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Bolognese Sauce

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Bolognese Sauce is a hearty, meat based pasta sauce packed with flavor. Perfect as an easy weeknight dinner, it’s also great for feeding a crowd!

Bolognese Sauce is a hearty, meat based pasta sauce packed with flavor! Perfect as an easy weeknight dinner, it also works for feeding a crowd.

We’re starting to feel that chill in the air here.

There’s just something about a hearty pasta sauce when it’s cold outside. It makes for such a comforting meal.

Bolognese Sauce is a ski season favorite for us. We like to bring sauces with us when we head up to Vermont for a ski weekend…it makes it easier to have some of our dinner done ahead of time.

But more recently, this Bolognese Sauce has been the star of the high school sports pasta party. During the high school sports seasons here, it’s tradition for someone on the team to host a pasta party for their teammates the night before each game or meet. This season we’ve had both the girls’ soccer team and the boys’ and girls’ cross country teams here.

For pasta parties, we always make our own sauces. Usually we just make a marinara and a meat sauce, and occasionally a pesto as well. But when my daughter hosted the last pasta party of their soccer season, she requested marinara, vodka sauce and bolognese sauce.

One gourmet pasta party coming up!

When I mentioned that to one of my mom friends, she said “you guys make the sauce?! We always just buy it.”

Ok, so maybe we are a little nuts. For both of the parties my kids hosted, we had twenty to thirty kids here. We went through a lot of pasta those nights.  My husband was in charge of pasta sauce for these parties. He likes making it, and I am happy to have him take over the kitchen for the night!

So, this is really my husband’s Bolognese Sauce recipe.

And it’s easy to make as well!

ABOUT BOLOGNESE SAUCE

Bolognese Sauce is a meaty sauce that originated in Bologna, Italy. The genuine version is made with ground beef and lamb; more Americanized versions have ground pork.

Because we always have ground beef and bacon in the house, that’s what we usually use. The rest of the ingredients are all staples here too, so this is one sauce we can make anytime, without a separate trip to the grocery store.

HOW TO MAKE BOLOGNESE SAUCE

This is an easy Bolognese Sauce.

First, saute bacon until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels; chop into smaller pieces.

Add your chopped onion to the bacon grease and cook until onions are translucent; then add the garlic and continue to saute until fragrant. Remove and set aside.

Add your ground beef to the pot. Brown and drain the excess grease before adding mushrooms, carrots, celery, tomatoes, red wine, chicken broth, basil and oregano. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then simmer for ten minutes.

Add the bacon, onions and garlic back into the pot and continue simmering from another 50 minutes.

Since this is a heavier sauce, you’ll want to pair it with a heavier pasta like a rigatoni or penne rigate, or a broad flat ribbon like pappardelle, which is what I used.

Comfort food at it’s best!

Bolognese Sauce is a hearty, meat based pasta sauce packed with flavor! Perfect as an easy weeknight dinner, it also works for feeding a crowd.

 

Bolognese Sauce is a hearty, meat based pasta sauce packed with flavor! Perfect as an easy weeknight dinner, it also works for feeding a crowd.

Now for the recipe!

Bolognese Sauce

Bolognese Sauce

Yield: 4-6
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes

Bolognese Sauce is a hearty, meat based pasta sauce packed with flavor. Perfect as an easy weeknight dinner, it's also great for feeding a crowd!

Ingredients

  • 4 slices of bacon, chopped in half
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 8 oz sliced mushrooms
  • 2 carrots, shredded
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped
  • 1 28 oz can chopped Italian tomatoes
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. First, saute bacon until crisp. Remove and drain on paper towels; chop into smaller pieces.
  2. Add your chopped onion to the bacon grease and cook until onions are translucent; then add the garlic and continue to saute until fragrant. Remove and set aside.
  3. Add your ground beef to the pot. Brown and drain the excess grease before adding mushrooms, carrots, celery, tomatoes, red wine, chicken broth, basil and oregano. Bring the mixture to a boil, and then simmer for ten minutes.
  4. Add the bacon, onions and garlic back into the pot and continue simmering from another 50 minutes.
  5. Pair sauce with a heavier pasta like rigatoni or penne rigate, or a broad flat ribbon pasta like pappardelle.
Nutrition Information:

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 151Total Fat: 11gCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 4g

OTHER PASTA RECIPES YOU MAY ENJOY

pasta-recipes

One Pot Sausage Broccoli Pasta…this 30 minute pasta makes a regular appearance at our dinner table, and is always requested by college boy whenever he comes home.

Chicken Pesto Pasta with Artichokes…a 30 minute meal packed with a great combination of flavors!

Creamy Cajun Jambalaya Pasta…all the flavors of jambalaya in a pasta! This one pot meal is perfect for families who are short on time, but don’t want to sacrifice taste!

Creamy Pasta with Ham and Peas…you can whip this up in 25 minutes from start to finish — perfect for busy weeknights! And if you’re looking for recipes using leftover ham, this is an easy recipe that the whole family will love!
For more great pasta recipes, check out my Pastas and Pizza Pinterest board!

 

 

Bolognese Sauce is a hearty, meat based pasta sauce packed with flavor! Perfect as an easy weeknight dinner, it also works for feeding a crowd.

Bolognese Sauce is a hearty, meat based pasta sauce packed with flavor! Perfect as an easy weeknight dinner, it also works for feeding a crowd.

 

FrugalHausfrau

Tuesday 22nd of November 2016

Oh does this look great! I would not turn down a big, hearty plate of this!! Thanks for sharing with us at Throwback Thursday and Happy Thanksgiving!

Mollie

Theresa@DearCreatives

Sunday 20th of November 2016

Interesting twist with bacon. Looks yummy. Have a great Thanksgiving. Thanks for joining us at the Inspiration Spotlight party. Shared.

Sharon@bluewillowhouse

Saturday 19th of November 2016

Looks like a wonderful and hearty winter meal. Thank you for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create~Bake~Make link party!

Helen at the Lazy Gastronome

Sunday 13th of November 2016

Looks delicious Michelle! Thanks for sharing on the What's for Dinner Link up!

Carlee

Saturday 12th of November 2016

Oh man, I want to come to pasta night at your house! I'm sure the teams love it when it's your turn to host.

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