The BEST Spaghetti Bolognese
Spaghetti Bolognese – the ultimate comfort food. The comfiest of comfort food if you will, and literally my favourite home cooked meal of all time. With so many different recipes out there it’s difficult to know what’s truly good advice. The beauty of this dish is there really isn’t a right or wrong way to make it. Having said that, I’m here today to present my argument for the BEST way to make it! This is a recipe I’ve been making for too long I care to remember and one I hold close to my dear bacon wrapped heart. One I’m now super duper excited to be sharing with you! Here’s why you’ll love it:
Rich in flavour – This spaghetti bolognese has a deep, rich flavour that’s an absolute treat to the taste buds. Thick in texture – Ever plated up bolognese on spaghetti and 5mins later it’s swimming in it’s own juices? This bolognese is thick, luxurious and plonks on top of spaghetti beautifully.
Tips for the Best Spaghetti Bolognese
1. Spaghetti Bolognese with Red Wine
Yep, you guessed it. My first absolute must ingredient is red wine in a bolognese. Adding a good glug of red wine to a bolognese gives a gorgeous depth of flavour. That and beef & red wine are a match made in heaven.
What wine to use for spaghetti bolognese?
Doesn’t need to be anything OTT. A cheap bottle of dry red, something like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot. Having said that, I keep to the general rule of thumb, if you wouldn’t drink it, don’t cook with it!
2. Spaghetti Bolognese with Bacon
A guy with a blog called ‘Don’t Go Bacon My Heart’ adding bacon to a bolognese, who’d have thought!? But all jokes aside bacon in a bolognese is an absolute must. It adds a smoky twang to the bolognese and also plays off the beef nicely. Pork and beef is often a combo of meats that go neatly together, just like making meatballs. The bacon also adds a second layer of texture which compliments the ground beef.
3. Time
If you ignore the wine and bacon, for heavens sake please don’t ignore this tip. Ever been rushing around trying to cook a quick bolognese, serving it on the spaghetti and BAM. It’s sat in a pool of watery tomato juice. Oh and the meat is pretty rough too. Yep, we’ve all been there. The key to a delicious bolognese is allowing the mince to simmer with the lid on for a minimum of 90mins . This not only allows the beef to soak up all those gorgeous flavours, but keeps it mouthwateringly tender. As there is a fair load of tomato in this recipe it’s crucial to allow the bolognese to naturally thicken.
How to make Spaghetti Bolognese
Spaghetti bolognese is one of the easiest dinners you’ll ever make. Promise. The first tip is to use a heavy top pot, like a dutch oven. The reason being is as you’re simmering the bolognese for so long, you don’t want the steam to be leaking out, as this will reduce down the sauce. So, heavy lid is essential! The second tip is to brown the beef first, then remove it from the pot. Getting a good browning on the beef is essential to bring out the flavour. Cooking the beef with onions etc prevents it getting a good browning.
How long to simmer bolognese?
I simmer with the lid on for 90mins, then the lid off for around 15mins. The simmering with lid on will tenderise the beef and marry the flavours. The lid off will reduce and thicken the sauce.
How to make the best bolognese (quick summary)
What is the best ground beef for spaghetti?
I use ground beef with a fat percentage of around 10-12%. This will add some nice fatty flavour, but not so much it needs draining. If you only have fatty beef, so 20%, I recommend draining some of the fat away or it will be too oily at the end.
Can I use dried herbs in bolognese?
I usually go fresh, I find they work slightly better and give a slightly more ‘authentic’ flavour. But you can sub dried if that’s all you have. Quantities in the recipe card.
Can you freeze bolognese?
Sure can! Just allow the bolognese to cool, then pop in an airtight container (or freezer bags) and pop in the freezer.
How to reheat frozen bolognese?
Thaw in the fridge overnight and then heat on the stove. Add a splash of water to thin out if needed. Just make sure the beef is piping hot.
What to do with leftover bolognese?
Stir it through rice, make a bolognese quesadilla, stuffed bolognese peppers, OR, my favourite thing to do is Leftover Bolognese Sliders!
What to serve with spaghetti bolognese?
Roasted Garlic Bread Feta Bruschetta Cheesy Pesto Garlic Bread Caprese Pull Apart Bread Easy Cheesy Garlic Bread Garlic Butter Potato Skins
Aaaaaaaaaand I think I’ve leaked my bolognese brain enough now for you to take the reins 🤣 If you like the sound of this bolognese recipe I know you’ll LOVE my Pappardelle Sausage Ragu, quite similar ingredients but completely different taste! Also check out these recipes for some more dinner inspiration:
Delicious Ground Beef Dinners
Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas Chilli Con Carne Ground Beef Tacos Lasagne Cottage Pie
Alrighty, I think it’s time to finally tuck into the best bolognese recipe don’t you?! Follow me 😁
How to make the Best Spaghetti Bolognese (Full Recipe & Video)
If you loved this Easy Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe then be sure to pin it for later! Already made it or got a question? Let me know in the comments and pick up your free ecookbook on the way!
