Description

This Spaghetti Bolognese is a comforting blend of ground beef, tomatoes, and herbs simmered to perfection. It’s a simple, quick dinner that delights the taste buds, ideal for family meals or entertaining guests with its savory richness.

Ingredients

Scale

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 lb ground beef 85 or 90%
¾ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon cracked pepper
⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
⅓ cup dry red wine
¼ cup water
28 oz canned whole peeled tomatoes
2 teaspoons dried basil or torn fresh basil leaves
1 teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 dried bay leaf
8–12 oz pasta for serving

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Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
Stir in the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
Add the ground beef, seasoning it with salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Cook while crumbling the meat until browned, draining excess grease as needed.
Mix in the tomato paste and sugar, cooking while stirring until the tomato paste is caramelized, about 1-2 minutes.
Pour in the red wine, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Cook until the wine is reduced by half, about 3-5 minutes.
Add the water and canned tomatoes, breaking the tomatoes up as you cook.
Stir in the basil, parsley, oregano, and bay leaf, ensuring the bay leaf is submerged. Simmer for at least 30 minutes with a slightly offset lid, stirring occasionally.
While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to package instructions. Combine the pasta with the meat sauce or serve separately. If mixing, reserve ¼ cup pasta water before draining.
Serve topped with parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

For a spicier kick, increase the crushed red pepper.
Substitute ground turkey for a leaner option without sacrificing flavor.
Leftover sauce can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for later use.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 plate (with pasta)
Calories: 540
Sugar: 6g
Sodium: 800mg
Fat: 22g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Unsaturated Fat: 14g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 60g
Fiber: 4g
Protein: 25g
Cholesterol: 70mg