Description
Ready to wow everyone at the table with a pasta night they won’t forget? This rich and hearty Bolognese sauce is a slow-simmered Italian classic made easy. With ground beef, sweet aromatics, velvety tomato, and a splash of cream, it clings beautifully to pasta and delivers that deep, savory flavor we all crave. Whether you need a quick dinner idea, comfort food, or a sauce to freeze for later, this easy recipe brings restaurant-quality taste to your home kitchen. Ideal for anyone searching for healthy snacks, easy dinners, or weeknight food ideas with big flavor.
Ingredients
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, finely chopped
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound ground beef (80/20)
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup whole milk or heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional)
Instructions
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, and celery. Sauté for 10 minutes until soft.
2. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute.
3. Add ground beef. Break it apart and brown it thoroughly, allowing it to caramelize.
4. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2–3 minutes to enhance the flavor.
5. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and stir well to combine.
6. Reduce heat and let simmer partially covered for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Add milk or cream, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Simmer another 10 minutes.
8. Taste, adjust seasoning, and stir in fresh herbs if using.
Notes
For a deeper flavor, add a splash of red wine after browning the beef and let it reduce before adding tomato paste.
This sauce freezes well for up to 3 months—perfect for batch cooking and meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 740mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: bolognese sauce, pasta dinner, Italian meat sauce, easy dinner idea