Homemade Bolognese Sauce

Kelley Simmons
March 11, 2025
0 comments

Homemade Bolognese Sauce is a rich, hearty meat sauce that is slow simmered to perfection to develop deep, savory flavors! Perfect for a comforting meal, served with thick pappardelle noodles and parmesan cheese on top!

Overhead shot of bolognese sauce with pappardelle noodles in a bowl.

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The Best Homemade Bolognese Sauce Recipe

This thick, savory sauce is the epitome of comfort. Seriously, if you need a satisfying pasta dish, this homemade bolognese sauce has got you covered! It has a more complex flavor profile than regular meat sauce, since it has the addition of carrots and celery along with a dash of red wine and lots of fresh herbs!

Making your own bolognese sauce is quite simple. The most important part is letting the sauce simmer and bubble for a bit in order to really develop all the flavors! After about an hour of simmering, you will have a flavorful sauce perfect to feed a crowd!

Ingredients Needed

Veggies: You’ll need carrots, celery, onion and garlic here. Dice them up into equal sized pieces!
Red Wine: Red wine adds a depth of flavor and the alcohol will be cooked off while simmering! I recommend using a dry red wine, steer clear of sweet wines!
Chicken Broth: Chicken broth is added to make the sauce a little thinner. You can use water instead if desired and add a little salt.
Tomato Sauce: I like the combination of crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Make sure to use a good quality tomato sauce like Raos!
Italian Seasoning: For lots of Italian flavor!
Ground Beef: Ground beef is typically used in bolognese, but you can substitute with ground chicken or turkey if desired. You can also opt for half ground beef, half ground pork for a richer sauce.
Fresh Herbs: I used a combination of parsley and rosemary! You can also add fresh thyme, oregano or marjoram. I usually just add whatever herbs I have on hand.

How to Make Homemade Bolognese

Sauté the Veggies: Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add in carrots, celery and onion and sauté for 4-5 minutes or until the veggies start to get some color on them. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Brown the Beef: Add in the ground beef and cook until it is no longer pink.

Ground beef being browned with veggies in a pot.

Start the Sauce: Pour in the red wine and chicken broth and scrap the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Add in the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, bay leaves, Italian seasoning and fresh herbs.

Tomato sauce and herbs added to meat and veggies in the pot.

Simmer: Bring to a simmer and cook for 45 minutes to an hour. The longer you cook the sauce, the deeper the flavor will be!
Serve: Serve with pappardelle pasta and extra fresh herbs and parmesan cheese for serving! Enjoy!

Bolognese sauce after being cooked and simmered in a pot.

Tips for Success

Simmer your bolognese sauce for at least 45 minutes to an hour for the best flavor! You can leave on a low simmer for up to 2-3 hours to develop loads of flavor!
Adjust seasoning as needed! Since we are adding chicken broth here, you will already have some added salt in the sauce. Taste after simmering and add any salt or pepper that you think it needs!
Serve your bowl of bolognese pasta with garlic bread or garlic knots, and a fresh Italian chopped salad!

Close up shot of bolognese sauce in a pot with a rubber spoon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is bolognese?

As opposed to regular tomato-based pasta sauces, bolognese is a meat sauce that is cooked with the addition of carrots and celery, and sometimes a little bit of milk! I didn’t add milk here, but you certainly can add a dash for a bit of creaminess. These additional ingredients add some extra flavor and create a complex, savory sauce!

How should I store leftover homemade bolognese sauce?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days! Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop when you are ready to eat it. You can also freeze leftover sauce in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months! Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.