Description
This Easy Bolognese Sauce Recipe is a quick twist on the traditional Italian classic. Using made-ahead ground beef and frozen portions of fresh tomato sauce, you’ll have a rich, hearty, and authentic-tasting ragù in just 20 minutes. Perfect for pasta night, lasagna bolognese, or spooned over polenta, this recipe proves that bold Italian flavor doesn’t have to take all day.
Dinner becomes effortless when your freezer is stocked with the basics—this sauce is living proof. Serve it with tagliatelle, layer it into lasagna, or keep it simple with spaghetti. No matter how you spin it, this is the best Bolognese sauce shortcut you’ll want on repeat.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds made-ahead ground beef - from our Simple and Tasty Ground Beef recipe.
- 4 cups fresh tomato sauce - from our Best Homemade Tomato Sauce recipe (frozen in portions for easy use).
- 1/2 cup chopped celery - for that classic ragù base.
- 1 cup chopped carrots - adds natural sweetness.
- 1 tablespoon olive oil - for sautéing.
- Salt and pepper, to taste.
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan.
- Add celery and carrots, sauté until softened.
- Stir in the fresh tomato sauce and let it bubble.
- Blend the sauce until smooth (immersion blender makes this extra easy).
- Add the ground beef, stir well, and let everything marry together for about 10 minutes.
- Taste, adjust seasoning, and serve hot.
Notes
The freezer is your best friend: Keeping portions of ground beef and tomato sauce on hand makes dishes like this lightning-fast.
Want a creamier version? Add a splash of milk or cream to turn it into a creamy Bolognese sauce.
Authentic purists might add pancetta or wine—feel free to stir some in if you’ve got it handy.
Freeze leftovers in smaller containers for quick lunches or single servings of pasta.
You’ll find a rough nutrition estimate in the recipe card below. Just keep in mind, it’s a ballpark figure based on common ingredients — not a medical guide. For anything more specific, it’s always best to check with a registered nutritionist.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Sauces, Butters & Flavors
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 gr
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg