James Ball Jersey-Theme Spaghetti Bolognese

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-03-27 · Updated 2026-03-27

Rich meaty Bolognese sauce with tender beef, slow-cooked tomatoes, and served with al dente spaghetti. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 85 minutes pairs ground beef, diced onion, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, 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, diced onion
• 2 cloves, minced garlic
• 2 stalks, diced celery
• 2, grated carrots
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 2 cups canned crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup red wine
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 12 oz spaghetti
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 1 diced onion, 2 minced garlic cloves, 2 diced celery stalks, and 2 grated carrots. Sauté for 8 minutes until softened.
2. Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef and cook until browned, breaking into small pieces. Stir in 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes.
3. Step 3: Pour in 1/2 cup red wine and 2 cups crushed tomatoes. Add 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens.
4. Step 4: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz spaghetti and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain and toss with 1 tbsp olive oil.
5. Step 5: Serve spaghetti topped with Bolognese sauce, garnished with fresh basil leaves.