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Bucatini Bolognese Recipe

4.8 from 93 reviews

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.

Ingredients

Scale

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)

Instructions

  1. 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.
  2. Add sauce ingredients. Next, pour the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper into the pan. Stir to combine thoroughly.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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