, garlic, and fresh parsley.
• Can Opener – To open the canned tomatoes.
• Large Heavy Bottom Stock Pot – I use my Le Creuset Enameled Cast-Iron 7-1/4-Quart Round French Oven.
• Wooden Spoon – To stir the sauce as it simmers. 

Ingredients in Bolognese Sauce

Making bolognese from scratch isn’t difficult, but it does require quite a few ingredients to achieve a deep, meaty flavor.  

To make this easy bolognese recipe, you’ll need the following: 

• Dried Porcini Mushrooms
• White Wine
• Carrot 
• Celery Rib
• Yellow Onion
• Pancetta
• Canned San Marzano Tomatoes 
• Butter
• Garlic
• Granulated Sugar 
• Ground Veal
• Ground Pork
• Ground Beef
• Whole Milk
• Tomato Paste
• Dried Thyme 
• Bay Leaf
• Ground Black Pepper
• Sea Salt
• Pasta of Choice
• Parmesan, for serving 

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

How to Make Bolognese Sauce

Below is simply an overview of the bolognese recipe. I’ve provided detailed instructions in the recipe card at the end of this post. 

Here’s a look at how to make homemade bolognese sauce:  

1. Combine the dried mushrooms and boiling water and let sit until mushrooms are softened. Remove once softened, but reserve the liquid. Chop the mushrooms finely. 
2. Add the wine to a small skillet and simmer until reduced. 
3. Add the butter to a large skillet and melt over medium heat. Then, add the pancetta and cook until well browned. 
4. Add the carrot, onion, and chopped mushrooms. Then, add the sugar and garlic and cook for about 30 seconds more. 
5. Add the ground veal, pork, and beef.
6. Add the milk.
7. Bring the meat mixture to a simmer, stirring periodically, and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. 
8. Add the tomato paste, followed by the canned tomatoes and their juices, reserved porcini soaking liquid, thyme, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. 
9. Bring the meat mixture to a simmer, then cook on medium-low for about 25 minutes. 
10. Stir in the reduced wine and continue to simmer for another 10-15 minutes. 

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Tips for Making the Best Bolognese Sauce

• Use a large stock pot. Your pot needs to be relatively large so it can both accommodate the many ingredients as well as allow room for stirring without overflowing.
• Use quality ingredients. The better the ingredients, the better your sauce will taste! I recommend buying a white wine you’d happily drink rather than cooking wine. San Marzano tomatoes are best. Use freshly chopped garlic rather than the jarred variety, and so on. 
• Finely chop the soffritto and mushrooms. You don’t want to bite into noticeable chunks of carrot or celery when enjoying your homemade bolognese. Chop everything into ¼-inch pieces so they add texture to the sauce without taking away from the meatiness. 
• Salt the pasta water. I like to add 1-2 tablespoons of salt to the water for every pound of pasta that I’m cooking. Seasoning the pasta makes the whole dish taste better. Plus, you’ll be using some of the reserved pasta water to thin the bolognese sauce (if needed) and you don’t want to add plain water to the sauce after you spent so long simmering it to develop a rich flavor. 
• Use freshly grated Parmesan. The pre-shredded cheeses often have anti-caking agents added. You’re better off purchasing a block of parmesan and grating it yourself. 

Make-Ahead Instructions 

You can either prepare the entire bolognese recipe in advance to reheat or freeze for the future, or you can prep some of the ingredients beforehand to make the entire cooking process go by quicker. 

• Entire recipe: Can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. 
• Soffritto: Chop the celery, carrot, and onion and store in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use. 
• Garlic: Can be chopped and stored in an airtight container in the fridge until ready to use. 
• Herbs and spices: Can be measured and stored in a jar at room temp until ready to use. 

Easy Bolognese Sauce Recipe FAQs

What’s the best wine for bolognese sauce? 

You’ll want to use a dry white wine (i.e. not sweet), such as a Sauvignon Blanc. Choose a wine that you’d actually drink, and not a “cooking wine,” which is inferior in flavor. 

Can the wine be substituted? 

Yes, you can omit the white wine in this easy bolognese sauce and choose to substitute it with chicken broth. Just note that omitting the wine will make for a less rich sauce. 

Do I have to use ground beef, pork, and veal? 

No, you don’t have to use all three types of ground meat — but it’s highly recommended. 

The blend of meats adds different flavors, textures, and fat content to the sauce.

You’re welcome to mix and match the ground meats as you see fit, but I don’t recommend making homemade bolognese with just one type of meat. 

If nothing else, please use a blend of ground pork and ground beef so the sauce still develops layers of flavor! 

What does the milk in bolognese sauce do? 

Whole milk makes the sauce slightly creamy and makes for more tender pieces of meat. Please only use whole milk in this recipe; low-fat milk or non-dairy milk won’t result in the same flavor and texture.  

What’s the best pasta for bolognese sauce? 

Despite traditions, you can serve this bolognese sauce with whatever pasta you prefer so long as it’s a fairy sturdy pasta shape that won’t disintegrate in the hearty sauce. 

For noodles, we prefer tagliatelle or pappardelle. For shaped pasta, we like rigatoni, penne, or rotini.

Easy Bolognese Sauce Storage Instructions 

How long do leftovers last? 

Leftover bolognese meat sauce will last up to 5 days in the fridge and up to 3 months in the freezer. 

Can this easy bolognese sauce be frozen? 

Yes, very easily! If frozen properly, bolognese will last up to 3 months in the freezer. 

1. Let it cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container (such as a freezer-safe mason jar) or freezer bags. If using freezer bags, double bag the sauce and label before freezing.
2. If using freezer bags, lay them flat in the freezer so you can store them upright once frozen.
3. When you’re ready to use the frozen sauce, place it in the fridge to thaw overnight. The next day, reheat gently in a pot on the stove over medium-low heat.

How to reheat leftover Bolognese Sauce 

I recommend reheating bolognese sauce in a heavy-bottomed saucepan over medium low heat. 

You may also reheat smaller portions in the microwave at 20-second intervals, but be sure to cover the sauce because it will likely splatter. 

What to Serve With Pasta Bolognese 

If you’re looking for side suggestions to go with this recipe, I recommend a big green salad. It doesn’t have to be fancy at all.

We often use mixed greens, lettuce, cucumber, shredded carrot, and tomato for a basic side salad. Check out these 3 Simple Salad Dressing Recipes to go along with your salad. We also like this Italian Mixed Greens Salad Recipe.

Do you love Olive Garden’s famous house salad? Learn how simple it is to make at home with this Olive Garden Salad Recipe so you can enjoy your favorite flavors at home!

This pasta dish itself is plenty filling for me, but it wouldn’t be a big Italian meal for the kids if I didn’t also serve some crusty bread, like Rustic Rosemary Garlic Bread or Garlic Breadsticks.

Try this Pasta Bolognese!

Next time you’re looking for a rich meat sauce to serve with pasta, give this easy bolognese recipe a try!

Was it a hit with the whole family? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this bolognese sauce recipe.

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More Easy Italian Sauce Recipes: 

A simple, just-spicy-enough Arrabbiata Sauce you can make from pantry ingredients. Serve it with anything — chicken, sausages, pasta, even your morning eggs!

In this Marinara Sauce, crushed tomatoes simmer all day with extra-virgin olive oil, oregano, crushed red pepper, plenty of garlic, and a generous helping of Italian red wine. 

Don’t want to splurge on pine nuts to make pesto? No problem, just make this simple Walnut Almond Pesto instead! 

This Kale Cilantro Pesto is also delicious in its own right and pairs well with pasta, seafood, and grilled meats.

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Have you ever made homemade Bolognese Sauce?