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Quick And Easy Bolognese Sauce Recipe

August 14, 2021

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Growing up in an Italian family, I learned a lot about cooking.

My mom made the most amazing meals.

While she wasn't Italian, she sure cooked like she was.

Even though she didn't consider herself to be great cook.

Veal Bolognese Recipe In A Pot

She would say, Kimmy, cooking is all about following directions. Anyone can do it.

Now, I'm not really sure about that. I think cooking is just as much of an artform, as painting or crafting.

She definitely had a knack, despite her protests otherwise, and like I said, her Italian food was especially outstanding

My grandmother would come out from Queens and stay with us for weekends at a time and cook huge meals for aunts, uncles and cousins. 

And my mother would stand by and soak it all in, taking notes in the margin of her recipe book...which was really just an old marble notebook filled front to back with handwritten favorites.

Handwritten Recipe Pages

Among them, a traditional meat sauce.

On Sunday, the pot would start early and simmer all day long. When it was done, you could eat it with a fork, it was so thick.

Of course, the next day, it would taste even better.

That marble notebook is now in my possession, but try as I might, I could never replicate her meat sauce recipe in quite the same way. I followed the directions each time, but there was always something missing.

So eventually I gave up and bought jarred. It was something no one really liked, but tolerated.

Besides, long days devoted to cooking didn't work with our busy lifestyle. I needed done in a hurry kind of meals.

Then one summer we were out in the Hamptons and my daughter and husband ordered veal bolognese at a family style restaurant and fell in love.

They raved about it for weeks and every time we went out there, it was their regular order. I sometimes think they looked forward to that meal more than the beach.

Fast forward to the year when going out to dinner wasn't really an option, but the craving was strong on my daughter's birthday.

At first I was panicked. Bolognese... it sounded very complicated.

But I did what any mom would do.

I combed the internet and my recipe books and added a few of my mom's meat sauce secrets and made her a pot of homemade bolognese. 

Turns out only the name is scary. 

Quick and Easy Bolognese On A Plate

I was pleasantly surprised. And it was a huge hit.

Huge.

It's now become my staple meat sauce recipe. Dare I say it rivals my mom's recipe and even better...it's ready in a snap.

There's no all day simmering or babysitting a pot. It's quick and delicious and easy enough for a weeknight meal.

Here's how I make it.

Quick And Easy Bolognese Sauce Recipe


To start, I gather what I need.

For me, I try to take the easy way out, so I make this sauce in one large pot. 

Ingredients:

Adding Onions To Bolognese Sauce Recipe

  • 1 Pound Chop Meat - the first time I made this I used a combo pack. It was veal, pork and beef. Now I usually just get ground beef. 
  • 1 Large Can Of Tomato Puree 
  • 1/4 Cup Chopped Onion 
  • 2 Celery Stalks - chopped up
  • 2 Carrots - shaved
  • 1-2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1-2 Tablespoons Sugar
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • Oregano to taste
  • 1/2 Cup of Heavy Cream

Stirring Meat and Carrots  For Bolognese Sauce

Directions:

I place my pot on the stove over low heat. 

Adding Tomato Puree To Bolognese Sauce
  • I add the olive oil to the bottom of the pot and add the onion, celery and carrots. I sauté them until mostly cooked.
  • Next up, I add the meat and mix it together with the veggies and cook until it's browned.
  • Add the puree
  • Add the sugar, salt, pepper and oregano

  • Adding Sugar To Meat Sauce

  • Let cook for about 30 minutes
  • Add heavy cream stir on stove for about 10 minutes

    And you're done!

    Adding Cream To Bolognese Sauce
I serve it over a large plate of rigatoni, with parmesan cheese on top. My husband actually likes his over a bed of fresh spinach.

Of course you can enjoy with any pasta you like.

And honestly, just like mom's sauce, it tastes better the next day. 

I usually make it the night and then it's hands off until dinner the next night.

With a few late night sample privileges for the chef. 

And maybe a few for breakfast, too. 

Shhh...

😉

Do you have a go to meat sauce?

You can save this recipe for later ⬇

Quick and Easy Bolognese Sauce Recipe Pin

Enjoy your dinner, friends!
Kim Signature


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  1. Kim, I am copying this. I have a pretty good recipe that I got out of the newspaper in the food section, but it doesn't always turn out the same way twice. We have the InstaPot and there was a recipe I found for that but it just doesn't have the great taste that you are expecting. So I will try yours and let you know. I like the idea of serving over spinich. Do you cook that first?..Happy Weekend..xxoJudy

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    1. Hi Judy, you definitely have to let me know what you think if you try it!!. I’m eager to hear how it compares to the others and that is a fresh bed of spinach. He just chopped it up and placed the pasta over it!

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  2. Wow this looks and sounds great.

    Pinned.

    Every Sunday I grew up with this and I make mine in big batches.

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    1. I grew up like that, too, Cindy! Great memories.

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  3. That sounds delicious, Kim. I'm going to give it a try - I love new recipes!

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    1. I hope you enjoy it, Ann! You'll have to let me know.

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  4. Yum! I saved this. I have a recipe that's good but is so time consuming. This sounds good and not a huge ordeal! Thanks!

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    1. This one is so easy, Mari… chopping the veggies takes the most time!

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  5. Thanks Kim, do you know I have never had Bolognese sauce? Yep, true story. I just may need to try it. I agree, cooking and baking are an art form. My grandmother was the best cook and baker. I wish she would have rubbed off on me more. My presentation skills are severely lacking. LOL. I love your mother's handwritten recipes! I am a big fan of those. I wish I had more. My grandmother would write down recipes and mail them to me when she was in better health and I cherish those. I love the small things in life that are really the BIG things.

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    1. You're right, Cara, those small things are the best! I remember when I found my mom's recipe book. I was so excited and overjoyed!! I should frame a few of them and hang them up somewhere....and I hope you try the bolognese recipe. It's so good!

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  6. Yummy Kim. This looks so good. I took it down and will try this recipe. Thanks for sharing. xoxo Kris

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    1. Oh, I'm so glad, Kris! You'll have to let me know how it goes! xxoo

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  7. I love Bolognese. My recipe takes about 4 hours and uses wine and pancetta along with most of the ingredients you have in yours. It is a labor of love, but the house smells amazing when it is cooking!

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    1. It really does make the house smell great, Penny, I agree! I haven't made it in the fall yet, but I can just picture a big sweater day with the leaves outside, the candles lit, the fire going and that delicious aroma wafting through the house! Mmmm....

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  8. PINNED!!! I have never eaten bolognese. Well to be honest.. never even heard about it. But I sure will be trying your recipe. Thank You!

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    1. It's very, very easy, Carla...and very delicious. I hope you do try it! xo

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  9. Oooh, that looks delicious! I'm with you on talking the easy way out - that's my cooking mantra! Therefore, I'm intrigued by that recipe "Lazy Baklava" in your photo. Maybe you'll share that one with us???

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    1. Cooking is really not my thing, Amy, but over the years as the kids’ palates have become more sophisticated, I’ve been forced to grow! This was an easy one. It’s funny you mentioned the Lazy Baklava, I leaf past it often, but I haven’t thought about making it in years. I should try it and share! Thanks for the suggestion! Have a great weekend!

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  10. This looks fantastic! I'm pinning it.

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    1. Thanks Ricki!! It’s super easy to make.

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  11. Mmm, this looks really yummy. I like the idea of "quick". And let's face it. . .everything tastes better with the addition of heavy cream. At least that's my opinion. Thanks for sharing, Kim. I've pinned it.

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    1. The cream really makes a huge difference Nancy…and yes, SO easy!! Happy weekend and thanks for the pin!

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  12. We love Bolognese sauce. I use red wine in mine. A great sauce with different pasta is wonderful and so yummy.

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    1. The wine addition sounds good, Linda! I would definitely need help with that addition!!

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  13. You have definitely made me hungry. xo Laura

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  14. I have never had this. Sounds interesting. I love spag. with ground beef. I am not much of a pork eater and I am not sure I have had lamb before. How about cook up a pot and give me a yell.....hahah

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  15. I've never been a good cook and I've kinda given up on trying too, but this recipe sounds so easy to do, Kim and if there's one thing in this house that always goes down a treat, it's spagbol.

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    1. Super, super easy!! I promise!! I can't cook any other way! Haha!!

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    2. We tried it this week and it was sooooooooooo yummy. The only thing we added was garlic. It's a keeper.

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  16. Much like mine.
    Exception, carrots and cream
    Adding your touches, calling it
    “Kim’s Meat Sauce” Bolognese

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    1. I hope you like it, Lynne! You'll have to let me know!

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  17. I'm so happy that you made the recipe that rivals your mom's! It sounds really, really yummy and of course, heavy cream would add a wonderful lushness. Can't wait to try it!

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    1. This one was a true success, Kitty and that says a lot over here, since cooking isn't really my thing! Thanks for the visit. I hope you have a lovely week!

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  18. This looks amazing Kim. I pinned and I'm looking forward to trying out this recipe. It's just perfect for fall and winter.

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    1. Thanks Julie! You'll have to let me know if you try it! Have a great week!

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  19. Thanks for recipe that was great

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