Everyone needs a good bolognese sauce recipe and this one is a family favorite I have been making for years. It is deliciously robust and super easy to make. Not only is it perfect for topping spaghetti, but it also makes a hearty meal when served over roasted vegetables! Make a big enough batch to store portions in the freezer and you can enjoy it any night of the week!

Ingredients

A white round plate containing diced onions and carrots, a white round plate containing uncooked ground meat, a dish containing minced garlic, a dish containing tomato paste.

Ground beef
Carrots
Onion
Garlic
Tomato paste
Jarred pasta sauce

My bolognese sauce uses jarred pasta sauce because a bunch of work has already been done for me in terms of depth of flavor, and we can't complain about convenience! You can, absolutely, start with regular tomato sauce and figure out the seasonings as I have also done it many times before, but if you want this to be as easy as possible, don't be shy and grab those jarred sauces!

How to Make the Bolognese Sauce

Heat large pot over medium-high heat. Add the oil and saute onions, carrots, and salt and cook about 2 minutes.

Diced onions and carrots and minced garlic in a pot.

Add garlic and cook for about 1 minute.

Red tomato paste, diced onions and carrots in a pot.

Add the tomato paste and stir and cook for another minute.

Raw ground meat in a pot with diced carrots and onions.

Add ground beef and mix with all the ingredients in the pot.

Carrots and cooked ground meat in a pot.

Continue to break up the ground beef and mix with the vegetables until the meat is cooked through.

Add pasta sauce to the pot and mix well. Once sauce starts to bubble, reduce heat to low-medium and simmer for about 1 hour, lid slightly ajar. Season with salt and pepper to taste, if necessary.

Cooked ground meat and carrots in a tomato sauce in a pot.

Serving Suggestions

A spoonful of bolognese sauce being laid on a mound of spaghetti on a white plate.

Obviously, bolognese goes perfectly with traditional spaghetti. This sauce is also totally gluten-free, and if you use it to top a heap of rice noodles or other gluten-free pasta, you don't have to miss out on the comfort a bowl of pasta can give.

A white round plate containing a fork and knife and roasted cauliflower topped with bolognese sauce and grated cheese.

The sauce doesn't have to be limited to eating with pasta, though! It makes a very hearty meal when served over roasted cauliflower or a mix of roasted vegetables which also means low-carb!

The bolognese sauce would also make a delicious hot savory dip! Try it with my Gluten-Free Parmesan Garlic Breadsticks for an appetizer or fun meal!

Commonly Asked Questions

A white square dish containing bolognese sauce and a spoon.

What jarred sauce should I use?

Use whatever is your favorite jarred sauce! I like to use ones that are basic in flavors like onion and garlic or basil. You could also use two different flavors.

Can I use other ground meats?

Mixing ground meats is a common variation to bolognese. A mix of ground beef, pork, and lamb would be delicious!

Can you freeze the bolognese?

YES! This recipe makes a large enough batch to set aside to freeze for easy future meals! I use quart-sized freezer bags and fill them with enough sauce good enough for a meal to serve 4. On those nights when I need to pull together a meal quickly or I don't have much energy, it's a huge relief knowing I have packs of bolognese in the freezer, ready to go!