I think everyone has a recipe for spaghetti Bolognese! Perhaps you had an old family recipe passed down from Italian grandparents, or use a jar of store-bought sauce (like I do here in my Instant Pot Spaghetti). Or maybe you have your own favorite Bolognese recipe like I do! This is my favorite way to make this for my family.
It is just good food!
Bacon, carrots, onions and celery form the base of the meat sauce, making it super flavorful. We add garlic, tomatoes, beef or chicken stock, as well as Italian seasoning, to round it out.
Check out my Turkey Bolognese for a lighter version of this classic recipe, or my Chicken Spaghetti for another decadent dish!
Would you like to save this recipe?
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It uses basic ingredients that are easy to find.
- Because it involves tomatoes, onions, carrots and celery, it’s PRACTICALLY a salad…
- You can sub many of the ingredients according to what you have on hand. Chopped red bell peppers taste great in this recipe. You could also use Italian sausage, ground pork, ground chicken or ground turkey in place of the ground beef. I often use half beef stock, half red wine as well.
- It tastes even better the next day, so plan for leftovers!
If you love this, you’ll also enjoy my Spaghetti Carbonara or Skillet Mac and Cheese. Both hugely popular classics! You might also like a shortcut – my Instant Pot
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it Spaghetti Bolognese or Spaghetti Bolognaise?
It’s both, actually. Bolognese is an Italian word, while the French word, Bolognaise, is what people in Australia and New Zealand know it as. In England? Spag Bol. Easy.
What to serve with pasta?
I like a good salad alongside a hearty pasta dish. Go for a classic Chicken Caesar Salad, or my Grilled Vegetable Salad. A basic Arugula Salad is also a good option!
Key Recipe Ingredients
The full list of ingredients and amounts is found in the printable recipe card below.
- Olive Oil & Butter.
- Onions, Celery, Carrots. Diced into a similar size.
- Bacon. I’d say this is optional, but it’s bacon! If you don’t have it, it’s okay, but so much better with it!
- Garlic. As much or as little as you prefer. Make sure it’s finely minced.
- Ground Beef. Go for the leanest you can get. I like a 97/3 blend.
- Tomato Paste. Adds additional flavor depth.
- Flour. Regular all-purpose flour.
- Tomatoes. I used canned tomatoes. They can be crushed, whole or diced, even tomato sauce if that is what you have!
- Beef Stock. If you don’t have this, chicken stock is just fine.
- Seasoning. Obviously, salt and pepper, but also Italian Seasoning. Grab it from the store or make your own. Bay leaves and red pepper flakes are not in this recipe, but I add them regularly depending on the day.
- Spaghetti. Obviously, any pasta will do. But if you can’t call it Spaghetti if you use Penne. You COULD call it pasta with Bolognese sauce though if you care about names!
How to make Spaghetti Bolognese from scratch
Scroll for Recipe
This next part is only a photo tutorial of the recipe steps. The full list of ingredients, quantities and instructions can be found in the printable recipe card below.
Make the Sauce
Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium high heat. Add the onions, celery and bacon pieces and fry them together for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice.
Stir in the garlic and ground beef and cook until the meat is no longer pink.
Lower the heat and continue cooking for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Increase the heat to medium, stir in the tomato paste and flour
Cook for 1 or 2 minutes.
Add the tomatoes and stock, and bring to a boil, stirring. Season the sauce with salt and pepper and stir in the Italian Seasoning.
Cover, reduce the heat and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti until al dente. Drain, set aside.
Serving
Pour the sauce over freshly cooked pasta.
Devour with a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
Want more Easy Pasta Recipes?
- Pasta e Fagioli (aka Pasta Fazool). Healthy comfort food that satisfies the whole family using commonly found ingredients!
- Skillet Lasagna. This comfort food classic is perfect for weeknights and pleases the whole family!
- Italian Style Chicken Mozzarella Skillet. A rich, tomato based sauce made from scratch, linguine pasta, and chicken. Topped with melty mozzarella cheese. What is not to love?
- Ham Tetrazzini. A super-fast weeknight dinner, this Ham Tetrazzini is a spin on the traditional version and is sure to please the whole family.
Get free recipes in your inbox!
Find me on Pinterest, Facebook & Instagram.
If you make this recipe, please comment and let me know how it turned out and leave a star rating!
Easy and Tasty Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 large onions (chopped finely)
- 4 ribs celery (diced)
- 1 cup carrots (diced)
- 6 ounces bacon (chopped into small pieces)
- 2-4 cloves garlic
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 15 ounces can crushed tomatoes
- 2/3 cup beef stock
- salt and pepper
- 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 pound spaghetti pasta (cooked)
Directions
- Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil and 3 tablespoons butter in a large skillet or saucepan.
- Add 2 large onions (chopped finely), 4 ribs celery (diced), 1 cup carrots(diced), and 6 ounces bacon (chopped into small pieces) and fry them together for 5 minutes, stirring once or twice.
- Stir in the 2-4 cloves garlic and 1 pound lean ground beef and cook, until the meat is no longer pink. Lower the heat and continue cooking for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Increase the heat to medium, stir in 2 tablespoons tomato paste and 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour, and cook for 1 or 2 minutes.
- Stir in 15 ounces can crushed tomatoes and 2/3 cup beef stock, and bring to a boil, stirring.
- Season the 1 pound spaghetti pasta with salt and pepper and 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning.
- Cover, and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Let the sauce reduce, then pour over freshly cooked pasta.
- Devour.
Would you like to save this recipe?
Nutrition Facts
Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Update: This was originally posted in October of 2008, and has been updated to improve reader experience.
Leave a Reply