Bolognese
Bolognese recipes have a long and storied history dating back to the 11th century. The dish is said to have originated in the city of Bologna, Italy, and was traditionally made with a ragù, a meat-based sauce. The earliest known recipe for a ragù Bolognese was published in the 13th century cookbook Libro de Arte Coquinaria, which includes a recipe for macaroni with a meat sauce.
The dish gained popularity in the 18th and 19th centuries, when it began to be exported to other countries. In the United States, the first known recipe for Bolognese sauce appeared in the cookbook The Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, published in 1896. The dish became even more popular in the 20th century, when it was featured in popular Italian cookbooks such as Marcella Hazan’s The Classic Italian Cook Book.
Today, Bolognese sauce is a staple of Italian cuisine and is enjoyed all over the world. While the dish has evolved over the centuries, the basic ingredients remain the same: ground meat, tomatoes, onions, carrots, and celery. This classic sauce is the perfect accompaniment to pasta,
Advice
When making bolognese, it's important to take your time and cook the ingredients properly. Start by browning the beef in a hot pan and then adding onion, garlic, and carrots. Cook until the vegetables are soft before adding in canned tomatoes, tomato paste, and spices. Allow the sauce to simmer for at least 30 minutes to give the flavors time to meld. Lastly, add some cream or milk to give the sauce a nice, creamy texture. Serve over cooked pasta and enjoy!
Jump to: Ingredient Breakdown Insights
Recipes
Marcella Hazan’s Bolognese Sauce
- black pepper
- parmesan cheese
- salt
- nutmeg
- white wine
- milk
- vegetable oil
- plum tomato
- pasta
- onion
- carrot
- celery
- butter
- ground beef
Korean Bulgogi Bolognese
- parmesan cheese
- salt
- carrot
- celery
- onion
- ground beef
- egg pasta
- turbinado sugar
- ginger
- safflower
- tomato paste
- green onion
- soy sauce
- white button mushroom
- garlic
BA's Best Bolognese
- salt
- white wine
- milk
- bay leaf
- celery
- pappardelle
- ground beef
- onion
- carrot
- tomato paste
- nutmeg
- chicken stock
- parmesan cheese
- pancetta
- olive oil
Vegan Bolognese With Mushrooms and Walnuts
- salt
- linguine
- parsley
- walnut
- mushroom
- fennel seed
- oregano
- tomato
- carrot
- onion
- vegan red wine
- olive oil
- marmite
- soy sauce
- syrupy balsamic vinegar
- celery
- tomato paste
- red pepper flake
- garlic
Lasagna Bolognese
- pasta maker
- salt
- salt
- butter
- white wine
- milk
- ground beef
- ground pork
- tomato
- celery
- onion
- carrot
- all purpose flour
- nutmeg
- parmesan cheese
- olive oil
- all purpose flour
- chicken broth
- milk
- pancetta
- egg
- butter
Fast Spaghetti Bolognese
- parmesan cheese
- salt
- onion
- spaghetti
- ground beef
- tomato paste
- olive oil
- worcestershire sauce
- garlic
Spring Pasta Bolognese With Lamb and Peas
- salt
- carrot
- onion
- pea
- lamb
- spaghetti
- rosemary
- parmesan cheese
- heavy cream
- parsley
- olive oil
- lemon juice
- butter
- chicken broth
- spinach
- garlic
Slow Cooker Vodka Bolognese Pasta
- tomato
- milk
- ground beef
- short pasta
- bay leaf
- shallot
- onion
- parmesan rind
- tomato paste
- olive oil
- basil
- oregano
- celery
- thyme
- carrot
- vodka
- ground italian sausage
- salt
Spaghetti Bolognese
- beef
- onion
- olive oil
- red wine
- tomato paste
- sugar
- worcestershire sauce
- beef bouillon
- bay leaf
- garlic
- thyme
- spaghetti
- tomato
- parmesan cheese
- salt
Vegetarian Bolognese
- salt
- another ridged pasta
- bay leaf
- onion
- cauliflower
- parmesan cheese
- tomato paste
- olive oil
- soy sauce
- carrot
- butter
- milk
- garlic
Cauliflower Bolognese
- salt
- rosemary
- chile
- onion
- rigatoni
- cauliflower
- mushroom
- lemon
- tomato paste
- olive oil
- parmesan cheese
- parsley
- butter
- garlic
Broccoli Bolognese with Orecchiette
- red pepper flake
- salt
- broccoli
- parmesan cheese
- italian sausage
- orecchiette
- olive oil
- butter
- garlic
Shrimp Bolognese
- salt
- lemon
- tagliatelle pasta
- red pepper flake
- fennel
- onion
- olive oil
- pernod
- cherry tomato
- chicken
- tarragon
- tomato paste
- garlic
Vegetarian Lasagna Bolognese
- salt
- olive oil
- butter
- vegetarian parmesan
- lasagna noodle
- ricotta cheese
- egg
- parsley
- heavy cream
- nutmeg
- mozzarella cheese
- vegan bolognese
The Ultimate Bolognese Sauce
- spice mill
- salt
- pork shoulder
- olive oil
- tomato
- milk
- red pepper flake
- salt
- ground beef
- pappardelle
- onion
- thyme
- red wine
- mama lil pickled kick butt pepper
- black peppercorn
- red wine vinegar
- fennel seed
- bay leaf
- chicken liver
- parmesan cheese
- clove
- butter
- garlic
Baked Bolognese
- red chili flake
- nutmeg
- salt
- parcooked rigatoni
- onion
- milk
- ground beef
- butter
- white wine
- cheese
- oregano
- tomato
- all purpose flour
- olive oil
- garlic
- sugar
Easy Bolognese
- parmesan cheese
- marinara
- celery
- carrot
- onion
- ground beef
- ground pork
- pasta noodle
- salt
- heavy cream
- black pepper
- olive oil
Walnut and Lentil Bolognese
- parmesan cheese
- pasta sauce
- green lentil
- onion
- carrot
- celery
- walnut
- red wine
- pappardelle
- salt
- olive oil
- black pepper
- garlic powder
- italian seasoning
- vegetable stock
- garlic
One Pot Pasta Bolognese
- olive oil
- onion
- red pepper flake
- tomato paste
- italian seasoning
- worcestershire sauce
- garlic
- beef broth
- salt
- spaghetti
- beef
- tomato passata
- parmesan cheese
The BEST Bolognese
- milk
- chuck beef
- ground pork
- salt
- carrot
- celery
- onion
- white wine
- red pepper flake
- san marzano tomato
- beef
- tomato paste
- butter
- olive oil
- bay leaf
- pancetta
Late Summer Vegetable Bolognese with Creamy Polenta
- cherry tomato
- polenta
- white wine
- san marzano tomato
- bell pepper
- basil
- onion
- zucchini
- walnut
- mushroom
- milk
- butter
- thyme
- carrot
- ears corn
- olive oil
- garlic
- salt
Crockpot Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Bolognese.
- milk
- ground beef
- italian sausage
- oregano
- bay leaf
- spaghetti squash
- onion
- tomato paste
- garlic
- tomato
- mozzarella cheese
- parmesan cheese
- salt
Easy Vegetable Bolognese with Spaghetti Squash
- salt
- olive oil
- mushroom
- celery
- carrot
- onion
- zucchini
- basil
- milk
- red pepper flake
- parmesan rind parmesan
- tomato
- spaghetti squash
- red wine
- garlic
Summer Bolognese
- salt
- butter
- ground chicken
- red chile
- bucatini
- olive oil
- white wine
- basil
- parmesan cheese
- tomato paste
- cherry tomato
- garlic
Ragù alla bolognese
- carote
- cipolle
- coste di sedano
- latte
- olio extravergine di oliva
- pancetta dolce dadini
- passata di pomodoro
- pepe
- sale fino
- tritato di manzo
- vino rosso
Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce
- tomato
- parmesan cheese
- salt
- onion
- ground beef
- carrot
- celery
- chicken stock
- red wine
- thyme
- heavy cream
- black pepper
- olive oil
- italian flat leaf
- bay leaf
- garlic
- tomato paste
Sunday Dinner: No-Holds-Barred Lasagna Bolognese Recipe
- Ragù Bolognese
- red pepper flake
- salt
- thai fish sauce
- plum tomato
- onion
- red wine
- milk
- sage
- heavy cream
- basil
- chicken
- olive oil
- bay leaf
- carrot
- lamb
- ground pork
- veal
- celery
- chicken liver
- butter
- garlic
- besciamella
- salt
- mozzarella cheese
- nutmeg
- milk
- butter
- all purpose flour
- garlic
- Ricotta Mixture
- salt
- basil
- egg
- ricotta cheese
- To assemble
- basil
- parmesan cheese
- fifteen by sheets rolled pasta
20 Minute Heirloom Tomato Basil Chicken Parmesan Bolognese.
- basil
- rounded cherry tomato
- ground chicken
- spaghetti
- red pepper flake
- tomato
- parmesan cheese
- red wine
- olive oil
- balsamic vinegar
- garlic
- mozzarella cheese
- salt
Zucchini Bolognese
- black pepper
- lemon juice
- salt
- red pepper flake
- chicken bouillon
- onion
- parmesan cheese
- olive oil
- water
- rigatoni
- zucchini
Pressure Cooker Ragù Bolognese Recipe
- To Serve
- parmesan cheese
- tagliatelle
- salt
- chicken stock
- ground pork shoulder
- tomato
- onion
- thai fish sauce
- heavy cream
- parsley
- pancetta
- chicken liver
- basil
- sage
- red wine
- ground beef
- olive oil
- bay leaf
- carrot
- celery
- parmesan cheese
- garlic
- powdered gelatin
Classic Bolognese Sauce
- beef broth
- milk
- italian sausage
- ground beef
- oregano
- onion
- basil
- white wine
- parsley
- carrot
- celery
- black pepper
- salt
- tomato
- garlic
- tomato paste
Chorizo Bolognese Pasta with Sourdough Pangrattato + Burrata.
- fettuccine
- chorizo
- oregano
- san marzano tomato
- bay leaf
- kale
- sage
- manchego cheese
- red wine
- tomato pesto
- milk
- red pepper flake
- olive oil
- butter
- basil
- garlic
- thickish sourdough bread
- prosciutto
- burrata cheese
- salt
- salt
Lasagna Bolognese
- broth
- salt
- nutmeg
- olive oil
- pepper
- salt
- all purpose flour
- qt milk
- tomato
- white wine
- parmigiano reggiano pdo
- butter
- milk
- spinach
- pancetta
- egg
- carrot
- celery
- onion
- all purpose white flour
- ground beef
Cauliflower Bolognese
- basil
- salt
- rosemary
- onion
- cauliflower
- pecorino romano cheese
- tomato paste
- linguine
- red pepper flake
- heavy cream
- olive oil
- butter
- garlic
Gnocchi Bolognese
- milk
- chuck beef
- ground pork
- salt
- carrot
- celery
- onion
- white wine
- red pepper flake
- san marzano tomato
- gnocchi
- beef
- tomato paste
- butter
- olive oil
- bay leaf
- pancetta
- parmesan cheese
Classic Baked Lasagna Bolognese (Lasagne alla Bolognese) Recipe
- salt
- vegetable oil
- ragù bolognese
- nutmeg
- spinach pasta
- milk
- parmesan cheese
- all purpose flour
- butter
Wild Boar Ragu Bolognese
- tomato
- milk
- onion
- red pepper flake
- boar shoulder
- rosemary
- sage
- red wine
- olive oil
- bay leaf
- carrot
- celery
- tomato paste
- garlic
- salt
- black pepper
Mushroom Bolognese
- garlic
- red wine
- parmesan cheese
- milk
- onion
- carrot
- mushroom
- celery
- oregano
- rosemary
- nutmeg
- rigatoni
- white button mushroom
- mushroom
- tomato paste
- butter
- olive oil
- black pepper
- salt
Turkey Bolognese with Roasted Spaghetti Squash
- mushroom
- ground turkey
- salt
- garlic
- carrot
- parmesan cheese
- onion
- italian parsley
- black pepper
- oregano
- olive oil
- tomato
- spaghetti squash
- tomato paste
Agnolotti Bolognese
- parmesan cheese
- salt
- salt
- olive oil
- mascarpone cheese
- ricotta cheese
- milk
- parsley
- onion
- all purpose flour
- semolina flour
- beef stock
- parmesan cheese
- heavy cream
- red wine
- prosciutto
- porcini mushroom
- olive oil
- tomato paste
- rosemary
- thyme
- bay leaf
- eggs large yolk
- garlic
- tomato
- loose hot italian sausage
- loose sweet italian sausage
- ground beef
Chicken or Beef Bolognese
- salt
- celery
- onion
- white wine
- thyme
- oregano
- red pepper flake
- ground chicken
- rigatoni
- tomato paste
- carrot
- tomato
- chicken stock
- garlic
- olive oil
- basil
One Pot Orzo Bolognese
- pea
- ground beef
- olive oil
- basil
- onion
- tomato paste
- salt
- orzo pasta
- beef stock
- garlic
- mushroom
- parmesan cheese
The Very Best Bolognese Sauce
- white wine
- milk
- ground beef
- ground pork
- onion
- tomato
- tomato paste
- chicken broth
- celery
- carrot
- garlic
- pancetta
- salt
20-Minute Bolognese
- salt
- butter
- olive oil
- onion
- burger
- tomato
- basil
- spaghetti
Miso Bolognese
- salt
- coconut milk
- fettuccine
- black pepper
- chive
- sherry
- vegetable oil
- carrot
- onion
- chicken broth
- ground beef
- celery
- garlic
- white miso paste
Bolognese Sauce
- chicken
- white wine
- milk
- ground beef
- olive oil
- italian seasoning
- tomato
- tomato paste
- bay leaf
- carrot
- onion
- celery
- salt
- black pepper
- parsley
- garlic
Hong Kong style Chinese Bolognese
- pea
- ground beef
- tomato paste
- salt
- beef stock
- pasta
- garlic powder
- sesame oil
- oyster sauce
- hoisin sauce
- soy sauce
Ragu Bolognese
- onion
- ground beef
- tomato
- measure spaghetti
- carrot
- celery
- ground pork
- nutmeg
- white wine
- milk
- olive oil
- butter
- black pepper
- salt
The Best Slow-Cooked Bolognese Sauce Recipe
- salt
- heavy cream
- milk
- ground beef
- lamb shoulder
- ground pork shoulder
- tomato
- onion
- chicken stock
- powdered gelatin
- parsley
- pancetta
- chicken liver
- olive oil
- sage
- red wine
- thai fish sauce
- bay leaf
- carrot
- parmesan cheese
- butter
- garlic
- celery
- To Serve
- pasta
Mushroom Bolognese Pasta
- tomato
- onion
- chicken
- mushroom
- celery
- rigatoni pasta
- porcini mushroom
- parmesan cheese
- bodied red wine
- tomato paste
- butter
- olive oil
- thyme
- garlic
- salt
Alessandra Spisni's Ragù alla Bolognese
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- salt
- red wine
- lard
- ground beef
- carrot
- celery
- tomato puree
- onion
Mushroom Bolognese
- mushroom
- pasta
- italian seasoning
- tomato sauce
- bay leaf
- carrot
- onion
- vegetable stock
- red pepper
- olive oil
- celery
- red wine
- garlic
- parmesan cheese
- salt
Tagliatelle Bolognese
- salt
- parmesan cheese
- olive oil
- tannic red wine
- beef rib bone
- flank steak
- carrot
- onion
- rosemary
- sage
- celery
- chicken stock
- tagliatelle pasta
- bay leaf
- plum tomato
Summer Bolognese
- black pepper
- parmesan cheese
- salt
- white wine
- ligurian
- olive oil
- basil
- ground beef
- cherry tomato
- spaghetti
- lemon
- thyme
- red wine vinegar
- tomato paste
- chile flake
- sugar
- garlic
Anna Nanni's Ragù alla Bolognese
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- salt
- red wine
- ground pork shoulder
- carrot
- onion
- olive oil
- tomato
- rib celery
- ground beef
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- butter
- pancetta
Weeknight Bolognese
- heavy cream
- ground beef
- spaghetti
- garlic
- italian seasoning
- rosemary
- tomato sauce
- parmesan cheese
- black pepper
- red wine
- red pepper flake
- nutmeg
- olive oil
- parsley
- tomato paste
- salt
Lasagne Bolognese
- LASAGNA
- parsley
- black pepper
- salt
- egg
- oregano
- parmesan cheese
- red pepper flake
- mozzarella cheese
- lasagna noodle
- ricotta cheese
- BOLOGNESE
- black pepper
- salt
- bay leaf
- carrot
- onion
- white wine
- celery
- olive oil
- beef stock
- milk
- garlic
- tomato
- tomato paste
- beef
Best Bolognese Sauce
- black pepper
- bay leaf
- tomato
- carrot
- onion
- celery
- olive oil
- white wine
- garlic
- milk
- tomato pureé
- salt
- beef
- beef broth
Pasta Bolognese
- ground beef
- black pepper
- salt
- carrot
- onion
- parmesan cheese
- pasta sauce
- garlic
- celery
'New Style' Ragù alla Bolognese
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- salt
- fish sauce
- tabasco
- milk
- white wine
- sherry vinegar
- tomato
- bay leaf
- tarragon
- pork shoulder
- coriander seed
- ketchup
- worcestershire sauce
- carrot
- onion
- celery
- star anise
- garlic
- parsley
- thyme
- clove
- olive oil
Bolognese Sauce
- red
- milk
- ground beef
- ground italian sausage
- red pepper flake
- san marzano tomato
- tomato paste
- bay leaf
- carrot
- rib celery
- onion
- anchovy
- garlic
- pancetta
- thyme
- salt
- parmesan cheese
Peruvian-Style Pasta Bolognese
- salt
- chicken stock
- tagliatelle
- ají amarillo paste
- onion
- ginger
- parmesan cheese
- black pepper
- canola oil
- cilantro
- plum tomato
- red wine vinegar
- soy sauce
- ground beef
- garlic
simple, essential bolognese
- tagliatelle
- ground beef
- bay leaf
- rib celery
- carrot
- onion
- white wine
- milk
- tomato paste
- pancetta
- garlic
- nutmeg grating
- black pepper
- salt
- water
Turkey Bolognese
- tomato
- red wine
- onion
- ground turkey
- tagliatelle
- olive oil
- italian seasoning
- salt
- parsley
- black pepper
- red pepper flake
- tomato paste
- garlic
- mushroom
- basil
- parmesan cheese
Rice Cake Bolognese
- parmesan cheese
- black pepper
- basil
- white wine
- milk
- ginger
- garlic
- cinnamon
- ground beef
- ground pork
- nutmeg
- soy sauce
- bay leaf
- celery
- carrot
- green onion
- onion
- oval shaped rice cake
- olive oil
- tomato
Penne Bolognese
- parmesan cheese
- salt
- red wine
- veal
- red pepper flake
- olive oil
- ground pork
- penne rigate
- tomato
- bay leaf
- carrot
- onion
- celery
- basil
- tomato paste
- thyme
- garlic
Ragù alla Bolognese (Bolognese Meat Sauce)
- salt
- tomato
- beef
- milk
- celery
- prosciutto di parma
- onion
- ground beef
- white wine
- carrot
- olive oil
- chicken liver
'Classic' Ragù alla Bolognese
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- salt
- white wine
- onion
- skirt steak
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- pancetta
- carrot
- milk
- heavy cream
- celery
Bolognese Sauce
- celery
- carrot
- beef
- ground beef
- olive oil
- olive oil
- italian seasoning
- onion
- garlic
- pasta
- salt
- bay leaf
- thyme
- beef
- half
- white wine
- basil
- tomato paste
- thyme
- garlic
- bacon
- parmesan cheese
- salt
Ingredient Breakdown
Insights
Correlated with Lower Ratings
- white wine
Correlated with Higher Ratings
- bay leaf
- tomato
Staple Ingredients
- salt 62%
- olive oil 55%
- onion 53%
- garlic 44%
- parmesan cheese 39%
Common Ingredients
- carrot 33%
- tomato paste 33%
- butter 27%
- celery 27%
- milk 24%
- tomato 24%
Usual Ingredients
- ground beef 21%
- red pepper flake 21%
- basil 17%
- bay leaf 17%
- red wine 17%
- white wine 15%
- black pepper 14%
- mushroom 14%
- nutmeg 14%
- heavy cream 11%
- parsley 11%
- all purpose flour 9%
- ground pork 9%
- oregano 9%
- pancetta 9% See More
- rosemary 9%
- spaghetti 9%