Classic Bolognese Sauce

Classic Bolognese Sauce

Pasta sauce
160 min

It’s hearty, rich, and better than anything you’ll order in a restaurant.

Ingredients

  • olive oil
    2 tbsp
  • yellow onion

    finely diced, about 1 cup

    1 small
  • carrot

    peeled and finely diced, about 1/3 cup

    1 small
  • stalk celery

    finely diced, about 1/4 cup

    1 small
  • garlic

    minced

    3 cloves
  • lean ground beef
    1 lb
  • kosher salt

    plus more as needed

    1 ½ tsp
  • freshly ground black pepper
    ¼ tsp
  • ground or freshly grated nutmeg
    ⅛ tsp
  • whole milk
    1 c
  • dry white wine
    1 c
  • can whole peeled tomatoes
    1
  • low-sodium chicken broth
    1 c

Directions

  1. 1

    Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium heat until shimmering. Stir in 1 finely diced small yellow onion, 1 peeled and finely diced small carrot, 1 finely diced small celery stalk, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened, 8 to 10 minutes.

  2. 2

    Add 1 pound lean ground beef, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg. Cook, breaking up the beef into smaller pieces, until cooked through, 5 to 7 minutes.

  3. 3

    Stir in 1 cup whole milk and cook, stirring occasionally, until evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in 1 cup dry white wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until evaporated, 10 to 12 minutes.

  4. 4

    Stir in 1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes and their juices, breaking up the tomatoes with your hands into bite-size pieces as you add them to the pot, and 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth. Bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low to maintain a very gentle simmer. Simmer, stirring occasionally and breaking up any large pieces of tomato with a wooden spoon, until the sauce is thickened and the flavors meld, about 1 1/2 hours.

Recipe notes

  1. 1

    Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.