Description
A quick and easy classic Italian Spaghetti Bolognese recipe ready in under 30 minutes. This hearty dish features a rich, flavorful meat sauce made with ground beef or pork, tomatoes, aromatic vegetables, and herbs, served over tender al dente spaghetti. Perfect for busy weeknights and loved by the whole family, it delivers comfort and deep taste with minimal cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein
- 400g ground beef or pork (lean preferred)
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 1 celery stalk, finely diced
Tomato Base
- 400g canned crushed or diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
Liquids and Oils
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup red wine (optional)
Herbs and Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (oregano, basil, thyme blend)
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Pasta and Garnish
- 350g spaghetti pasta
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Vegetables: Finely chop the onion, garlic, carrot, and celery. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and sauté the vegetables until they are soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes.
- Brown the Meat: Add ground beef or pork to the pan with the sautéed vegetables. Use a wooden spoon to break the meat apart and cook until browned all over with no pink remaining, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.
- Add Tomato Ingredients and Seasonings: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen its flavor. Pour in the canned tomatoes and red wine if using. Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper over the sauce and mix well. Bring to a gentle simmer.
- Simmer the Sauce: Reduce heat to low and let the sauce simmer, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes to allow it to thicken and flavors to meld.
- Cook the Spaghetti: While the sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving a small cup of pasta water.
- Combine and Serve: Toss the cooked spaghetti with the Bolognese sauce in the pan. Use reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if it’s too thick. Serve immediately topped with freshly grated Parmesan and optional fresh herbs like basil or parsley.
Notes
- Use fresh, high-quality ingredients for best flavor.
- Take your time browning the meat to develop rich flavor.
- Simmer the sauce just long enough to thicken and blend flavors, about 15 minutes.
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without diluting flavor.
- Season pasta water with salt and taste sauce during cooking to balance flavors.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 550 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg