Name: Spaghetti Bolognese
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 75 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 1 onion, finely chopped; 1 carrot, grated or finely chopped; 1 celery stalk, finely chopped; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 500 g ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork); 1 tbsp tomato paste; 400 ml canned chopped tomatoes; 200 ml beef stock or water; 100 ml milk; 1 tsp dried oregano; Salt and pepper to taste; Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional); 400 g spaghetti; Water and salt for cooking; Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Spaghetti Bolognese

Classic spaghetti Bolognese brings a rich and aromatic meat and tomato sauce served over perfectly cooked pasta. A delicious and satisfying meal everyone loves.

Prep. time 15 min
Cooking time 60 min
Overall time 75 min

Complexity
Price

A traditional Italian classic on your plate.

Bolognese originates from the Italian city of Bologna, where it’s traditionally prepared as a thick, slow-cooked meat-based sauce. While typically served with tagliatelle, this version pairs it with spaghetti for a widely loved and accessible dish. Slow simmering allows the flavors to develop deeply, resulting in a warm and hearty sauce ideal for family dinners.

Ingredients

Portions

Bolognese Sauce

2
tbsp
olive oil
1
onion, finely chopped
1
carrot, grated or finely chopped
1
celery stalk, finely chopped
2
garlic cloves, minced
500
g
ground beef (or a mix of beef and pork)
1
tbsp
tomato paste
400
ml
canned chopped tomatoes
200
ml
beef stock or water
100
ml
milk
1
tsp
dried oregano
Salt and pepper to taste
Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)

Pasta

400
g
spaghetti
Water and salt for cooking
Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Ivan Horvat

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed euismod, metus eu sodales accumsan, nisi eros dapibus turpis, ac lobortis sem tellus in arcu. Sed ultricies aliquam congue.

Full biography

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed euismod, metus eu sodales accumsan, nisi eros dapibus turpis, ac lobortis sem tellus in arcu. Sed ultricies aliquam congue.Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed euismod, metus eu sodales accumsan, nisi eros dapibus turpis, ac lobortis sem tellus in arcu. Sed ultricies aliquam congue.

View profile

Contact author Ivan Horvat

Method

Preparing the Bolognese Sauce

Sauté the vegetables
In a large pan, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook for 5–7 minutes until soft and translucent.
Cook the minced meat
Add the ground meat to the pan. Cook for 8–10 minutes, stirring to break up the meat, until browned all over.
Build the sauce
Stir in tomato paste, chopped tomatoes, stock, milk, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer.
Slow cook
Cover and simmer gently for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add more liquid if needed.

Cooking the Pasta

Boil the pasta
In a large pot, bring salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving some pasta water.

Finishing and Serving

Toss it together
Toss the cooked pasta with some of the Bolognese sauce in a pan. Add a splash of pasta water if needed to help coat the pasta evenly.
Garnish and enjoy
Divide among plates, top with additional sauce, and sprinkle with freshly grated Parmesan and basil or parsley if desired.