Slow-Simmered Beef Bolognese with Fresh Herbs

By AislePrompt Test Kitchen · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-06 · Updated 2026-04-06

A rich, deeply flavorful Bolognese sauce made with slow-cooked beef and tomatoes, simmered to perfection for an authentic Italian experience that honors traditional techniques. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 200 minutes pairs ground beef, ground pork, extra-virgin olive oil for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 620 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
• 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 medium, finely diced carrots
• 2 stalks, finely diced celery
• 1 large, finely diced onion
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
• 1/2 cup dry red wine
• 14.5 oz diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup finely chopped fresh basil
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh oregano
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add 2 diced carrots, 2 diced celery stalks, and 1 diced onion; cook for 8-10 minutes until softened and golden, stirring occasionally.
2. Step 2: Add 2 tbsp tomato paste and cook for 1 minute until darkened, then stir in 1/2 cup dry red wine and simmer for 3 minutes until reduced by half, scraping up any browned bits from the pot.
3. Step 3: Add 1 lb ground beef, 1/2 lb ground pork, 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 14.5 oz diced tomatoes, 1/4 cup chopped basil, 2 tbsp chopped oregano, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper. Bring to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and cover partially. Simmer for 3 hours, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
4. Step 4: Remove from heat, stir in 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and let sit for 10 minutes. Serve over 12 oz cooked spaghetti, garnished with additional fresh basil.