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Classic Homemade Bolognese Sauce Recipe for Family Favorites

A close-up of fresh tagliatelle pasta generously topped with rich, slow-cooked bolognese sauce in a white bowl.
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Make this rich, slow-simmered Bolognese sauce from scratch. This authentic Italian meat sauce recipe is a hearty comfort food centerpiece perfect for pasta night or lasagna.

Ingredients

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  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 1/2 cup chopped carrot
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1/2 cup beef broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off any excess fat.
  2. Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery to the pot. Cook until the vegetables soften, about 5 to 7 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the red wine. Let it simmer and reduce by half, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.
  5. Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, beef broth, oregano, and basil. Stir to combine everything well.
  6. Bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot partially, and let the Bolognese sauce simmer slowly for at least 1.5 hours, or up to 3 hours for the best flavor. Stir occasionally.
  7. Season the sauce with salt and pepper to your taste.
  8. Serve this hearty Italian sauce over your favorite pasta or use it in lasagna.

Notes

  • For an easy weeknight bolognese, you can reduce the simmer time to 45 minutes, though longer simmering develops deeper flavor.
  • This recipe freezes well; make a large batch for future comfort food pasta sauce meals.
  • Use a mix of ground beef and ground pork or veal for a more complex flavor profile, similar to a traditional ragu.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://cookincorner.com/classic-bolognese-sauce-comfort-food-recipe/