Serious Bolognese Pasta
A hearty, slow-cooked pasta dish with a rich tomato and meat sauce, embodying the depth and complexity of a serious culinary creation. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 80 minutes pairs ground beef, medium, diced onion, minced garlic for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 1100 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 medium, diced onion
- 3 cloves, minced garlic
- 2 cups tomato puree
- 1 small, diced carrot
- 1/2 stalk, diced celery
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 12 oz, penne or rigatoni pasta
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 1 medium onion, 3 cloves garlic, 1 carrot, and 1/2 stalk celery, sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
- Step 2: Add 1 lb ground beef, cook for 5 minutes until browned, breaking into small pieces.
- Step 3: Stir in 2 cups tomato puree, 1/2 cup red wine, 1 tbsp tomato paste, 1 tsp Italian seasoning, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer for 40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened.
- Step 4: Cook 12 oz pasta in salted boiling water for 8-10 minutes until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
- Step 5: Toss pasta with the sauce, adding reserved pasta water as needed to create a creamy texture. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Serious Bolognese Pasta take to make?
Total time is about 80 minutes (20 min prep + 60 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Serious Bolognese Pasta?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep ground beef from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Serious Bolognese Pasta?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Serious Bolognese Pasta for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Serious Bolognese Pasta?
Italian pasta like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
What others are saying
- ★★★★☆
Enjoyable meal. Instructions could be a touch more detailed on the timing.
- ★★★★☆
Very good for a 60-minute recipe. Would bump up the spice level though.
- ★★★★☆
Almost perfect — just needed a squeeze of lemon at the end.
