Slow-Simmered Traditional Bolognese with Hand-Pulled Pasta
A deeply flavorful meat sauce simmered for hours to develop true umami depth, served over house-made egg pasta with a touch of aged Parmesan. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 180 minutes pairs ground beef, ground pork, diced carrot for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 580 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
- 12 oz ground beef
- 8 oz ground pork
- 1/2 cup diced carrot
- 1/2 cup diced celery
- 1/2 cup diced onion
- 28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup red wine
- 1 cup beef stock
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup coarsely grated Parmesan
- 2 tbsp fresh basil
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add diced carrots, celery, and onion; cook for 8 minutes until softened but not browned.
- Step 2: Add ground beef and pork; break apart with a wooden spoon and cook for 5 minutes until no longer pink, then deglaze with red wine, scraping up browned bits, and simmer until wine evaporates.
- Step 3: Stir in crushed tomatoes, beef stock, and 1/2 tsp salt; bring to a gentle simmer. Cover partially and cook on low heat for 2 hours, stirring occasionally until sauce thickens and coats the back of a spoon.
- Step 4: Stir in heavy cream and fresh basil, then simmer uncovered for 15 minutes until glossy. Remove from heat, stir in 1/4 cup grated Parmesan, and let rest 10 minutes before serving.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow-Simmered Traditional Bolognese with Hand-Pulled Pasta take to make?
Total time is about 180 minutes (45 min prep + 135 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 Slow-Simmered Traditional Bolognese with Hand-Pulled 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 Slow-Simmered Traditional Bolognese with Hand-Pulled 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 Slow-Simmered Traditional Bolognese with Hand-Pulled Pasta for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). 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 Slow-Simmered Traditional Bolognese with Hand-Pulled 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
- ★★★★☆
Reliable weeknight option. Not going to blow your mind but always satisfying.
- ★★★☆☆
Average. The concept is good but execution needs work on seasoning.
- ★★☆☆☆
Followed exactly and it was underwhelming. Maybe my expectations were too high.
