Cozy Classic Bolognese Sauce with Gigli Pasta Dinner Recipe
Indulge in the comforting, hearty flavors of this Classic Bolognese Sauce with Gigli Pasta dinner recipe. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the secret to a rich, meaty sauce that’s better than takeout. Keep reading for my best tips, or jump straight to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Baked Spaghetti Recipe with Ground Beef and Cheese and Honey Lime Chicken Recipe with Garlic and Chili Spice.
Why This Cozy Classic Bolognese Sauce with Gigli Pasta Dinner Recipe Is Pure Comfort
- Perfectly balanced flavors
- Hearty and comforting
- Better than takeout
- Easy to customize
What You'll Need for Cozy Classic Bolognese Sauce with Gigli Pasta Dinner Recipe
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- Garlic
- Canned crushed tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Wine (optional)
- Milk
- Pasta (Gigli)
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Olive oil
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Sugar (optional)
- Optional: Fresh basil
- Optional: Grated Parmesan cheese
- Optional: Red pepper flakes
- Optional: Garlic bread
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef: 80/20 ground beef works best for this recipe.
- Wine: Red or white wine can be used. If you prefer not to use wine, you can substitute it with beef broth.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Cast iron skillet — Even heat distribution for perfect searing. → See on Amazon
- Immersion blender — Easily blend the sauce right in the pot. → See on Amazon
How to Make Cozy Classic Bolognese Sauce with Gigli Pasta Dinner Recipe
- Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Step 2: Add ground beef and ground pork to the pot. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned, about 8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Step 3: Stir in garlic, cook for 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, wine (if using), Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Step 4: Stir in milk, simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Step 5: Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and add to the sauce. Toss to combine. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and desired toppings.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Cozy Classic Bolognese Sauce with Gigli Pasta Dinner Recipe
- Common mistake and fix: Adding too much milk can make the sauce watery. If this happens, simmer the sauce uncovered to reduce and thicken it.
- Pro tip: For a richer flavor, use a combination of ground beef and ground pork for the meat.
- Pro tip: Adding a pinch of sugar can help balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Pro tip: For a smoother sauce, use an immersion blender to blend the sauce until your desired consistency is reached.
Storing & Reheating Cozy Classic Bolognese Sauce with Gigli Pasta Dinner Recipe
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: The sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge. Reheat before serving.
Freezing Cozy Classic Bolognese Sauce with Gigli Pasta Dinner Recipe
Freeze cooked and cooled sauce for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a deeper flavor, start the sauce a day ahead and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Reheat and proceed with the recipe.
- Best substitution: Ground turkey can be used as a substitute for the ground beef and pork.
- Make-ahead: The pasta can be cooked ahead of time and reheated in boiling water just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or additional milk. If it's too thin, simmer it uncovered to reduce and thicken it.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality pasta pot — Even cooking and easy draining for perfect pasta every time. → Check price on Amazon
Cozy Classic Bolognese Sauce with Gigli Pasta Dinner Recipe
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Onion
- Carrots
- Celery
- Garlic
- Canned crushed tomatoes
- Tomato paste
- Wine (optional)
- Milk
- Pasta (Gigli)
- Parmesan cheese
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Olive oil
Seasonings
- Italian seasoning
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Sugar (optional)
Optional Toppings
- Fresh basil
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- Red pepper flakes
- Garlic bread
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and celery. Cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Step 2: Add ground beef and ground pork to the pot. Cook, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until browned, about 8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
- Step 3: Stir in garlic, cook for 1 minute. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, wine (if using), Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Step 4: Stir in milk, simmer for an additional 15 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Step 5: Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and add to the sauce. Toss to combine. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and desired toppings.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a deeper flavor, start the sauce a day ahead and let it sit in the fridge overnight. Reheat and proceed with the recipe.
- Best substitution: Ground turkey can be used as a substitute for the ground beef and pork.
- Make-ahead: The pasta can be cooked ahead of time and reheated in boiling water just before serving.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the sauce is too thick, thin it out with a little water or additional milk. If it's too thin, simmer it uncovered to reduce and thicken it.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze cooked and cooled sauce for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: The sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge. Reheat before serving.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 650
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 32g
- Carbs: 50g
- Fiber: 6g
- Sugar: 9g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 120mg
- Sat. Fat: 12g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Cozy Classic Bolognese Sauce with Gigli Pasta Dinner Recipe FAQs
Yes, the sauce can be made up to 2 days ahead and stored in the fridge. Reheat before serving.
Adding too much milk can make the sauce watery. If this happens, simmer the sauce uncovered to reduce and thicken it.
Yes, cooked and cooled sauce can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Yes, combine all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
Ground turkey or a combination of ground turkey and pork can be used as a substitute for the ground beef.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Cozy Classic Bolognese Sauce with Gigli Pasta Dinner Recipe and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
