Fettuccine Bolognese

5 from 2 votes

This fettuccine bolognese recipe comes together in under 45 minutes using simple ingredients! The bolognese sauce is rich, creamy, and packed with incredible flavor.

Prep Time10

Cook Time30

Total Time40

Course: Entree

Cuisine: Italian

Servings:

Author: Julie Maestre

Equipment

large pot

Ingredients

1 lb ground beef
4 ounces pancetta finely diced
¼ cup onions finely diced
¼ cup celery finely diced
¼ cup carrots finely diced
2 garlic cloves finely minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon sugar
28 ounces crushed tomatoes
¼ cup red wine or beef stock
¼ cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon parsley fresh
1 teaspoon basil fresh
1 lb fettuccine cooked til al dente
parmesan cheese to taste
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Add the pancetta to a large pot and cook over medium heat for 4-5 minutes or until crisp. Once the pancetta is nice and crisp, remove it from the pot and set it aside. Leave the grease that the pancetta releases in the pot.
Add the onions, carrots, and celery to the pot and cook for 4-5 minutes or until softened. Add oil if needed.
Stir in the garlic and cook for 15 seconds. Add the beef, breaking it apart as it cooks, and continue until the beef is fully browned, about 5-6 minutes.
Add the red wine and cook for 2-3 minutes or until the wine reduces by half.
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, sugar, Italian seasoning, and season generously with salt and pepper. Once the meat sauce comes to a simmer, cover and cook for 15 minutes over medium heat.
Once the 15 minutes are up, add the heavy cream, fresh basil, fresh parsley, and allow it to cook for 1-2 minutes.
Add the cooked pasta and parmesan cheese, check for seasoning, and add more salt and pepper if needed.
Serve warm, and enjoy!

Notes

Cook the onions, carrots, and celery (called the sofrito) in plenty of oil on low heat for at least 4-5 minutes to soften the veggies, before adding the garlic and ground beef!

Cook the pancetta first until it's crispy. This will add a lot of flavor and saltiness to your bolognese sauce. I highly recommend adding it!

After mixing the cooked pasta with the meat sauce, check the seasoning before serving. The sauce may taste great, but the plain noodles can make the whole dish taste bland. Always adjust the seasoning at the end, adding more salt or cheese if needed.

Nutrition