Spaghetti bolognese is a true Italian classic full of al dente spaghetti, meaty red sauce, fresh veggies, and a blend of Italian herbs! Throw in a little wine for flavor, and you have an easy dinner you'll want to make again and again! Plus, the leftovers are absolutely delicious and can be frozen for a quick weeknight meal!
Best Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe
Who doesn’t love a classically rich, thick spaghetti bolognese covered in Parmesan with a side of delicious, buttery garlic bread? The complex flavor is even better with the addition of a little red wine!
Some ingredients are unexpected–who would guess there’s Worcestershire sauce in spaghetti? Others are traditional for good reason. No one wants to mess with a good thing, and basil and garlic will never go out of style!
Jump to:
- Best Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe
- ❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
- 🥘 Spaghetti Bolognese Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutions
- 📖 Variations
- 🔪 How To Make Spaghetti Bolognese
- 🥗 What To Serve With Spaghetti Bolognese
- 💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- 🥄 Make Ahead Options
- 🥡 Storing & Reheating
- ❓ Recipe FAQs
- 🍝 😋 More Tasty Pasta Recipes
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments & Reviews
❤️ Why I Love This Recipe
- Easy Leftovers! Eat it cold or after a quick zap in the microwave for days after your special meal!
- Universally Loved! You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who dislikes this pasta meal mainstay!
- It's Hearty! The meat sauce is flavorful and filling, and it's delightfully warming on a chilly night!
🥘 Spaghetti Bolognese Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutions
You’ll probably find that you already have most of these ingredients in your kitchen. Don’t skip the red wine, as it adds amazing flavor!
- Olive Oil - 1 ½ tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil is the best.
- Garlic - 2 teaspoons of minced garlic (about 2 cloves).
- Onion - 1 large onion. You can use white or yellow, but make sure it’s finely diced.
- Carrot - 1 large carrot. Wash and grate a carrot for some added sweetness, a secret ingredient in Italian sauces.
- Celery - 2 ribs of finely diced celery amplifies the flavors it blends with.
- Ground Beef - 1 pound of ground beef. Using half ground beef and half ground pork is also amazing!
- Dry Red Wine - ½ cup of dry red wine like cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, and malbec are my favorite options for this dish.
- Beef Bouillon Cubes - 2 beef bouillon cubes. Try 2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon beef base if you’d prefer.
- Crushed Tomatoes - A 28-ounce can of crushed tomatoes.
- Tomato Paste - 2 tablespoons of tomato paste or a tomato paste substitute.
- Worcestershire Sauce - 2 teaspoons of Worcestershire sauce or a Worcestershire sauce substitute.
- Bay Leaves - 1-2 large bay leaves (removed before serving). You can also try a bay leaf substitute.
- Oregano - 1 teaspoon of dried oregano or 2 teaspoons of fresh oregano. Alternatively, you could try an oregano substitute.
- Dried Basil - 1 teaspoon of dried basil or a suitable basil substitute. You can also dice up 2 teaspoons of fresh basil.
- Salt & Pepper - Add this to taste.
- Spaghetti - 12 ounces of uncooked spaghetti or your preferred type of noodle. If making noodles from scratch, you will need to reduce their cooking time.
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
📖 Variations
Toss in some red pepper flakes or use hot pepper-infused olive oil in step one if you prefer a spicy sauce. It will infuse the vegetables with some heat. Or try my arrabbiata Sauce!
Other tasty additions include half (or more) of red bell pepper, fresh herbs, or bacon pieces. If adding red pepper, add it to the pot with the rest of the vegetables. The other two options can be added just before serving.
You can also make my homemade spaghetti seasoning to use in this recipe!
🔪 How To Make Spaghetti Bolognese
There aren’t any special tools needed for this memorable meal. Just pull out a large pot, a frying pan, and a wooden spoon to stir with!
This recipe makes 6 hearty servings of spaghetti bolognese. You can always make more. Just make sure you have a really large pot and pan!
Saute The Vegetables & Brown The Meat
Step 1: Saute the vegetables. Pour 1 ½ tablespoons (22.18 milliliters) of olive oil into a deep skillet, a large pot, or a Dutch Oven. Heat over medium-high heat until the oil starts to simmer. Toss in 2 teaspoons (6 grams) of minced garlic, 1 large minced onion, 1 large grated carrot, and 2 ribs of diced celery. Ingredients should be soft and fragrant when ready for the next step. It should take about 3 minutes of sauteing.
Step 2: Brown the meat. Carefully place 1 pound (453.59 grams) of ground beef (or a combo of beef and pork) in the pot, breaking it up as it cooks. Brown the meat for 6 minutes or until it’s cooked completely.
Make The Bolognese Sauce
Step 3: Add wine and cook. Deglaze the pan by adding ½ cup (118.28 milliliters) of dry red wine. Bring it to a simmer and cook for 1 minute. Scrape off any food that has stuck on the bottom of the pot as it cooks. When it’s done, you should no longer be able to smell the alcohol. It shouldn’t smell boozy, but you’ll get a whiff of the spectacular flavor it has added.
Step 4: Stir in everything but the pasta. At this point, mix in 2 beef bouillon cubes, 28 ounces (793.79 grams) of crushed tomatoes, 2 tablespoons (32 grams) of tomato paste, 2 teaspoons (9.86 milliliters) of Worcestershire sauce, 2 large bay leaves, 1 teaspoon (2 grams) of dried oregano, and 1 teaspoon (1 gram) of dried basil. Continue to stir, and bring it back to a simmer.
Step 5: Reduce heat and simmer. Turn down the heat to medium-low. Remove the lid and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. Add water as needed to keep the sauce from getting too thick.
Step 6: Adjust the seasoning. Taste your hearty bolognese sauce and add more seasonings if needed. Sprinkle in some salt and pepper to taste, too.
Add Pasta & Serve
Step 7: Cook the pasta. When the sauce is almost ready, salt a pot of water and bring it to a boil. Cook 12 ounces (340.2 grams) of spaghetti pasta according to the instructions on the box. For al dente pasta, aka slightly chewy, reduce the instructed cook time by 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and reserve about ½ cup of the pasta water when it's done. Set it aside.
Step 8: Toss and serve. Mix your cooked and drained pasta, bolognese sauce, and reserved pasta water. Serve while hot, and enjoy!
🥗 What To Serve With Spaghetti Bolognese
If you'd like to turn your spaghetti into a multi-course meal, try starting with some crispy risotto balls or a quick Caprese salad! Top it off with some freshly grated Parmesan and a side of air fryer garlic bread or cheese rolls for a meal the whole family will love!
You can also garnish your spaghetti bolognese with parsley or fresh basil leaves if desired. See my post on what to serve with spaghetti for even more complementary side dishes! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- If you like a sweet tomato sauce, add some sugar! The carrot and tomato paste already makes this sauce a bit sweet, but if you’re into it, amp it up! Scoop 2 teaspoons of granulated white sugar into the sauce to start with and add more according to taste.
- Use high-quality canned tomatoes for better flavor. Good tomatoes equals better sauce. There will be less bitterness.
- Slow simmering your Bolognese sauce will add even more flavor! For the best-tasting sauce you can get, cover the pot and simmer your Bolognese for 2 to 3 hours. You’ll need to add extra liquid over time, so check it every 30 minutes or so. Pour in more broth or water as needed to keep it from drying out.
🥄 Make Ahead Options
You can prepare your bolognese sauce 24-48 hours in advance and let it cool. Transfer it to an airtight container in the fridge until you're ready for your spaghetti dinner!
Just reheat the sauce in a skillet or stockpot over medium heat while you cook the spaghetti. Once your noodles are ready, toss everything together and serve!
Freezing Spaghetti Bolognese
Cooked spaghetti bolognese can be frozen in an airtight container for up to 3 months. Store individual servings in different containers or freezer bags for easy reheating!
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Once your spaghetti is fully cooled, store leftovers in an airtight storage container in the fridge for up to 3 to 5 days. You can store the sauce and spaghetti together or separately.
However, you may want to add a drizzle of olive oil to the noodles if storing them separately from the sauce to prevent them from sticking together.
Reheating Spaghetti Bolognese
To reheat from frozen, bake in a pan covered in foil for around 20 minutes or until thoroughly heated. The oven should be at 350℉ (177℃/Gas Mark 4). For refrigerated leftovers, simply reduce the cooking time.
If you’re reheating at work or school, sprinkle a bit of water on top and microwave in 1-minute increments until hot. Stir well.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
Dry household? Use something else! While the wine adds great flavor, and the alcohol will cook out, it’s not for everyone. Whether you don’t like it or don’t want to run to the store, there are alternatives. Try replacing it with the same amount of beef broth or water.
Absolutely! Any type of spaghetti noodle will be scrumptious with this sauce. You can even try zoodles or zucchini noodles if you’re curious about this tasty trend.
You can freeze bolognese sauce so you can have a quick and easy spaghetti dinner at a moment's notice! Just prepare the sauce as directed and let it cool. Transfer it to a heavy-duty freezer bag or airtight container and freeze for up to 3 months. You can reheat from frozen or let it thaw in the fridge overnight.
🍝 😋 More Tasty Pasta Recipes
- Lemon Garlic Shrimp Pasta - A quick and easy shrimp pasta with tons of citrus flavor!
- Buttered Noodles - Buttered egg noodles are so simple and always a hit with kids!
- Creamy Beef and Shells - A family-favorite pasta dinner featuring a creamy beef sauce and tender shell pasta.
- Grilled Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo - Grilled chicken fettuccine alfredo is the ultimate summer comfort food!
- Baked Spaghetti And Meatballs - Leftover spaghetti makes an even tastier baked spaghetti and meatball casserole the next day!
- Creamy Seafood Pasta - If your family loves seafood, they'll certainly enjoy this easy pasta with a variety of tasty seafood tossed in!
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📖 Recipe Card
Spaghetti Bolognese
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- 2 teaspoon garlic (minced)
- 1 large onion (white or yellow onion, finely diced)
- 1 large carrot (washed and grated)
- 2 ribs celery (finely diced)
- 1 lb ground beef (or a combo of half ground beef & half ground pork)
- ½ cup dry red wine (I like cabernet sauvignon, pinot noir, and malbec)
- 2 beef bouillon cubes (or 2 teaspoons Better Than Bouillon beef base)
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 large bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- 12 oz spaghetti pasta (dried)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Heat a deep skillet, pot, or Dutch oven with the olive oil over medium-high heat until the oil begins to shimmer. Add the minced garlic, diced onion, grated carrot, and finely diced celery (sofrito!) and saute for 3 minutes or until softened and fragrant.
- Add the ground beef (or ground pork combo) to the skillet and brown. Break up the ground meat as you cook it until it is fully cooked, about 6 minutes.
- Once the beef has been browned add the red wine to deglaze the pan and bring it to a simmer. Cook for 1 minute as you scrape the bottom of the pot clean of any debris. *The alcohol smell should be cooked off by this time.
- Add most of the remaining ingredients (beef bouillon cubes or Better Than Bouillon, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, bay leaves, thyme, and oregano).
- Stir to mix and bring the pot back to a simmer. Reduce to medium-low and simmer for 20-30 minutes without a lid. Watch the sauce and add water as needed while simmering.
- Adjust seasoning after the cooking time has elapsed and all of the flavors have had time to 'marry'.
- Cook the pasta when your sauce is almost ready to serve. Boil the pasta in salted water according to the package instructions, minus approximately 1-2 minutes for an al dente texture. Drain the pasta, reserving about ½ cup of the pasta water. Set aside.
- Serve bolognese sauce tossed with pasta and pasta water, or over pasta, and topped with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Some crushed red bell pepper flakes, fresh herbs, half or more of a red bell pepper, even some bacon, are all great additions to your hearty bolognese.
- Sugar is a debated ingredient in spaghetti sauce. However, if you like just a touch of sweetness start with 2 teaspoons of granulated white sugar and adjust to taste. Also, the better quality canned tomatoes the better the flavor (less bitterness). *Note that the carrot and tomato paste add some sweetness to this tasty red sauce.
- To make an alcohol-free version simply use more beef broth or water.
- Slow-simmered for more flavor: cover the pot with a lid and simmer for 2-3 hours to get the best flavor in your bolognese sauce. *Be sure to add liquid as needed while simmering!
Christel says
Heel lekker!
"Very tasty!"
Anonymous says
Wow wow.. so the only spaghetti my son ate was the one my ex made for 5 years! We split recently AND I've been determined to find a spaghetti he likes that's ours lol. I followed the recipe exactly. I'm notorious for tweaking my recipes but not this time. What a delicious recipe. This is our new hi to no doubt. So much made the sauce for dinner BUT my sons already eaten his! Thanks for a easy and delicious recipe. Our new staple! The lovely sauce would do a great lasagne!
Son