pasta bolognese

Ahhh, a classic 🍝❤️
Here’s a proper, cozy Pasta Bolognese—rich, slow-simmered flavor without being fussy.

Pasta Bolognese

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 small onion, finely diced
• 1 carrot, finely diced
• 1 celery stalk, finely diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb ground beef (or half beef / half pork)
• Salt & black pepper
• 1 tsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• ½ cup beef or chicken broth
• ½ cup milk (or splash of cream – very traditional)
• 1 tsp sugar (optional, balances acidity)
• 12 oz pasta (spaghetti, tagliatelle, or rigatoni)
• Fresh basil or parsley
• Grated Parmesan, for serving

Instructions

1. Sauté the base
   Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
   Add onion, carrot, and celery. Cook 5–7 minutes until soft.
   Stir in garlic for 30 seconds.
2. Brown the meat
   Add ground beef. Cook until browned, breaking it up.
   Season with salt, pepper, and oregano.
3. Build flavor
   Stir in tomato paste and cook 1–2 minutes.
   Add crushed tomatoes, broth, milk, and sugar (if using).
4. Simmer
   Lower heat and simmer uncovered 20–30 minutes (longer = better). Stir occasionally.
5. Cook pasta
   Boil pasta in well-salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water.
6. Combine & serve
   Toss pasta with sauce, adding a splash of pasta water if needed.
   Finish with herbs and lots of Parmesan.

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Pro Tips

• Milk softens the acidity and makes it richer (very Italian)
• The finer the veggie dice, the smoother the sauce
• Even better the next day 👌

Want a slow-cooker, authentic Italian (less tomato), vegan, or one-pot version?