Easy Bolognese Meat Sauce
User Reviews
5
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Prep Time
15 mins
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Cook Time
40 mins
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Total Time
55 mins
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Servings
6 cups sauce
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Calories
302 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Condiments
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Cuisine
Italian
Easy Bolognese Meat Sauce
Description
This recipe roasts cherry tomatoes and garlic drizzled with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, and fresh basil at 400°F until soft and caramelized. The roasted ingredients are then transferred to a blender and combined with tomato paste, dried parsley, oregano, salt, and additional black pepper before pureeing into a smooth sauce. Separately, ground beef is cooked thoroughly, drained of excess fat, then mixed with the roasted tomato sauce and simmered on low heat to meld flavors.
The result is a hearty, flavorful Bolognese sauce with a balance of roasted tomato sweetness, garlic aroma, and herb seasoning accentuated by the savory ground beef. It can be tossed with cooked pasta or served over other preparations. The sauce benefits from simmering time, with a minimum of 15 minutes and up to several hours for deeper flavor development.
Using alternatives like ground turkey, pork, or sausage is possible for varied flavor profiles. Leftovers store up to a week in the refrigerator or can be frozen for longer preservation. Variations such as substituting homemade Italian seasoning for the dried herbs adapt the flavor to preference. This versatile Bolognese sauce serves as a practical foundation for many meals.
Ingredients
- 4 cups cherry tomato
- 4 cloves garlic
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 1 ¼ teaspoon black pepper divided
- 2 tablespoons basil chopped, fresh
- 1 pound ground beef
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon parsley dried
- ½ teaspoon oregano dried
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Place the tomatoes and garlic on a baking sheet covered with foil.
- Drizzle with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar, then top with ¼ tsp black pepper and fresh basil.
- Place in the oven and roast for 25 minutes.
- Remove the roasted tomatoes from the oven.
- Grab the corners of the foil and transfer all of the ingredients from the baking sheet into a blender or food processor.
- Add the tomato paste, dried parsley, dried oregano, remaining 1 tsp black pepper and salt to the blender.
- Blend until smooth, then set aside.
- Add the ground beef to a large pot, or dutch oven, on the stove over medium high heat.
- Cook the ground beef through, this should take 6-8 minutes.
- Drain any grease from the pot, then add the tomato puree from the blender and stir to combine.
- Cover the sauce, reduce the heat on the stove to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Add your favorite cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to combine, or serve the sauce over spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles for a gluten free, low carb meal.
- Optional: top with a sprinkling of grated parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil right before serving.
Notes
- Simmer the sauce a minimum of 15 minutes, but it can simmer up to 4 hours for deeper flavor.
- Replace dried parsley and oregano with 1 tablespoon homemade Italian Seasoning mix if preferred.
- Ground beef can be substituted with ground turkey, pork, or Italian sausage.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 7 days or freeze for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6cups sauce
Amount Per Serving
Calories 302 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 4serving | |
| Calories | 302kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 10g | 3% |
| Protein | 15g | 30% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Cholesterol | 53mg | 18% |
| Sodium | 480mg | 20% |
| Potassium | 716mg | 15% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 6g | 12% |
| Vitamin A | 965mg | 19% |
| Vitamin C | 29.6mg | 33% |
| Calcium | 40mg | 4% |
| Iron | 3.1mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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