• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Sunday Supper Movement logo
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • Sunday Supper Pledge
    • Family Foodie TV
  • Browse Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Dinner Ideas
    • Side Dishes
    • Desserts
  • Holiday Recipes
  • Cooking Chart
  • Newsletter
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Browse Recipes
  • Holiday Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • Cookbooks
  • Media
  • Contact Us
  • The Sunday Supper Pledge
  • Follow us on social!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Ground Beef » Homemade Bolognese Sauce with Pappardelle Pasta

    Homemade Bolognese Sauce with Pappardelle Pasta

    Published: Dec 26, 2019 Modified: May 22, 2023 by Isabel Laessig

    Share
    Pin
    Share

    This post may contain paid links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.

    Jump to Recipe

    What could be more comforting and delicious than this homemade bolognese sauce with pappardelle pasta? Wide noodles make the perfect vehicle for this rich, savory authentic Italian meat sauce.

    We are excited to share this easy pappardelle bolognese recipe with all of you! It is almost guaranteed that you will want to make this recipe over and over again!

    An off-white dish of pappardelle pasta with homemade bolognese sauce and a fork off to the side

    This pappardelle with bolognese sauce consistently gets five-star ratings from everyone in my family. Do you have any idea what a miracle that is?!?

    Alternative titles to this post included:

    1. No Joke Pasta Bolognese ~ No Joke! If you even attempt to eat it before the four-hour simmer mark the spirits of a thousand Italian grandmas will descend on you with their wooden spoons blazing.
    2. Swear Jar Bolognese ~ Make sure any children in the house are out of earshot when you taste this sauce for the first time. Expletives will arise without warning or apology. And you will owe some big bucks to the swear jar.
    3. Better Than a Sweater Bolognese ~ Sweaters merely create a barrier between you and the chilly air. This sauce warms you from the inside out AND makes your house smell like heaven.
    Two off-white plates of pappardelle pasta with homemade bolognese sauce on a distressed wooden surface with a fork, crusty bread, and red wine in a glass

    What is Bolognese Sauce?

    Bolognese sauce is a meat-based sauce in Italian cuisine. It originated in the city of Bologna. It is best paired with broad, flat pasta shapes, such as pappardelle or wide fettuccine.

    Tagliatelle bolognese is also a common version of this recipe. We prefer the thickness of pappardelle noodles.

    Why is this the Best Bolognese Recipe?

    There are a lot of bolognese sauce with pasta recipes out there. This one incorporates bits and pieces from my favorites and is a truly authentic bolognese recipe.  

    I love the addition of fresh herbs, bay leaves and tomato paste for some extra umami.

    What is Pappardelle Pasta?

    Pappardelle is very large, broad, flat pasta noodles, similar to fettuccine. This type of pasta originated from the region of Tuscany. We think it is the best pasta for the bolognese.

    Ingredients for Bolognese Sauce

    • butter
    • onion finely diced
    • carrots peeled and finely diced
    • celery stalks finely diced
    • garlic minced
    • tomato paste
    • pancetta diced
    • ground beef
    • ground pork
    • white wine
    • whole milk
    • low-sodium stock chicken or beef
    • whole tomatoes peeled San Marzano tomatoes and their liquid
    • bay leaves
    • flat-leaf parsley chopped
    • kosher salt
    • black pepper freshly ground
    • pappardelle pasta cooked according to package instructions

    How to Make Bolognese Sauce

    1. Melt butter in a large heavy pot or dutch oven over medium-high flame.
    2. Add onion, carrot, celery, garlic, tomato paste and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
    3. Saute, stirring frequently, for about five minutes. If the onion or garlic starts to brown reduce heat.
    4. Add pancetta and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are fairly soft.
    5. Add the beef and pork about a third at a time, allowing most of the liquid to evaporate before incorporating more.
    6. Cook, stirring frequently until all the pink is gone from the meat, all the liquid is evaporated and you can feel brown bits starting to stick to the bottom of the pot.
    7. Deglaze the pot with the cup of white wine. Make sure you get up all those bits.
    8. Then lower the heat so it doesn’t start sticking again.
    9. Add milk, broth, tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, a crack of freshly ground black pepper and bring to a boil
    10. .Reduce heat to as low as possible maintaining a very lazy simmer.
    11. Add bay leaves and parsley.
    12. Simmer on low, half-covered, for four hours, stirring occasionally.
    13. Remove bay leaves.
    14. If the sauce has not completely thickened yet, increase the heat slightly and simmer another 15 to 30 minutes with the lid off.
    15. Serve with pasta and a healthy dose of freshly grated parmigiana reggiano.

    Tips for making the best Bolognese Sauce

    • Use a big enough pot that the various liquids will be able to almost entirely evaporate.
    • In the end, the sauce should be mostly meat with a little bit of very thick tomato sauce holding it together.
    • Do your best to dice the onion, carrots, and celery (the soffrito) as evenly as you possibly can. Go for the ¼ inch dice. This is pretty much the only “work” involved in this recipe and the more exact you are the better it will be.
    • There’s no Parmigiano Reggiano in the actual sauce but if you don’t grate some on top before digging in you’re senselessly depriving yourself. This is comfort food, after all.
    Close up of pappardelle pasta with bolognese sauce in a white dish topped with cheese

    Is bolognese sauce gluten-free?

    Yes, this bolognese sauce is gluten-free. To keep this recipe completely gluten-free, serve it with gluten-free pasta.

    Can I make a bolognese ahead of time?

    Yes! In fact, we recommend making bolognese sauce ahead of time. Bolognese tastes even better the next day as the flavors intensify and develop.

    Trust us one this, make your bolognese ahead of time!

    How long will bolognese pasta last in the fridge?

    Another bonus to this recipe is that this recipe makes a large serving of pasta and meat sauce. There will definitely be leftovers.

    Our bolognese pasta will last for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. We promise it is even better as leftovers!

    Can you freeze pasta bolognese?

    Yes! Yes, you can freeze bolognese. We love making big batches of this sauce and freezing it to use later. This makes our life so easy.

    1. Prepare Bolognese Sauce.
    2. Let sauce cool completely.
    3. Transfer sauce to freezer-safe airtight containers or freezer bags.
    4. Squeeze out any excess air.
    5. Freeze for up to 3 months.
    6. When ready to use, let Bolognese Sauce defrosts in the refrigerator overnight.
    7. Gently heat over the stove while you boil the pappardelle pasta.

    Make Bolognese Sliders

    1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
    2. Slice the tops off of a package of Hawaiian rolls and carefully set them aside until ready to use. Keep the package the rolls come in!
    3. Lay the bottom halves of the rolls back in the cardboard tray they were packed in. Carefully add meaty bolognese sauce to fill each roll.
    4. Top with cheese if desired. Gouda cheese is a great choice.
    5. Place the top halves of the rolls back on the sliders and brush with garlic butter sauce.
    6. Bake for 10 minutes or until the cheese is nicely melted.
    Lifting a bolognese sandwich slider out of a white dish

    Side Dishes for Pasta

    • Fresh Vegetable Salad
    • Garlic Butter Bread
    • Green Bean Almondine
    • Tomato Cucumber Feta Salad
    • Sprouted Bread Recipe

    Comfort Food Pasta Recipes

    • Slow Cooker Lasagna
    • One Pot Spaghetti
    • Chicken Tetrazzini
    • Italian Wedding Soup
    • Pasta Carbonara Recipe
    • Sugo Recipe

    📌 Pin this bolognese pasta recipe to save for later!

    📋 Recipe

    Pappardelle Pasta with the Best Homemade Bolognese Sauce #SundaySupper

    Homemade Bolognese Sauce with Pappardelle Pasta

    Isabel Laessig
    This Pappardelle with the Best Homemade Bolognese Sauce is one for a day when time is on your side. The wide noodles make the perfect vehicle for this rich, savory authentic Italian meat sauce.
    4.82 from 11 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 4 hours hrs 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 4 hours hrs 50 minutes mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 8
    Calories 652 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ¼ cup unsalted butter ½ stick
    • 1 medium onion finely diced
    • 2 large carrots peeled and finely diced
    • 2 large celery stalks finely diced
    • 3 cloves garlic minced
    • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
    • 4 ounces pancetta diced
    • ¾ pound ground beef
    • ¾ pound ground pork
    • 1 cup dry white wine
    • 2 cups whole milk
    • 1 cup low-sodium stock chicken or beef
    • 28 ounce whole tomatoes peeled San Marzano tomatoes and their liquid. Tomatoes can be crushed by hand or cut up.
    • 2 bay leaves
    • ¼ cup flat leaf parsley chopped
    • kosher salt
    • black pepper freshly ground
    • 1 pound pappardelle pasta cooked according to package instructions.
    Cooking Conversions

    See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!

    Instructions
     

    • Melt butter in a large heavy pot or dutch oven over medium-high flame.
    • Add onion, carrot, celery, garlic, tomato paste and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
    • Saute, stirring frequently, for about five minutes. If the onion or garlic starts to brown reduce heat.
    • Add pancetta and continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are fairly soft.
    • Add the beef and pork about a third at a time, allowing most of the liquid to evaporate before incorporating more.
    • Cook, stirring frequently, until all the pink is gone from the meat, all the liquid is evaporated and you can feel brown bits starting to stick to the bottom of the pot.
    • Deglaze the pot with the cup of white wine. Make sure you get up all those bits. Then lower the heat so it doesn’t start sticking again.
    • Add milk, broth, tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, a crack of freshly ground black pepper and bring to a boil.
    • Reduce heat to as low as possible maintaining a very lazy simmer. Add bay leaves and parsley.
    • Simmer on low, half covered, for four hours, stirring occasionally.
    • Remove bay leaves.
    • If the sauce has not completely thickened yet, increase heat slightly and simmer another 15 to 30 minutes with the lid off.
    • Serve with pasta and a healthy dose of freshly grated parmigiano reggiano.

    Notes

    Pot for Bolognese Sauce: Use a big enough pot that the various liquids will be able to almost entirely evaporate. In the end, the sauce should be mostly meat with a little bit of very thick tomato sauce holding it together.
    Dicing the soffrito: Do your best to dice the onion, carrots, and celery (the soffrito) as evenly as you possibly can. Go for the ¼ inch dice. This is pretty much the only “work” involved in this recipe and the more exact you are the better it will be.
    Add the Parmigiano: There’s no Parmigiano Reggiano in the actual sauce but if you don’t grate some on top before digging in you’re senselessly depriving yourself. This is comfort food, after all.
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 652kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 28gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 14gCholesterol: 139mgSodium: 380mgPotassium: 876mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 3725IUVitamin C: 15.5mgCalcium: 166mgIron: 3.9mg
    Keyword Bolognese Pasta Recipe, Bolognese Recipe, Comfort Food Recipes, Pappardelle Bolognese Recipe
    Did you try this recipe?Tag #SundaySupper on social and leave a comment below!
    Share
    Pin
    Share

    More Ground Beef

    • a wagyu beef burger with toppings
      Wagyu Beef Burger
    • three barbecue burgers on a serving board
      BBQ Hamburgers
    • Ground beef chili recipe in a white bowl
      Ground Beef Chili
    • hamburger casserole in a baking dish with a serving spoon
      Keto Cheeseburger Casserole
    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    About Isabel Laessig

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie, creator of Sunday Supper Movement and author of the Boujee Steak Cookbook. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table. Join me in making family meal-time a tradition to celebrate!

    » About Me

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Sara Welch says

      January 11, 2020 at 6:24 pm

      I know what I will be having for dinner! This looks too good to pass up; definitely restaurant worthy, indeed!

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        January 12, 2020 at 1:10 pm

        Thank you so much, Sara! We’re so glad you’re giving it a try!

        Reply
    2. Anita says

      January 11, 2020 at 6:36 pm

      We love this. It’s hearty and delicious, perfect pasta dish for winter. 🙂

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        January 12, 2020 at 1:10 pm

        Thank you, Anita! We’re so glad you think so.

        Reply
    3. Kelley says

      January 11, 2020 at 9:28 pm

      Oh my – this sauce was so good! Easy to make and the flavor is better the second day.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        January 12, 2020 at 1:10 pm

        Thank you, Kelley! That’s awesome!

        Reply
    4. Justine Howell says

      January 11, 2020 at 9:30 pm

      Great bold flavors, was a hit with the kiddos.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        January 12, 2020 at 1:11 pm

        Justine, that’s great to hear! Thank you so much!

        Reply
    5. Veena Azmanov says

      January 11, 2020 at 10:27 pm

      This is surely a Happy meal. My family’s favorite option any day. Delicious and super tasty for sure. Thanks for your awesome recipe.

      Reply
      • Em Beitel says

        January 12, 2020 at 1:11 pm

        Thank you so much, Veena! We’re glad to hear it!

        Reply

    Let us know what you think or ask a question about the recipe! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Leave a rating!




    Primary Sidebar

    Isabel, AKA Family Foodie

    Hi! I’m Isabel Laessig, also known as Family Foodie. Sunday Supper is my mission to bring family back around the dinner table!

    • Family Foodie Facebook
    • Sunday Supper Pinterest
    • Sunday Supper Youtube
    • Family Foodie Instagram
    • Family Foodie Tiktok

    Sunday Dinner Ideas

    • Southern smothered pork chops in a cast iron skillet
      Pork Chop Recipes
    • Overhead shot of beef chuck roast recipe on a white platter with carrots and fresh herbs
      Beef Chuck Roast
    • up close baked portobello mushrooms surrounded by lettuce
      Portobello Mushroom Recipe
    • A fork with a bite of air fryer pork chops
      Air Fryer Pork Chops
    • Candied Bacon
    • Elotes Mexicanos on a white platter
      Elote Recipe

    Footer

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    logos of brands sunday supper has worked with

    Connect with us!

    Join us around our family table by following us on social media, including our Sunday Supper Recipes group!

    • facebook
    • instagram
    • pinterest
    • youtube

    Our Brands

    Follow all of our websites for the best recipes catered to your needs!

    Sunday Supper Movement |
    Best Beef Recipes | Easy Sauce Recipes | Side Dish Ideas | Pork Recipe Ideas

    About Us

    • Contact Us
    • About Isabel and Sunday Supper
    • Our Partners
    • Disclosure & Privacy
    • No AI

    ↑ back to top

    Sunday Supper Logo

    Copyright 2012-2023 Sunday Supper Movement®, All Rights Reserved.