Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe
This Easy Spaghetti Bolognese recipe features a rich, hearty meat sauce simmered to perfection with tomatoes, herbs, and a Parmesan rind, served over al dente spaghetti. A comforting classic Italian dish that’s straightforward to prepare and perfect for weeknight dinners.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground beef (85-90% lean)
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 Parmesan rind
Pasta Ingredients
- 10 oz spaghetti (uncooked)
- Salt (for pasta water)
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (for cooking)
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once hot, add the finely chopped onion and cook for about 10 minutes until soft and starting to caramelize. Then add the minced garlic and cook, stirring, for about 30 seconds to release its aroma.
- Cook the ground beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into smaller pieces. Cook for about 10 minutes until fully browned and no longer pink inside.
- Add tomatoes and simmer: Stir in the crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low to maintain a slow simmer.
- Season the sauce: Add salt, black pepper, dried basil, and red pepper flakes. Stir to incorporate all the spices evenly.
- Add Parmesan rind and simmer: Place the Parmesan rind into the sauce, stir, and let it simmer for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop rich flavors.
- Cook the spaghetti: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the spaghetti and cook according to the package instructions until al dente.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Drain the pasta, reserving 1 cup of the starchy cooking water. Add the drained spaghetti to the sauce and toss well to coat. If the sauce seems too thick, add a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water to loosen it up and mix again.
- Serve: Serve the spaghetti bolognese hot, garnished with grated Parmesan cheese and chopped parsley for added flavor and presentation.
Notes
- To enhance the depth of flavor, simmering the sauce longer is encouraged if time permits.
- Reserve pasta water is useful to adjust the sauce consistency.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for a leaner or vegetarian option.
- Use fresh herbs in place of dried basil for a fresher taste if available.
- Parmesan rind is optional but adds excellent umami flavor to the sauce.
Keywords: Spaghetti Bolognese, Easy Italian Pasta, Ground Beef Sauce, Classic Bolognese, Weeknight Dinner
Find it online: https://heutigemahlzeiten.com/easy-spaghetti-bolognese-recipe/
