Description
Spaghetti Bolognese is the ultimate comfort food—rich, hearty, and bursting with flavor. This timeless Italian-inspired dish features a savory meat sauce simmered to perfection and paired with perfectly cooked spaghetti. It’s easy to make at home and sure to impress family or guests.
Ingredients
For the Bolognese Sauce:
- 1 ½ tablespoons olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 1 lb (500g) ground beef (or half beef, half pork)
- ½ cup dry red wine (or beef broth)
- 2 beef bouillon cubes, crumbled
- 28 oz (800g) crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons white sugar
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 bay leaves
- 2 sprigs fresh thyme (or ½ teaspoon dried thyme or oregano)
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Spaghetti:
- 13 oz (400g) dried spaghetti
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional garnish)
- Finely chopped parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- Sauté the Aromatics:
Heat olive oil in a large pot or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and chopped onion. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion softens and turns golden. - Brown the Beef:
Increase heat to high and add the ground beef. Break it apart with a spoon, ensuring it browns evenly. - Deglaze with Wine:
Pour in the red wine and simmer for 1 minute, scraping the bottom of the pot to release browned bits. - Build the Sauce:
Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, Worcestershire sauce, bouillon cubes, bay leaves, thyme, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer. - Simmer for Flavor:
Reduce the heat to medium and let the sauce bubble gently for 20–30 minutes, stirring occasionally. For an even richer flavor, add ¾ cup water and simmer on very low heat for 2–2.5 hours, stirring every 30 minutes. Remove the lid for the last 20 minutes to thicken the sauce. - Cook the Spaghetti:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions, reducing the time by 1 minute for firmer pasta. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining. - Combine Pasta and Sauce (Optional):
Add the cooked spaghetti to the Bolognese sauce along with ½ cup reserved pasta water. Toss over medium heat for 1–2 minutes until the sauce clings to the pasta. - Serve and Garnish:
Divide the spaghetti among bowls. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and finely chopped parsley, if desired.
Notes
- Use high-quality ingredients, like fresh Parmesan and good ground beef, for the best results.
- Longer simmering enhances the flavor and richness of the sauce.
- Balance the sauce by adjusting sugar to counteract the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Cook pasta al dente for the perfect texture, ensuring it absorbs the sauce beautifully.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30–150 minutes (depending on simmer time)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian