Description
This Spaghetti Bolognese boasts a rich meat sauce, combining savory ground beef, zesty tomatoes, and aromatic herbs. It’s a delightful choice for a quick weeknight dinner or a cozy weekend meal, ensuring satisfaction with every bite!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons minced garlic
- 1 lb ground beef
- 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
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 dried bay leaf
- 8–12 oz pasta for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in minced garlic and cook until fragrant for about 30 seconds.
- Add ground beef, sprinkle with sea salt, cracked pepper, and crushed red pepper. Cook until browned, crumbling the meat as it cooks.
- Stir in tomato paste and sugar, cooking until the tomato paste begins to caramelize, about 1-2 minutes.
- Pour in red wine while scraping the bottom of the pan. Cook until reduced by half, approximately 3-5 minutes.
- Add water and canned tomatoes, breaking the tomatoes apart with a spoon.
- Mix in dried basil, parsley, oregano, and the bay leaf. Stir until combined and let simmer with a slightly open lid for at least 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions.
- When ready to serve, combine pasta with the meat sauce, adding reserved pasta water if necessary, and simmer until well coated. Serve topped with parmesan if desired.
Notes
For a spicy kick, use hot Italian sausage instead of ground beef.
Feel free to substitute fresh basil if you have it on hand.
Reserve some pasta water for a smoother sauce texture while combining.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 75mg