Bucatini Bolognese Recipe
This Bucatini Bolognese recipe combines al dente bucatini pasta with a rich, hearty Bolognese sauce made from browned ground beef, tomatoes, and Italian seasonings. Perfect for a comforting Italian dinner, the sauce simmers slowly to develop deep flavors before being tossed with the pasta and topped with parmesan and fresh basil.
- Author: Ella
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Pasta
- 1 lb / 450 g bucatini pasta
Sauce
- 1 lb / 450 g ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 42 oz / 1200 g crushed tomatoes with tomato puree (1 and 1/2 cans)
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, or to taste
Toppings
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese (to serve)
- Fresh basil leaves (to serve)
- Freshly cracked black pepper (to serve)
- Brown meat. Add the ground beef, diced onion, minced garlic, and 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a large, heavy pan. Cook over high heat until the beef is browned and no pink is showing, about 5 to 8 minutes. Use a wooden spoon to break apart any clumps of meat as you go.
- Add sauce ingredients. Next, pour the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper into the pan. Stir to combine thoroughly.
- Simmer. Reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot with a lid (optional, to avoid splashes) and let the sauce simmer gently for 15 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking and help flavors meld.
- Cook bucatini. While the sauce is simmering, bring a large pot of water to a rolling boil. Add the bucatini pasta along with 1 teaspoon of salt. Cook according to the package instructions until al dente, then drain well.
- Combine pasta and sauce. Add the cooked bucatini to the Bolognese sauce in the pan. Stir gently to coat the pasta evenly with the rich sauce.
- Serve. Portion the bucatini Bolognese into bowls or serving plates. Garnish generously with freshly grated parmesan cheese, fresh basil leaves, and a few cracks of black pepper. Enjoy your hearty Italian meal!
Notes
- For deeper flavor, consider simmering the sauce longer, up to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- You can substitute ground beef with ground turkey or pork for a different taste.
- Feel free to add a splash of red wine to the sauce when adding tomatoes for additional richness.
- Reserve some pasta cooking water to loosen the sauce if needed before combining with pasta.
- Use freshly grated parmesan rather than pre-grated for better melt and flavor.
Keywords: Bucatini Bolognese, Italian pasta recipe, Bolognese sauce, ground beef pasta, spaghetti alternative, classic Italian dish