Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe

Spaghetti bolognese is one of those meals that never gets old and it’s just the ultimate comfort meal! Simple, filling, and full of flavour, the kind of dinner you can count on to make everyone happy!

The secret lies in the sofrito—the classic Italian base of onions, carrots, and celery. Cooking it slowly in olive oil brings out sweetness and depth, which gives the sauce a rich, rounded flavour. From there, everything comes together simply: minced beef, garlic, good tinned tomatoes, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce for a savoury kick. I like to let the sauce simmer for at least 45 minutes. If you have the time, an hour or even longer makes it taste even better—the flavours deepen and meld together beautifully.

Top Tips for the Best Bolognese

• Take your time with the sofrito – the longer you cook it gently, the more flavour you’ll build into the sauce.
• Brown the mince properly – don’t rush this step; colour means flavour.
• Low and slow – if you can, simmer for over an hour. It makes a world of difference.
• Make ahead – this sauce tastes even better the next day, so it’s perfect for meal prep.
• Add in parmesan rind- the rind is the hardened end portion of parmesan cheese and it’s usually thrown away but if you add it into the sauce during the simmering stage and leave it in then the flavour pay off will be unreal!

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 2 large onions, finely chopped
• 3 carrots, finely diced
• 2 celery sticks, finely diced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 400g minced beef
• 2 tins chopped tomatoes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 large bay leaf (or 2 small)
• 3 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• Pinch of sugar (optional, if sauce tastes too acidic)
• 300g Spaghetti

Method

1. Prepare the sofrito – Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, and celery. Fry gently for about 10 minutes until softened and golden. This creates the rich flavour base.
2. Add the garlic and mince – Stir in the garlic, then add the minced beef. Cook until the meat browns all over, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
3. Build the sauce – Add the tinned tomatoes, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer.
4. Simmer slowly – Reduce the heat to low, cover loosely with a lid, and let the sauce bubble gently for at least 45 minutes (longer if you can). Stir occasionally, adding a splash of water if it becomes too thick.
5. Taste and adjust – If the sauce tastes a little sharp, add a pinch of sugar. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
6. Serve – Cook the spaghetti according to the packet instructions. Drain and toss with the bolognese sauce, or serve the sauce ladled generously on top. Finish with freshly grated Parmesan if you like.

Spaghetti Bolognese

Spaghetti bolognese is one of those meals that never gets old and it's just the ultimate comfort meal! Simple, filling, and full of flavour, the kind of dinner you can count on to make everyone happy!

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Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 2 large onions finely chopped
• 3 carrots finely diced
• 2 celery sticks finely diced
• 6 cloves garlic minced
• 400 g minced beef
• 2 tins chopped tomatoes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 large bay leaf or 2 small
• 3 tsp Worcestershire sauce
• Pinch of sugar optional, if sauce tastes too acidic
• 300 g Spaghetti to serve

Instructions

• Prepare the sofrito – Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onions, carrots, and celery. Fry gently for about 10 minutes until softened and golden. This creates the rich flavour base.
• Add the garlic and mince – Stir in the garlic, then add the minced beef. Cook until the meat browns all over, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
• Build the sauce – Add the tinned tomatoes, salt, pepper, bay leaf, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well and bring to a gentle simmer.
• Simmer slowly – Reduce the heat to low, cover loosely with a lid, and let the sauce bubble gently for at least 45 minutes (longer if you can). Stir occasionally, adding a splash of water if it becomes too thick.
• Taste and adjust – If the sauce tastes a little sharp, add a pinch of sugar. Remove the bay leaf before serving.
• Serve – Cook the spaghetti according to the packet instructions. Drain and toss with the bolognese sauce, or serve the sauce ladled generously on top. Finish with freshly grated Parmesan if you like.

If you love pasta recipes then make sure you check out the ones below for some dinner inspo!

• Marry Me Chicken Pasta
• Creamy Mushroom Pasta
• Spaghetti Pomodoro with Burrata

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