• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sweet Love and Ginger

  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Garden
  • Essential Oils
  • Work With Me

Weeknight Bolognese Sauce

By Jessica

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Bolognese sauce is one of my absolute favorite dishes. When made the authentic Italian way it involves a slow simmering pot on the stove all afternoon, filling the house with its glorious smells of tomatoes, herbs and spices. I like to serve it over pasta with fresh made bread (because who doesn’t love fresh bread to sop up that sauce with?) and a salad. However, like most working ladies, I don’t always have time to have a pot of something simmering on the stove all afternoon, so to the chagrin of many an Italian grandmother I made up this weeknight version.

Weeknight Bolognese Sauce

It comes together quicker than traditional recipes and is versatile enough to use whatever type of meat you happen to have in the house. It’s also a good place to sneak in some shredded zucchini, chopped eggplant, or mushrooms if you’re looking to boost your families veggie intake.

For a balanced weeknight meal I like to serve this over spaghetti squash. With a 50(ish) minute cooking time the squash comes out of the oven and has a few minutes to cool before the sauce is ready to serve. It’s a little healthier than and just as easy as pasta.

Weeknight Bolognese Sauce

I know what you’re thinking over there. An hour for dinner on a weeknight? Who’s got that kind of time? You do. I promise. Once the squash is in, and the ingredients are in the pot then all you have to do set timers and walk away for a while. These kinds of dishes give you those extra minutes to do a load of dishes, check homework, or prep lunches for tomorrow. Trust me you will love this for a weeknight meal, and so will your family. It’s healthy, hearty and heartwarming.

Isn’t that what we are all looking for in a great weeknight meal?

I think so.

Weeknight Bolognese Sauce
 
Save Print
Prep time
10 mins
Cook time
1 hour
Total time
1 hour 10 mins
 
Serves: 4 to 6 servings
Ingredients
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped
  • 1 celery stalk, chopped small
  • 1 carrot, chopped small
  • 3 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
  • 1 pound lean ground meat (turkey, beef, venison etc.)
  • 1 cup broth (preferably beef)
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley
  • 2 teaspoons dried basil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. In a large skillet heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the onion, carrot and celery and cook until softened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
  2. Add the ground meat to the pan and cook, stirring regularly and breaking up the meat into crumbles. Continue this until the meat is browned through, about 10 minutes.
  3. Stir in the broth, tomatoes, sauce, parsley and basil.
  4. Bring the sauce up to a boil then reduce to a simmer. Continue to simmer for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until the sauce thickens.
  5. Adjust seasonings and serve.
3.5.3226

Similar Recipes:

Slow Cooker Pork Ragu
Crock Pot Pork Ragu
Swedish Meataballs
Sun Dried Tomato & Sausage Skillet
Tweet
Pin13
Share
13 Shares

March 8, 2017 November 26, 2019 Filed Under: Beef, Chicken/Turkey, Main Dish, Recipe Tagged With: Chicken/Turkey, Quick & Easy, Weeknight Meals

Previous Post: « Recently
Next Post: The Best of Sweet Love & Ginger 2016 »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. WillDFrieson

    December 10, 2020 at 1:42 am

    5 stars
    After I originally left a comment I seem to have
    clicked on the -Notify me when new comments are added- checkbox and today whenever
    a comment is added I receive four emails with similar comment.
    Can there be a way you may remove me from that service?
    Kudos!

    My web blog … WillDFrieson

« Older Comments

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Hi, I'm Jessica. I'm an engineer living in the great northeast with my husband Chuck, our two little boys, our dog Brody and a flock of chickens. I'm all about real, good food and good times with awesome people. I spend a lot of time outside, in my garden, and concocting potions with my essential oils. I also like tea, reading, and about a million other hobbies. I'm so happy your here on this adventure with me.

Subscribe and get a copy of the Best of SL&G 2017

* indicates required

Check out my Podcast!

Privacy Policy

Footer

Copyright © 2021 · Foodie Pro Theme On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in