Description

This Spaghetti Bolognese brings together rich flavors and simple preparation. Featuring ground beef, aromatic herbs, and a delicious tomato sauce, this hearty dish is ideal for a quick dinner that satisfies your cravings for homemade comfort food.

Ingredients

Scale

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup finely chopped yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 lb ground beef 85 or 90% (may substitute bulk italian sausage, sweet or spicy)
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 (or substitute chicken, beef, or vegetable broth or stock)
¼ cup water
28 oz canned whole peeled tomatoes
2 teaspoons dried basil or 10 torn basil leaves
1 teaspoon dried parsley
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 dried bay leaf
8–12 oz pasta for serving – spaghetti is preferred

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Instructions

Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
Add the finely 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 along with the salt, black pepper, and crushed red pepper. Cook while crumbling the meat until browned, draining excess grease if necessary.
Stir in the tomato paste and granulated sugar, cooking until the tomato paste is browned and caramelized, about 1-2 minutes.
Pour in the dry red wine and scrape the bottom of the pan to remove browned bits. Cook until the wine is reduced by half, about 3-5 minutes.
Blend in the water and canned tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon during cooking.
Add dried basil, parsley, oregano, and the bay leaf, stirring to combine, then cover partially and let simmer for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
If serving with pasta, start cooking the pasta according to package instructions while the sauce simmers. Mix the cooked pasta with the meat sauce, adding reserved pasta water to help the sauce adhere, and cook briefly until well combined.

Notes

For a richer flavor, consider adding a splash more of red wine.
Feel free to use ground turkey or chicken as a lean alternative to beef.
This sauce can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 550
Sugar: 5g
Sodium: 800mg
Fat: 30g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Unsaturated Fat: 20g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 5g
Protein: 25g
Cholesterol: 70mg