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Bolognese Sauce

The slow-simmered meat sauce of Bologna — beef, pork, wine, and milk, cooked for hours into a rich, velvet ragù.

⏱ 20 minPrep time
🔥 2 hr 30 minCook time
🍽 8Servings
🏷 DinnerCategory
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Bolognese Sauce - slow-simmered ragù with beef, pork, vegetables and parmesan

Bolognese is the slow food of Emilia-Romagna: a rich ragù of minced beef and pork simmered with finely chopped vegetables, wine, milk, and tomatoes until thick, glossy, and deeply savory. Low heat and patience turn simple pantry ingredients into liquid gold.

Traditionally served with wide pasta like tagliatelle rather than spaghetti, this sauce is made for long Sunday cooking. It also freezes beautifully, so make a double batch and let it carry several easy weeknight dinners.

Step by stepInstructions

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat; add the pancetta and cook until the fat renders, about 4 minutes.
  2. Add the onion, carrot, and celery and cook until soft, about 8 minutes; stir in the garlic for 1 minute.
  3. Add the ground beef and pork, breaking it up, and cook until no longer pink, about 8 minutes.
  4. Pour in the wine and scrape up the browned bits; simmer until mostly evaporated, about 5 minutes.
  5. Stir in the tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, milk, salt, and pepper, and bring to a gentle simmer.
  6. Cook over low heat, partially covered, for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until thick and rich. Adjust the seasoning before serving.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Low and slow is everything — give the sauce a full 2 to 3 hours to concentrate. It freezes brilliantly, so double the batch.

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Recipe details

Prep20 min
Cook2 hr 30 min
Servings8
CategoryDinner
PublishedAugust 17, 2026
Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →