Description
Rich, meaty Hearty Bolognese Sauce with layers of savory flavor, slow-simmered to perfection. This authentic Italian sauce transforms any pasta night into a restaurant-quality meal. Made with simple ingredients and foolproof techniques that deliver consistent, delicious results every time.
Ingredients
2 pounds ground beef (80/20 blend)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 large yellow onion, finely diced
3 medium carrots, finely diced
3 celery stalks, finely diced
6 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes
2 cups beef broth (low sodium)
2 bay leaves
2 teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
¼ cup heavy cream (optional)
1 Parmesan cheese rind (optional)
Instructions
1. Remove ground beef from refrigerator 20-30 minutes before cooking to bring to room temperature.
2. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy pot over medium-high heat.
3. Add ground beef in large chunks and let sit undisturbed for 3-4 minutes to develop a brown crust.
4. Break apart meat with wooden spoon and continue cooking until no pink remains. Season with salt and pepper.
5. Transfer cooked meat to a bowl, leaving fat in the pot.
6. Reduce heat to medium and add onions, carrots, and celery to the pot.
7. Cook vegetables for 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and onions are translucent.
8. Add minced garlic and tomato paste, cook for 2 minutes until fragrant and paste darkens slightly.
9. Return browned meat to the pot and stir to combine with vegetables.
10. Add crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, beef broth, bay leaves, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, and Parmesan rind if using.
11. Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low for a gentle simmer.
12. Simmer uncovered for 35-45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until sauce thickens and flavors meld together.
13. Remove bay leaves and Parmesan rind from the sauce.
14. Stir in butter until melted completely.
15. Add heavy cream if using and stir to combine.
16. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper as needed.
17. Remove from heat and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
18. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and serve over your favorite pasta.
Notes
Sauce tastes even better the next day—make ahead for best flavor development.
Freeze in portions for up to 4 months in airtight freezer bags.
For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to pulse a few times at the end.
Don’t skip the browning step—it creates the foundation of flavor.
Keep sauce at a gentle simmer, never a rolling boil, to prevent tough meat.
Add a splash of broth when reheating if sauce becomes too thick.
This recipe doubles easily but brown meat in batches to avoid overcrowding.
Use freshly grated Parmesan for serving—it makes a noticeable difference.
- Prep Time: 20
- Cook Time: 55
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 385
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
Keywords: hearty bolognese sauce, bolognese recipe, meat sauce, italian sauce, pasta sauce, homemade bolognese