Weeknight Bolognese
Bolognese doesn’t have to be a weekend project. This version keeps things simple with ground beef and your favorite jarred sauce, so dinner comes together fast without giving up on flavor. Browning the beef builds a rich base, and once the sauce is stirred in, it feels like you’ve been cooking all day. Toss it with pasta, add a little parmesan, and you’ve got a cozy, hearty meal on the table in under 30 minutes. It’s comfort food made easy, perfect for busy weeknights when you still want something that tastes homemade.
Weeknight Bolognese
Easy weeknight bolognese with ground beef and your favorite jarred sauce. A hearty pasta dinner that’s quick, cozy, and full of flavor.
Equipment
- 1 large pot for the sauce, like a dutch oven
- 1 large pot for the pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 carrots, pealed and diced
- 2 celery stocks, diced
- 1-2 lbs ground beef
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 6 small mushrooms, diced
- 1 tsp roasted garlic optional
- 1 jar of your favorite pasta sauce
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 lb your favorite pasta
- parmesan cheese, grated
Instructions
- Heat the large pot on the stove over medium heat. Add the olive oil. Add the diced onions, carrots and celery and cook for 5-10 minutes until soft.
- Add the ground beef and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Break up the beef with a wooden spoon to cook evenly. Just before the beef is done, add the diced mushrooms and roasted garlic to cook for the last 2 – 3 minutes.
- Once the veggies and beef are mostly cooked, mix in the jar of sauce and bay leaf. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 – 30 minutes.
- While the sauce cooks, bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta. Once done cooking, drain the pasta and add the sauce. Top with parmesan cheese and serve with a salad or garlic bread.