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Spaghetti Bolognese in a bowl with a fork.
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5 from 12 votes

Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe

Make this traditional hearty Spaghetti Bolognese from scratch! This simple homemade pasta meal has rich and flavorful meat sauce made with a secret ingredient! It will become your family’s favorite Sunday dinner recipe!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 637kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 onion finely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 pound ground beef 85-90% lean
  • 28 oz crushed tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon dried basil
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 Parmesan rind
  • 10 oz spaghetti uncooked

Instructions

  • Preheat a large skillet over medium/high heat and add 2 tbsp olive oil. When hot, add 1 chopped onion and cook for about 10 minutes, until they soften and start to caramelize. Then add 2 cloves minced garlic and stir for about 30 seconds.
  • Add 1 lb ground beef and break it down into smaller pieces.You’ll need to cook it for about 10 more minutes or until it’s cooked through and doesn’t have any red or pink color inside.
  • Add 28 oz crushed tomatoes and 2 tbsp tomato paste. Stir and bring to a light simmer, then reduce the heat to low.
  • Add the seasoning (½ tsp salt, ¼ tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp dried basil, and ¼ tsp red pepper flakes) and stir.
  • Add a Parmesan rind, stir, and let the sauce simmer for about 20 minutes, constantly stirring.
  • While the sauce is cooking, we can start working on pasta. Boil a pot of water, season with water, and add 10 oz spaghetti. Cook according to the instructions until al-dente.
  • When the pasta is ready, drain the liquid, reserving 1 cup of starchy water. Then add the drained spaghetti to the sauce and stir together until evenly distributed. If the sauce is too thick, you can add a couple of tablespoons of reserved starchy water and mix again.
  • Sprinkle some grated Parmesan and chopped parsley before serving.

Video

Notes

How long does it last in a fridge? I like making a big batch of this dish as a meal prep and reheat in on busy nights. You can refrigerate it for up to 3 days. After the it's is cooked, let it cool off. Then place it in an air tight container and refrigerate.
How to reheat it? To reheat, preheat the pan on a low/medium heat and add a bit of olive oil. Then add the pasta, cover with a lid and let it reheat, stirring occasionally. I also like to add a little bit of water to the pasta while reheating and let it steam.
Can I freeze homemade Bolognese sauce? You can freeze it for up to 4-6 months. However, I like to freeze the sauce only, without added pasta. Pack the sauce in air tight containers or in zip-lock bags, then put in the freezer.
When ready to eat, place the frozen sauce in the refrigerator a night before, to allow it to thaw. Then you can reheat in the pan and add some pasta.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 637kcal | Carbohydrates: 73g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 81mg | Sodium: 700mg | Potassium: 1193mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 586IU | Vitamin C: 23mg | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 7mg