Authentic Slow-Simmered Bolognese

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-05 · Updated 2026-04-05

A true Italian masterpiece simmered for hours to develop deep, complex flavors, using only the freshest ingredients without shortcuts. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 150 minutes pairs ground beef, ground pork, large, finely diced onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 calories and feeds 6, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 lb ground beef
• 1/2 lb ground pork
• 1 large, finely diced onion
• 2, finely diced carrot
• 2 stalks, finely diced celery
• 4 cloves, minced garlic
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 cups beef broth
• 1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh basil
• 1/4 cup, chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 12 oz spaghetti
• 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
• 1/2 cup, freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat; add diced onion, carrots, and celery, and cook for 5 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add ground beef and ground pork, breaking into small pieces with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned (about 8 minutes), draining excess fat.
3. Step 3: Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes, then pour in red wine and simmer until reduced by half (about 3 minutes).
4. Step 4: Add beef broth, crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper; bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook on low heat for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.
5. Step 5: While sauce simmers, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil; cook 12 oz spaghetti until al dente (8-10 minutes), then drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
6. Step 6: Stir fresh basil and parsley into the sauce and cook uncovered for 15 minutes; add drained spaghetti and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, tossing until sauce coats the pasta and thickens (about 2 minutes).
7. Step 7: Serve immediately with 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese per serving.