Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese is what it says. It is so easy to cook that even I can do it perfectly every time. When the family are over, it is my go-to dish. The succulent flavours of the slow cooked Bolognese with the easy pasta makes this an Italian dish that is perfect all year round. Served as a main dish, this will satisfy the hungriest of guests.

There are few dishes that can compete with the sheer satisfaction of a well-made Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese. It’s one of those comforting meals that feels like home, whether it’s bubbling away on a Sunday afternoon or whipped up midweek for a family dinner. “Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese” takes the essence of this beloved Italian-inspired classic and simplifies it into a dish that’s as effortless as it is delicious. Every element of this version — from the rich red wine and smoky bacon to the gentle perfume of rosemary — works in harmony to create a sauce that clings lovingly to strands of spaghetti, each forkful bursting with flavour.

The heart of Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese lies in its slow-cooked sauce, a deep, savoury mixture built from humble ingredients that transform through time and technique. The base begins with the familiar trio of onion, garlic, and olive oil, but this recipe elevates it with the addition of smoked streaky bacon. The bacon adds a subtle saltiness and a smoky depth that seeps into every layer of the sauce, giving it that unmistakable warmth. As the onions soften and the garlic releases its fragrance, the kitchen fills with the kind of aromas that immediately announce: something good is cooking.

Rosemary, though optional, is the secret ingredient that turns this sauce from ordinary to unforgettable. Its woody, aromatic notes balance the richness of the meat and wine, infusing the sauce with a rustic edge. It’s the sort of herb that transforms a simple Bolognese into something that feels almost Mediterranean — a small nod to the Italian countryside where rosemary grows wild and abundant.

Then comes the star: the minced beef. Browning it properly is key to building that meaty foundation of flavour. Breaking it up into small, even pieces ensures the sauce stays smooth and cohesive. When the beef hits the pan, it sizzles and releases its juices, and in a few short minutes, the kitchen takes on that unmistakable, hearty aroma of a classic ragù.

Next comes one of the most important steps — deglazing the pan with red wine. This moment is pure magic. The wine lifts the caramelised bits from the bottom of the pan, infusing the sauce with a rich, fruity complexity that no shortcut can match. As it simmers away, the alcohol cooks off, leaving behind only a deep, velvety flavour that’s the hallmark of a great Bolognese. Using a good-quality wine makes all the difference; after all, if you wouldn’t drink it, don’t cook with it.

The final ingredient that completes the sauce is a generous helping of plum tomatoes. They bring a natural sweetness and a soft acidity that perfectly balance the richness of the meat and wine. Once crushed and stirred in, the sauce is left to simmer in the oven for about an hour. This slow cooking allows the flavours to meld and deepen, transforming the ingredients into something far greater than the sum of their parts.

Meanwhile, the spaghetti — the dish’s trusty companion — is cooked until tender but still firm enough to hold its own under the weight of the sauce. One small but valuable trick here is to save a little of the starchy pasta water. Adding a splash of it back into the pasta as you toss it with the Bolognese helps the sauce cling more evenly, creating that perfect glossy finish.

Finally, the dish is brought together in one beautiful, fragrant serving. The pasta is topped with a generous ladle of the rich, meaty sauce, finished with a light grating of Parmesan and a drizzle of good olive oil. Each bite offers the comforting warmth of slow-cooked beef, the brightness of tomato, and the gentle hum of rosemary, tied together by that unmistakable savoury note from the bacon.

What makes this Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese so special is that it keeps all the hallmarks of a traditional Bolognese — the depth, the richness, the balance — but strips away the fuss. It’s straightforward enough for busy cooks yet impressive enough for guests. It’s a meal that invites conversation, second helpings, and perhaps another glass of the same red wine that went into the pot.

In the end, Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese is comfort food at its finest — simple, satisfying, and steeped in tradition, yet refreshingly approachable. Whether it’s for a family supper or a solo evening treat, a bowl of this Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese promises warmth, flavour, and that familiar sense of home with every forkful.

Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese is a hearty, comforting dish that combines minced beef, smoked bacon, and plum tomatoes, slow-cooked with red wine and aromatic rosemary for a rich, flavorful sauce. Served over perfectly cooked spaghetti and finished with Parmesan and a drizzle of olive oil, it’s a simple yet satisfying meal that feels like home in every bite.

4.56 from 188 votes

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Course: Main Dish

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Alcohol, Bacon, Beef, Herbs, Mince, Sauce, Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese, Vegetables

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 6 People

Calories: 677kcal

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Ingredients

 

• ▢ 500 g minced beef
• ▢ 200 ml red wine good quality
• ▢ 6 rashers streaky bacon smoked is best
• ▢ 2 cloves garlic peel/mince
• ▢ 1 large onion peel/slice
• ▢ 2 sprigs rosemary optional but so good
• ▢ 800 g plum tomatoes
• ▢ 500 g spaghetti
• ▢ olive oil to cook and drizzle
• ▢ Parmesan finishing touch

Instructions

• Peel and finely chop the onion and garlic cloves,
  1 large onion, 2 cloves garlic
• Pick the leaves off the rosemary and finely chop. They let out an amazing flavour and aroma.
  2 sprigs rosemary
• Finely slice the smoked streaky bacon.
  6 rashers streaky bacon
• Place a large pan over a medium heat and add a little olive oil.
  olive oil
• When hot, add the sliced bacon, onion, garlic and rosemary and fry for about 5 minutes until the onions have softened.
  6 rashers streaky bacon, 2 cloves garlic, 1 large onion, 2 sprigs rosemary
• Add the beef and cook for about 3 minutes making sure any lumps are broken apart. The mince should become browned within a few minutes. Stir occasionally to make sure all of it is browned.
  500 g minced beef
• Add the wine and leave for a few minutes while the fluid is cooked off.
  200 ml red wine
• Add the chopped tomatoes and stir thoroughly making sure all of the tomatoes are squished so again no lumps.
  800 g plum tomatoes
• Now cover with a lid and place in the preheated oven for 1 hour. Check after about 30 minutes to make sure it is not drying out. If so, add a little water or a little more red wine. Give it a stir at this stage as well making sure everything mixed.
• After about 45 minutes has passed, add a pan of salted water to a high heat and bring to the boil.
• Add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions.
  500 g spaghetti
• When the pasta is cooked, place a mug in the sink and drain the pasta pan over it to keep some of the starchy water.
• Return the drained pasta to the pan and begin to add the Bolognese sauce until you have the quantity you need. Any leftover Bolognese sauce can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for several days.
• Serve the Super Easy Spaghetti Bolognese hot with a grating of parmesan and a little drizzle of olive oil.
  Parmesan

Nutrition

Calories: 677kcal | Carbohydrates: 71g | Protein: 29g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 74mg | Sodium: 216mg | Potassium: 854mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 1121IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 58mg | Iron: 3mg