Oh how I love this Bucatini with Easy Bolognese recipe! This is such a comforting dish and it comes together in 30 minutes! Throw some delicious garlic bread into the mix, a nice salad and this is a perfect weeknight meal for your hungry family.

bucatini with easy bolognese! bon appetite!

What is Bolognese?

“Bolognese sauce known in Italian as ragù alla bolognese, ragù bolognese, or simply ragu) is a meat-based sauce in Italian cuisine, typical of the city of Bologna. It is customarily used to dress tagliatelle al ragù and to prepare lasagne alla bolognese.

Genuine ragù alla bolognese is a slowly cooked meat-based sauce, and its preparation involves several techniques, including sweating, sautéing and braising. Ingredients include a characteristic soffritto of onion, celery and carrot, different types of minced or finely chopped beef, often alongside small amounts of fatty pork. White wine, milk, and a small amount of tomato paste or tomatoes are added, and the dish is then gently simmered at length to produce a thick sauce.”

Although we love the all day cooking of a proper bolognese, this is quick and easy and can substitute in a pinch. I do have a closer to authentic bolognese recipe and here it is when you have time: Hearty, Satisfying Bolognese Sauce

bucatini with easy bolognese! bon appetite!

So, truth is sometimes store bought is fine. Just because we’re using a store bought red sauce, we are still using the required sofrito, heavy cream or milk and I used 80/20 ground beef and ground pork that lends to the fat required for a proper bolognese that develops after hours of cooking with different cuts of meats.

I used Rao’s Arrabiata Sause. https://amzn.to/2Z0VqK9

I like it because it has a little kick, likely red pepper flakes, but a marinara sauce will work great. This is a hearty meat sauce so it will stand up to a pasta like bucatini or pappardelle.

Any leftover sauce is perfect for lasagna. Here’s my lasagna recipe using Bolognese. the best lasagna bolognese with spinach and béchamel.

bucatini with easy bolognese! bon appetite!

I hope you love this easy Bolognese sauce recipe.

bucatini with easy bolognese! bon appetite!

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 30

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup grated carrot
1 cup celery, chopped
1 cup chopped onions
1 lb ground beef (I use 80/20)
1 lb ground pork
1 25 oz marinara (I used Rao's Arrabiata)
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
16 oz bucatini or pappardelle
parmesan cheese

Instructions

In a large saucepan heat olive oil over medium heat. Add in carrots along with celery and onions and sauté until they're just tender. Add the ground beef and ground pork, and cook until browned, breaking up the meat as you stir.
Pour in the jar of store-bought marinara sauce along with salt and pepper and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens.
When the Bolognese sauce has reached your desired consistency, stir in the heavy cream.

Keyword bolognese, bucatini, bucatini with bologese, Easy, Italian, main course, meat sauce, pasta

This simple Bolognese over pappardelle is just that – simple and easy. When you think about Bolognese you think about a long process of hours of cooking. Don’t get me wrong, that is a beautiful Bolognese and it is what I always make, but you know, during hectic times, short cuts really matter.

The other great thing about a Bolognese is that you can cook a big batch and freeze. Move it to the refrigerator the day of to thaw. When you are ready to serve, cook your pasta, add a salad and a piece of garlic bread and you have a meal done. Don’t want a side dish? Cook your pasta, combine with your Bolognese and you’re done. The good thing is that this is delicious and kids love Spaghetti and a meat sauce.

simple bolognese over pappardelle

What makes this sauce so simple is that you use a jar of your favorite store-bought marinara! Yes! You don’t have to buy an expensive jar of marinara! Honestly, I’ve tried many and I’d say they are all pretty good.

I like to use a large pasta with a meat sauce and pappardelle is one of my favorites. I live rural and can’t find it at local stores, I have to go to a larger major store, but I ordered it on line for years. https://amzn.to/3hYxMBH.

I love these big noodles!! They are perfect with the hearty meat sauce.

this – simple Bolognese over pappardelle

I always have leftovers, so lasagna is always a plan or try these stuffed shells: https://the2spoons.com/wow-stuffed-shells-with-bolognese/

Those look delicious!

Here’s the recipe for this simple recipe! Let me know what you think!

Simple Bolognese over Pappardelle

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Servings 6 servings

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp butter
1 cup grated carrots
1 cup celery, finely chopped
2 lbs ground beef (80/20)
1 25 oz jar of store bought marinara
1/2 cup heavy cream
salt and pepper to taste
couple of pinches of red pepper flakes (optional)
1 lb pappardelle or other wide pasta noodle
Parmesan cheese for serving
fresh basil or Italian parsley for serving

Instructions

Add the olive oil and butter to a large saucepan. Add the carrots, celery and onions and sauté until the vegetables are tender. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking up the meat.
Add the jar of marinara along with salt and pepper to taste along with the red pepper flakes if adding and cook until the sauce has thickened, about 30 minutes. Add the heavy cream.
Cook your pasta according to package directions. I don't drain, I add my pasta to a separate separate skillet or large pan that I have added some of the sauce, adding more sauce along with a little of the pasta water, until all of your pasta is completely coated. Cook for just a minute or so, adding more pasta water if needed until the pasta has combined with the sauce. Serve immediately with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs like Italian parsley or basil. Enjoy!