Quick Easy Bolognese Sauce

Name: Quick and Easy Bolognese Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 40 min
Ingredients: 1/2 large yellow onion, cut into 2-inch chunks; 1 large carrot, peeled and thickly sliced; 1 large stalk celery, thickly sliced; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter; 1 pound ground beef; 1/2 teaspoon table salt; 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper; 1/2 cup whole milk; Pinch of nutmeg; 3/4 cup dry white wine; 1 (28-ounce) can whole San Marzano or other good quality tomatoes with thick juice; 12 ounces cooked pasta (for serving)

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During the cooler months, and sometimes during the summer, I make a huge pot of classic slow-cooked Bolognese to satisfy my craving for a thick and meaty pasta dish—and to have enough left over to freeze for later.

I call it my 'Patience of Job Bolognese' because it simmers for at least three hours, and up to four, but I discovered an easier way.

I tinkered with my favorite recipe to see if I could cut back on time, and I am happy to say that the results are in, and they are good!

What Is Bolognese Sauce?

As the name suggests, Bolognese sauce originated in Bologna, Italy. It is a thick meat sauce made with ground beef or a combination of ground meat such as pork, beef, and veal.

Typically, it starts with a soffritto (finely chopped carrots, celery, and onions) gently cooked in butter. Milk or cream, white wine, and a small amount of tomato enrich the sauce.

The ingredients are added in stages, with each ingredient taking time to cook before adding the next ingredient. When they are all in the pot, the sauce simmers for three to four hours to produce a finished product that is more meat than tomatoes, with a very rich and luscious texture.

A beautiful fast bolognese sauce on a blue patterned plate with noodles and fork. — Sally Vargas

Tips for a Faster, Easier Bolognese Sauce

As much as I love the traditional sauce and even enjoy the slow cooking, sometimes at the end of a busy day I want my pasta tonight! Here are two easy things I did to make a quicker bolognese sauce:

Pulse the vegetables in a food processor instead of chopping them by hand.
Cook the sauce in a wide skillet instead of a Dutch oven.

The wider surface area of the skillet allows the vegetables to cook faster and speeds up evaporation, allowing the remaining ingredients to reduce and concentrate their flavors in less time.

I was down to about 35 minutes from start to finish, and I still had a sauce that was delicious and satisfying.

Did I lose anything in this condensed cooking time?

Truth: just a smidgen. The long-simmered sauce has a lot of depth, while the shorter version is not quite as sweet and creamy. But frankly, it wasn’t a deal breaker. Unless you taste them side by side, you can hardly tell the difference.

Bolognese in 35 minutes? I’ll take it.

A homemade meaty bolognese sauce in a skillet on a marble countertop with a wooden spoon. — Sally Vargas

What Pasta Goes Best With Bolognese?

While spaghetti is often a favorite choice (the British even call their dish ‘spag bol’), I love the long, flat ribbons of tagliatelle or fettucine. The meaty sauce is balanced perfectly with the texture of the wider noodles. You can use the sauce to make lasagna, too.

How Long Can You Keep Bolognese Sauce?

Stored in an airtight container, the sauce will keep for three to four days in the refrigerator, and up to six months in the freezer. It’s still safe to eat after that, but loses some quality.

I recommend storing it in small-ish (two-cup) containers to give you more choices when reheating. To defrost, place the frozen sauce in a pot, cover, and bring to a boil on top of the stove over low heat.

Looking for More Great Pasta Recipes?

Quick and Easy Bolognese Sauce

Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 35 mins

Total Time 40 mins

Servings 4 to 6 servings

Yield 4 cups

1/2 large yellow onion, cut into 2-inch chunks
1 large carrot, peeled and thickly sliced
1 large stalk celery, thickly sliced
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 pound ground beef
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup whole milk
Pinch nutmeg
3/4 cup dry white wine
1 (28-ounce) can whole San Marzano or other good quality tomatoes with thick juice
12 ounces cooked pasta (for serving)

Chop the vegetables:

In a food processor, combine the onion, carrot, and celery. Pulse until finely chopped.

Sally Vargas
Cook the vegetables:

In a deep, wide skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onions, carrots, and celery. Cook, stirring often, for 5 minutes, or until soft and translucent but not browned.

Sally Vargas
Cook the beef:

Add the ground beef to the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Add the salt and pepper. Break the meat up with a fork or a potato masher and cook over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes, mashing it until it is crumbly and no longer pink. You are not actually browning the meat, just cooking it until it no longer looks raw.

Sally Vargas
Simmer the meat and milk:

Add the milk to the skillet and simmer, stirring often, for about 4 minutes, or until the milk has almost completely evaporated. Stir in the nutmeg.

Sally Vargas
Add the wine:

Add the wine to the skillet and continue to simmer for about 5 minutes, or until it has almost evaporated.

Sally Vargas
Crush and add the tomatoes:

Pour the tomatoes into a bowl and squish them with your hands to break them up so there are no large pieces.

Add them to the skillet and bring the sauce to a simmer. Turn the heat to low and simmer the sauce for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick. If the sauce begins to look dry, stir in 1 to 2 tablespoons hot water. Taste and add more salt and pepper if you feel it's needed.

Sally Vargas

Sally Vargas

Sally Vargas

Sally Vargas
Serve:

Serve the sauce over a bed of cooked pasta.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
399	Calories
19g	Fat
27g	Carbs
26g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories	399
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g	24%
Saturated Fat 8g	39%
Cholesterol 79mg	26%
Sodium 426mg	19%
Total Carbohydrate 27g	10%
Dietary Fiber 4g	15%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 26g
Vitamin C 18mg	91%
Calcium 107mg	8%
Iron 4mg	21%
Potassium 696mg	15%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.