Pasta Bolognese (One Pan)

Pasta bolognese is the definition of comfort food. The first time my family tried it at a local Italian restaurant we love, we just knew we had to recreate it.

Pasta bolognese is awesome because you can make a huge batch of the sauce, eat some fresh and freeze a portion for later. Once you’re ready to chow down, all you have to do is boil some pasta (and grate some fresh parmesan cheese if you’re anything like us!).

For a perfectly well-rounded meal, pair your bolognese with a caesar salad or garden salad. It also wouldn’t hurt to have Foccacia Bread to soak up that leftover meat sauce with. Just sayin’…

What is Bolognese?

Pasta bolognese is a signature Italian dish made with a sauce of ground beef, carrots, onions, celery, garlic and tomato sauce. Traditionally, the sauce is slow-cooked with a ton of red wine, but since we are using jarred sauce, we will skip the wine and get dinner on the table that much faster.

How to Make Bolognese Sauce?

In just five easy steps, you will have homemade bolognese on the table. What’s not to love?

1. In a deep skillet, cook your ground beef, making sure to break it apart as it browns.
2. Add carrots, onions and celery to the skillet and cook until softened.
3. Add marinara, pressed garlic and season it with salt and pepper. Allow the sauce to simmer for 15 minutes on medium-low heat.
4. Add in parmesan cheese and remove from the heat.
5. Serve with your favorite pasta! Make sure to cook it al dente for the best bite.

Best Pasta to Serve with Bolognese

Fettuccine or angel hair pasta work the best for bolognese. Try to find an Italian brand at the grocery store — they always taste better! If you are feeling especially ambitious, try your hand at making your own homemade pasta. For this recipe, you don’t need any special equipment! Just some basic ingredients from your pantry and a sharp knife to cut your noodles.

How do you Thicken Bolognese Sauce?

If you want your sauce to thicken, simply simmer it on low-heat for an additional 30 minutes or so. This is the natural way to do the trick. The other way to thicken your sauce is to add a bit of cornstarch — 1 to two tablespoons will do the trick.

Storing Bolognese Sauce

Bolognese is great for meal-prepping. Here’s how to store it:

• Refrigerating: Keep bolognese in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to five days. Use it for more pasta or slather it on a buttery brioche bun for an Italian-style Sloppy Joe.

• Freezing: In a plastic container (I like to avoid freezing glass), store your bolognese in the freezer for up to three months. Trust me, you’re going to love having bolognese sauce on hand. It’s saved me on many hectic weeknights!

Other Pasta Recipes You Will Love

• One-Pot Beef Stroganoff Recipe – Creamy sour cream sauce and tender beef pasta
• Lemon Chicken Pasta – Chicken and pasta tossed in a simple garlic lemon butter sauce.
• Alfredo Pasta – Creamy, white sauce hits the spot like no other. Better yet? This recipe is a copycat of the Olive Garden’s famous dish.
• Creamy One-Pot Pasta – One-pot dinners are a mom’s best friend. This pasta gets dinner on the table with little mess and maximum flavor.
• Broccoli Mushroom Alfredo – Broccoli and mushroom alfredo is a vegetarian pasta dish that will please even the most stubborn meat-eater.

Recipe

Pasta Bolognese

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Servings

8 servings

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 20 minutes mins

Total Time 30 minutes mins

Recipe contributed by: Natalya Drozhzhin

Bolognese is a rich and flavorful pasta dish that’s made with a signature ground meat sauce. The kicker? It’s quick and easy-to-make and the leftovers reheat incredibly.

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 medium onion chopped
• 6 celery sticks chopped
• 1 medium carrot shredded
• 4 garlic cloves
• 25 oz marinara sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan

US Units – Metric

Instructions

• Cook ground beef in a preheated deep skillet. As it cooks, break it apart into small pieces.
  
• Add onion, carrots and celery to the mix. Cook until the veggies are softened.
  
• Add marinara, pressed garlic and season it with salt and pepper. Allow the sauce to simmer for 15 minutes on medium-low heat.
  
• Add in parmesan cheese and remove from the heat.
  
• Serve with your favorite pasta.
  

Nutrition Facts

Pasta Bolognese

Amount Per Serving

Calories 138 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Fat 5g8%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Cholesterol 41mg14%

Sodium 896mg37%

Potassium 556mg16%

Carbohydrates 8g3%

Fiber 2g8%

Sugar 5g6%

Protein 16g32%

Vitamin A 1725IU35%

Vitamin C 8mg10%

Calcium 94mg9%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.