Our recipe follows the traditional way of bolognese with ground beef, aromatics like carrots, celery, onion, and garlic, crushed tomatoes, and the perfect combination of herbs. Its hearty, nutritious, and encompasses all the classic flavors of Italian cuisine.
One of our go-to comfort food dinners is spaghetti. It’s easy, everyone loves it, and the leftovers are almost better than the first round. I really wanted to up the nutrition and heartiness of that, so I decided to go the bolognese route. Enter today’s recipe of focus: Bolognese Sauce. It’s basically next level spaghetti because it’s packed with protein and vegetables, which means it goes a long way and leaves you resting easy because you fed your family right.
Our recipe follows the traditional way of bolognese with ground beef, aromatics like carrots, celery, onion and garlic, crushed tomatoes, and the perfect combination of herbs. It’s hearty, nutritious, and encompasses all the classic flavors of Italian cuisine we all know and love. Served alongside a garden salad, it’s quite literally the perfect dinner for any night of the week.
In line with our make-ahead freezer meal way of life, our Bolognese Sauce recipe is the epitome of convenience. With a freezer bag, either an Instant Pot or a slow cooker, and ten minutes for prep and execution combined, you’ll have the most scrumptious dinner for you and yours. It’s a practical choice that makes hectic weeknights more manageable by giving you back the time you need to do what needs to be done. If you’re a lover of comfort foods, Italian cuisine, and convenience, this one’s for you. Shall we?
Why You’ll Love this Make-Ahead Bolognese Sauce
Batch Cooking: Making this in large quantities in advance means you have dinner on hand for whenever you need it. Plus, it freezes beautifully.
Nutritious: Packed with vegetables and meat, our bolognese recipe offers a heart dose of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
Comfort Food: Who doesn’t love a good pasta sauce? This recipe offers everything a comfort food should.
Customizable: Easily adapt this recipe to include or omit ingredients to cater to dietary preferences.
Bolognese Sauce Freezer Recipe
Our recipe follows the traditional way of bolognese with ground beef, aromatics like carrots, celery, onion, and garlic, crushed tomatoes, and the perfect combination of herbs. Its hearty, nutritious, and encompasses all the classic flavors of Italian cuisine.
Ground Turkey: Swapping the ground beef for ground turkey will make your Bolognese sauce both lighter and lower in fat. It is similar in texture and flavor, so the change will hardly be noticeable.
Fresh Herbs: In lieu of dried herbs, use fresh herbs instead of dried herbs. Add them right to the bag so their flavor is infused in the sauce throughout the cooking time.
Additions:
Mushrooms: Chopped mushrooms are a great addition because they bring an earthy, umami flavor and nice texture.
Bell Peppers: If you’re looking for added nutrients, a little sweetness, or more vibrant aesthetics for your Bolognese Sauce, incorporate diced bell peppers.
How to Reheat and Store Bolognese Sauce
Best way to store leftover Best Bolognese Sauce?
Leftover Bolognese Sauce is best stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Before storing in your container, make sure to allow your leftover sauce to cool completely to room temperature before storing. This way, you avoid the temperature condensation that may form if the heat and cold fridge temperatures mix together.
How long will Bolognese Sauce last in the Fridge?
When you have allowed your leftovers to cool, and promptly stored your portions in an airtight container, your bolognese sauce will stay fresh for three to five days.
Can I freeze Easy Bolognese Sauce?
Our method of cooking is freezing the recipe raw until the day you need the recipe, which means our Bolognese sauce is freezable. To prepare this raw, take a labeled gallon freezer bag, add all ingredients, except the day of cooking and serving ingredients, to the gallon bag. Then remove excess air, seal, and freeze for three months.
If you have already prepared this Bolognese and are looking to extend the shelf life of your leftovers by freezing, then allow the recipe to cool, store in resealable freezer bags for up to three months. Consider portioning out your leftovers to make reheating easier.
How to Reheat Budget-Friendly Bolognese Sauce?
This recipe is best reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop. We recommend reheating on the stovetop to avoid overheating which causes a change in flavor and texture. To heat on a stovetop, add sauce to a a saucepan on medium heat. Stir occasionally until sauce starts to gently bubble. Then add to your pasta.
To reheat in the microwave, add desired portion to a microwave safe plate, then heat in short bursts of 30-45 seconds. Stir between each interval until heated through completely.
Make-Ahead Bolognese Sauce Freezer Recipe FAQs
What is bolognese sauce made of?
The main ingredients of bolognese are ground meat (typically beef, veal, or pork), soffritto (celery, carrot, and onion), tomato paste, wine, and milk. Ours is similar, just without milk.
What makes bolognese sauce different from spaghetti sauce?
The main difference between spaghetti and bolognese sauces is that bolognese contains some type of meat. It’s typically either beef, veal, or pork, with beef being the most popular.
Are Italian and American bolognese sauces different from one another?
Most of the ingredients in American bolognese sauce are the same as the traditional Italian recipe. However, authentic bolognese sauce is thicker than the American version, uses far less tomato, and has milk added.
Why do Italians add milk to their bolognese sauce?
Milk not only adds rich flavor to bolognese, it also helps cut through the acidity of the tomatoes and red wine. Not only does it do this, but it also tenderizes the mince meat, resulting in melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.
What is the best type of pasta for bolognese sauce?
The best pasta to serve with bolognese sauce is the traditional and most popular choices for Italians: tube-shaped pasta such as rigatoni and tortiglioni, or deep, scoopable shapes like shells or orecchiette. Each bite of pasta will be filled with the hearty sauce.
Is it better to use red or white wine for bolognese sauce?
Traditionally, red wine is used for bolognese sauce, but you are welcome to use either, provided it does not taste sweet. A dry, Italian wine is the best choice, if available.
What type of onion is ideal for bolognese?
Yellow onions are the ideal choice for dishes that cook for a while, like bolognese. They’re flavorful and have a high starch content, which means they are able to withstand high temperatures and long cooking times without falling apart.
What is a good substitute for celery in bolognese sauce?
If you don’t have celery on hand or aren’t a fan of its texture, leeks make for a great alternative. Use one large leek per two stalks of celery in a recipe, and reduce the onion by half to account for the flavor added by the leeks.
As a full time working mom of four, I know how hard it is to find time (or energy) to cook. That’s why I’ve spent over a decade perfecting freezer meal recipes to make sure they’re not only quick to prepare but packed with flavors the whole family will love!
