Hearty Spaghetti Bolognese with Fresh Basil Recipe
This classic Spaghetti Bolognese recipe features a rich, slow-simmered meat sauce made with ground beef, fresh vegetables, tomatoes, and herbs. Simmered for hours to develop deep flavors and served over perfectly cooked spaghetti, this hearty Italian dish is a comforting family favorite that’s easy to prepare and perfect for batch cooking or freezing for later.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables and Herbs
- 1 Onion, diced
- 2 Carrots, diced
- 2 Celery stalks, diced
- 2–3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 5–6 leaves Fresh Basil or 2 tsp dried basil (reserve a few small leaves for garnish)
Meat and Sauce
- 450g/1 lbs Ground Beef, extra lean
- 400g/14oz Canned Diced Tomatoes
- 500g/17oz Tomato Passata/Crushed Tomatoes
- 250ml/1 cup Water
- 2 tsp Dried Oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp Olive oil
Pasta
- 450g/1 lbs Spaghetti
Instructions
- Prepare the base: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large, deep frying pan or Dutch Oven. Add the diced onions, carrots, celery, and minced garlic. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, taking care not to brown or color the vegetables to keep the flavor sweet and tender.
- Cook the meat: Add the ground beef to the pan and brown it thoroughly, stirring continuously and breaking up the meat until no pink remains. This ensures even cooking and a good texture in the sauce.
- Add tomatoes and seasonings: Pour in the canned diced tomatoes, tomato passata, and water. Season with salt, pepper, dried oregano, and torn basil leaves, reserving a few basil leaves for garnish. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Simmer the sauce: Lower the heat and let the sauce simmer with the lid slightly ajar for 2.5 to 3 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and allow flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken beautifully.
- Cook the spaghetti: Near the end of the simmering time, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package instructions minus 2 minutes to prevent overcooking as it will finish cooking combined with the sauce.
- Combine and serve: Drain the spaghetti and toss it gently into the Bolognese sauce. Remove from heat. Garnish with the reserved fresh basil leaves and serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Using a food processor to chop the vegetables saves time and results in a smoother sauce, which is great for picky eaters and hides plenty of vitamins.
- Various pasta shapes can be used; long noodles like tagliatelle, fettuccine, or pappardelle pair well with this hearty sauce.
- A combination of beef and pork can be used instead of all beef for more flavor and better texture; pork is more affordable too.
- This recipe is perfect for batch cooking and freezes well—prepare a big batch, use what you need, and freeze the rest.
- Bolognese can also be prepared in a slow cooker, allowing flavors to develop even more deeply over a longer cooking period.
Keywords: Spaghetti Bolognese, classic Italian pasta, ground beef sauce, slow simmered Bolognese, easy family dinner, hearty pasta dish, homemade Bolognese sauce