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Pasta Bolognese

Pasta Bolognese is a classic Italian dish where al dente pasta meets a hearty ground beef sauce, slow-cooked with onions, garlic, and tomatoes for a flavorful experience.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
55 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 369 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 celery sticks small diced
  • 2 carrot sticks peeled and small diced
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 pound lean ground beef
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 16 ounces Tagliatelle pasta or any pasta or choice
  • chopped parsley for serving

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add the onions, celery, carrots and garlic, and sauté for a few minutes until the vegetables soften.
  2. Add the beef and season with salt and pepper. Break up the ground beef and cook until it's browned and crumbled. stirring occasionally.
  3. Add the milk and allow it to simmer until it has mostly evaporated, stirring occasionally, in order to help tenderize the beef, about 10 minutes.
  4. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, bay leaf, oregano and nutmeg. Mix to combine, bring mixture to a boil and then simmer on low uncovered for at least 30 minutes, but preferably 1-2 hours. Simmering for longer will enhance the flavor. Remove from heat and remove the bay leaf.
  5. When ready to serve, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Serve the cooked pasta in individual bowls and spoon the Bolognese sauce over it. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Notes

  • This recipe was updated to lean towards a more traditional pasta Bolognese sauce with milk. 
  • Old variation -
  • Ingredients1 tablespoon olive oil1 pound lean ground beef½ teaspoon salt½ teaspoon black pepper1 onion diced2 garlic cloves minced1 teaspoon oregano1 teaspoon basil½ teaspoon crushed red pepper2 15-ounce cans crushed tomatoes2 tablespoons tomato paste16 ounces Spaghetti or penne pasta for servingFresh basil for serving
  • Make Ahead Tips: You can make the Bolognese sauce up to 3 days in advance, and then cook the pasta when you're ready.
  • Substitutes: For best results, follow the recipe as is. However here are some common substitutes that would work well in this recipe.
  • Serving Size: One serving is about 2 oz of dried pasta.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook al dente according to package instructions; drain. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water
  • Heat the olive oil in a large deep saute pan. Add the beef and season with salt and pepper. Brown the beef and break it into smaller pieces with the back of a wooden spoon until cooked through.
  • Add onions and garlic; and season with oregano, basil and crushed red pepper. Saute for about 5 minutes until they soften. Add crushed tomatoes and tomato paste and pasta water. Mix to combine, bring mixture to a boil and then simmer on low covered for 30 minutes.
  • Toss the pasta with the Bolognese sauce and top with fresh basil, if desired.
  • Instead of ground beef, you can use ground turkey or ground chicken
  • You can change up the seasoning to add other Italian herbs of your choice.
  • Any kind of pasta will work with this recipe

Nutrition Information

Calories 369kcal (18%) Carbohydrates 46g (15%) Protein 21g (42%) Fat 11g (17%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Polyunsaturated Fat 1g Monounsaturated Fat 5g Trans Fat 0.4g Cholesterol 88mg (29%) Sodium 251mg (10%) Potassium 488mg (14%) Fiber 3g (12%) Sugar 4g (8%) Vitamin A 2706IU (54%) Vitamin C 3mg (3%) Calcium 81mg (8%) Iron 3mg (17%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 8servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 369

% Daily Value*

Calories 369kcal 18%
Carbohydrates 46g 15%
Protein 21g 42%
Fat 11g 17%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g 6%
Monounsaturated Fat 5g 25%
Trans Fat 0.4g 20%
Cholesterol 88mg 29%
Sodium 251mg 10%
Potassium 488mg 10%
Fiber 3g 12%
Sugar 4g 8%
Vitamin A 2706IU 54%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 81mg 8%
Iron 3mg 17%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.