This ragù alla Bolognese is a hearty, slow-simmering sauce that is a perfect comfort food for cozy Winter evenings, Sunday suppers and holidays.

A fork lifting a twirled bite a pappardelle pasta covered in Beef Bolognese

This traditional beef Bolognese sauce recipe is an irresistible family favorite. This classic recipe is fantastic for pairing with fresh pasta ribbons, creamy polenta, lasagna, pizzas and more!

Try this ragu in our favorite Lasagne al Forno recipe! If you need a quick Italian red sauce recipe, try our San Marzano marinara sauce, instead.

Jump to:

What is Ragù alla Bolognese? The History of an Italian Classic
Ingredients for Beef Bolognese
How To Make This Sauce
Serving Suggestions
Homemade Italian Pappardelle
Lasagne Al Forno (Beef Bolognese Lasagna)
Other Ways To Enjoy This Ragu Recipe
Best Wine Pairings for Italian Bolognese
Storing
Reheating
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Recipe
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What is Ragù alla Bolognese? The History of an Italian Classic

Ragù alla Bolognese (often referred to in English as 'beef Bolognese sauce') is a classic Italian recipe originating from the city of Bologna in Emilia Romagna, Italy. Today, ragu alla Bolognese refers to a meat sauce that has been simmered with aromatic vegetables, wine, milk and a touch of tomato puree.

Throughout the years, there have been many interpretations of this meat sauce. In fact, the very first renditions of beef Bolognese did not use any tomato products. Some recipes call for pancetta while others replace the ground beef with ground pork, veal, mushrooms or chicken livers.

Our version of this recipe uses a classic soffrito, ground beef, red wine, milk, and San Marzano tomatoes. The ingredients are slowly simmered together to create a rich, flavorful sauce with lots of umami and a tender, velvety texture.

What are the differences between a ragù and Bolognese?

A ragù refers to any slow cooked meat sauce. Ragu alla Bolognese is a specific type of slow-simmered meat sauce that originated in Bologna, Italy. Therefore, this recipe is both a "ragu" and a "Bolognese".

Ingredients for Beef Bolognese

Like lots of Italian cooking, this traditional ragu alla Bolognese transforms humble ingredients into a delicious meal. Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients needed for ragu alla Bolognese including olive oil, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, tomato paste, San Marzano tomatoes, ground beef, red wine, milk, salt, pepper, bay leaves and fresh thyme. — Ingredient quantities can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Soffrito - Onions, carrots, celery and garlic sautéed in olive oil is the aromatic base for beef Bolognese and many other classic dishes throughout the Mediterranean.
Ground Beef - Veal, pork (or a combination of all three) can be substituted.
Tomato Paste - Tomato paste is an important ingredient that adds a richness of flavor and helps to thicken the sauce.
Red Wine - We like to use a dry red wine for its depth of flavor. However, for a slightly lighter sauce, many chefs use white wine instead. To avoid alcohol all together, you can use beef or chicken stock.
Whole Milk - Many Americans are surprised to see milk in Bolognese recipes. However, milk is a key ingredient in a classic Italian Bolognese. Milk's natural lactic acids help to tenderize the ground meat while lending a velvety richness to the sauce.
Whole Peeled Tomatoes - We recommend using San Marzano tomatoes for any tomato based sauces. Albeit being a bit more expensive, these heirloom plum tomatoes (hailing from the DOP village of San Marzano) have the perfect balance of rich sweetness and lower acidity. Their natural balance paired with fewer seeds and denser flesh make them perfect for tomato sauce. Cento is a popular brand here, in the US.
Thyme & Bay Leaves - These herbs add a subtle herbaceous flavor. We also like to serve the finished sauce with fresh basil.

How To Make This Sauce

This Beef Bolognese recipe uses simple cooking techniques. The same easy steps are used in many meat sauce recipes. However, the superior flavors and textures of this recipe are thanks to a gentle simmer over the course of an extended cooking time. Don't rush it!

While this recipe does take time, most of the cooking time is passive. You can go about your day while the sauce simmers on the back of the stove. Build a fire, read a book or make your own hand cut pappardelle pasta while the Bolognese cooks!

Italian soffrito cooking in a large dutch oven — 1. Start by making a soffrito by cooking the onions, celery, carrot and garlic in a bit of olive oil. You can chop the vegetables by hand, or use a food-processor for faster prep.

A pound of ground beef being added to a dutch oven with soffrito in it. — 2. Next add the ground beef and season generously with salt and pepper. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat and combine with the soffrito. Cook until the meat has browned.

A wooden spoon holding up some cooked ground beef and soffrito over a large dutch oven. — 2. Next add the ground beef and season generously with salt and pepper. Use a wooden spoon to break up the meat and combine with the soffrito. Cook until the meat has browned.

Squeezing a tube of tomato paste into the dutch oven with the cooked ground beef and soffrito. — 3. Add the tomato paste and stir to combine. Pour in the red wine (or beef stock) and bring to a simmer. After the wine begins to simmer, cook for 10 - 15 minutes. Then, pour in the milk (not pictured). Allow the beef to simmer in the milk for 30 - 45 minutes until the sauce has begun to reduce.

Pouring red wine into the Bolognese sauce — 3. Add the tomato paste and stir to combine. Pour in the red wine (or beef stock) and bring to a simmer. After the wine begins to simmer, cook for 10 - 15 minutes. Then, pour in the milk (not pictured). Allow the beef to simmer in the milk for 30 - 45 minutes until the sauce has begun to reduce.

Chef's Note: Do not cover the sauce while cooking. To create an intensely flavored Bolognese, the sauce needs to reduce. Cook the sauce uncovered to allow the steam to evaporate.

Adding a can of San Marzano tomatoes to the Ragu alla Bolognese. — 5. Finally add in one can of whole peeled tomatoes, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up the tomatoes, for 2 ½ - 3 ½ hours.

Stirring thyme and bay leaves into the ragu sauce. — 5. Finally add in one can of whole peeled tomatoes, thyme and bay leaves. Bring to a simmer and allow to cook, stirring occasionally and breaking up the tomatoes, for 2 ½ - 3 ½ hours.

A wooden spoon holding up a big scoop of homemade Bolognese sauce — 6. After simmering, the Ragu alla Bolognese will have reduced to a thick, hearty sauce that is full of umami and rich flavor.

Serving Suggestions

Our favorite way to enjoy this Beef Bolognese recipe is with homemade pasta. Traditionally, ragu alla Bolognese is served with fresh tagliatelle pasta. In our home, we tend to prefer tagliatelle's slightly wider cousin: pappardelle.

Homemade pappardelle pasta is a simple, hearty pasta shape that is easy to make at home. Fresh pasta always impress us and our dinner guests! Check out our easy recipe below.

Homemade Italian Pappardelle

This simple pappardelle recipe is a hand cut noodle made from our favorite pasta dough recipe. It's an easy shape to make that requires no special equipment and pairs perfectly with hearty sauces!

We like to serve our Pappardelle alla Bolognese with extra Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, crusty bread and fresh basil leaves. It pairs lovely with a fresh green salad like our Arugula & Prosciutto Salad or our Tuscan Kale Salad.

Pasta & Bolo - A Match Made in Heaven

This thick meat-based sauce is best paired with hearty pasta shapes. For ribbon style pastas, we recommend serving this recipe with pappardelle, tagliatelle or fettuccine. For bite-sized pasta shapes, this recipe pairs best with thick and chewy shapes like paccheri, rigatoni, large shells or farfalle.

Fresh pappardelle pasta being cooked in a skillet with ragu alla Bolognese and pasta water — Fresh pappardelle pasta being cooked in a skillet with Ragu alla Bolognese and pasta water.

Pro Tip: The KEY to making Bolognese into an irresistibly rich pasta dish is to finish cooking the pasta directly in the sauce with a bit of pasta water! In the States, we are often guilty of spooning a quick meaty sauce on top of a pile of rinsed or oiled spaghetti. This is NOT the way! Here's what to do:

Transfer a few portions of Bolognese sauce into a deep skillet (or, if you are serving a big crowd, you can do this directly in the dutch oven).
Boil the pasta until al dente. Then, use a spider tool to transfer the pasta directly into the skillet of sauce.
Add about ½ - 1 cup of the starchy, salty pasta water.
Vigorously stir the pasta into the sauce until the mixture thickens and the sauce clings to each bite of pasta. If you'd like, you can also stir in some Pecorino or Parmesan cheese. Deliziosa!

Lasagne Al Forno (Beef Bolognese Lasagna)

In addition to the simplistic pasta and Bolognese sauce, this recipe is also used to make a classic Italian lasagna. This authentic interpretation of lasagna pairs sheets of fresh pasta dough with hearty layers of Bolognese sauce and a creamy Parmesan besciamella (bechamel) sauce. It's rich, creamy, cheesy and an absolutely outstanding recipe. Check out our entire Lasagna al Forno (Lasagna Bolognese) post for the recipe!

A fork going in for the first bite of lasagna al forno — Ragu Alla Bolognese is perfect for making an authentic Italian lasagna with beef and Parmesan béchamel sauce!

Other Ways To Enjoy This Ragu Recipe

Beef Bolognese does not have to be served on pasta, of course. Here are a few other suggestions:

Polenta - This is a great option for gluten free diners! In some regions of Italy, you'll find ragu alla Bolognese served over a creamy polenta porridge.
Pizza - Bolognese pizza is another great meal and a great way to use up some leftovers. Use your favorite homemade or store-bought pizza crust, a couple cups of Bolognese sauce and some slices of fresh mozzarella for a delicious lunch or dinner.
Sloppy Giuseppe - Think of this one like a deconstructed meatball sub or fancy Italian-style sloppy Joe! 🙂 Sandwiching some hot Bolognese on a crusty ciabatta roll makes for a decadent lazy lunch!
Roman-Style Gnocchi - Unlike potato gnocchi, Roman gnocchi is made from semolina flour. The egg dough is punched into circles and oven baked for a creamy, custard-like delight. This dish is simple to make, great for feeding a crowd and is absolutely delicious with Bolognese.

Best Wine Pairings for Italian Bolognese

Italian cuisine was made for pairing with fine wines! This Bolognese recipe is rich, savory, and balanced with lots of natural acidity. Therefore, it pairs best with vibrant red wines that have mouth-watering acidity and/or grippy tannic structure.

There are thousands of grape varietals that can be a good pairing for Beef Bolognese. Here are a few of our favorite Italian wines for serving with this ragu recipe:

Chianti - We're not talking about the wicker-basket-Chianti your grandma used to drink. (Those wines tended to be sweetened and were of generally poor quality.) Instead, opt for a Chianti from a reputable producer. Chianti is made from the Sangiovese grape from a hilly village in Tuscany. These wines are medium bodied, acid-driven and range from young, tart expressions to Earthy, herbaceous and oak-aged beauties. Ask your local wine shop for a recommendation. A good bottle doesn't have to be expensive. You can find great expressions of Chianti in the $15 - $35 range.

Barbaresco & Barolo - Known as the King & Queen of Italian wines, these Piedmont villages produce incredible expressions of the nebbiolo grape. This thick skinned grape is known for big tannic structure that pairs wonderfully with the beef and tomatoes in this sauce. These wines are made to age and have tasting notes ranging from berries and roses to black tea and smoke. They do tend to be more expensive. However, if you're looking for a more cost effective expression of nebbiolo, ask your sommelier for a Langhe rosso.

Adding a sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano to pappardelle alla Bolognese served with crusty Italian bread and a Langhe Rosso wine.

Storing

This Ragu alla Bolognese can be stored in the fridge or freezer. (Sometimes it's even better the next day!) To ensure the Bolognese is safe to eat, allow the sauce to cool completely (to at least 40° Fahrenheit) within 4 hours time. (It helps to keep the sauce uncovered while stirring frequently to allow steam to escape).

Refrigerator: Beef Bolognese can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for about 3 days. We recommend storing the sauce in glass or enamel to prevent staining plastic, when possible.
Freezer: Bolognese freezes very well. Once cooled, you can store this recipe in an airtight container or freezer safe bag. For the best quality, we recommend freezing for up to 3 months.
- * After 3 months, frozen Ragu alla Bolognese is still safe to eat but may have declined slightly in quality.

Reheating

Like any reheated food, Ragu alla Bolognese must be reheated to a minimum temperature of 155° Fahrenheit (68° celsius) for safe consumption.

Bolognese can be reheated over medium heat on the stove top, in short intervals in the microwave or in a sealed bag in a sous-vide water bath.

Ragu alla Bolognese (Beef Bolognese Recipe)