Description
Rich, savory, and deeply comforting—this is the BEST Bolognese Sauce you’ll ever make. Slow-simmered to perfection, this hearty Italian meat sauce is layered with flavor from aromatic vegetables, tomatoes, ground beef, sausage, red wine, and a touch of milk. It’s a perfect go-to for an easy dinner, an impressive date night, or weekend batch cooking. Whether you’re looking for quick pasta ideas, hearty dinner recipes, or a freezer-friendly easy recipe, this Bolognese delivers every single time.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
1 medium carrot, finely grated or diced
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef (80/20)
1/2 pound mild Italian sausage
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 cup red wine
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning (or 1/2 tsp each dried basil and oregano)
1 bay leaf (optional)
1 cup whole milk
1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add chopped onion, carrot, and celery. Cook for 5–7 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for another minute.
2. Add ground beef and sausage. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned and no longer pink.
3. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2–3 minutes to deepen flavor.
4. Pour in the red wine, scraping the bottom of the pot to deglaze. Let simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Add crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, bay leaf (if using), salt, and pepper. Stir well.
6. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low. Cover partially and cook for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
7. In the final 10–15 minutes, stir in whole milk to mellow acidity and enhance creaminess.
8. Taste and adjust seasoning. Remove bay leaf. Serve hot over your favorite pasta.
Notes
Let the sauce simmer low and slow to develop the richest flavor.
Use whole milk at the end for a silky finish, or dairy-free milk if preferred.
Bolognese is even better the next day—perfect for meal prep or freezing.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 14g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: easy recipe, bolognese sauce, pasta ideas, Italian dinner, homemade sauce, food ideas