Olive Garden Bolognese Sauce

Bring the comforting flavors of Italy to your table with this Olive Garden-inspired Bolognese Sauce, a rich and hearty classic perfect for family dinners or special occasions. Made with a fragrant soffritto base of finely chopped onion, carrot, and celery, this sauce builds layers of flavor with a savory trio of ground beef, pork, and veal. Simmered low and slow in a luxurious blend of white wine, milk, and crushed tomatoes, it achieves a velvety texture and depth of flavor enhanced by a touch of tomato paste and aromatic bay leaf. Pair it with your favorite pasta and a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan for an authentic Italian experience right at home. Perfect for pasta lovers searching for a traditional Bolognese recipe that delivers restaurant-quality results, this dish marries simplicity with decadence in every bite.

Nutriscore Rating: 71/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:120 mins

Total Time:140 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 large yellow onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
• 1 medium celery stalk, finely chopped
• 1 pound ground beef
• 0.5 pound ground pork
• 0.5 pound ground veal
• 1.5 teaspoons salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.75 cup dry white wine
• 1 cup whole milk
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 1 cup beef broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (optional)
• 0 optional grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)

Directions

Step 1

Heat olive oil and butter in a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the chopped onion, carrot, and celery. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables are softened and fragrant.

Step 3

Increase the heat to medium-high and add the ground beef, ground pork, and ground veal. Break the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon and cook until browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Step 4

Season the meat with salt and black pepper, stirring to combine.

Step 5

Pour in the dry white wine and cook for 3-5 minutes, or until most of the wine has evaporated.

Step 6

Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the whole milk. Simmer for 4-5 minutes, allowing the milk to absorb into the meat and reduce slightly.

Step 7

Create a well in the center of the pot and add the tomato paste. Stir the paste into the meat mixture until evenly distributed.

Step 8

Add the crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and bay leaf. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

Step 9

Reduce the heat to low, cover partially with a lid, and let the sauce simmer for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.

Step 10

If the sauce thickens too much during cooking, add a bit more beef broth or water to achieve the desired consistency.

Step 11

Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper, if needed. Stir in fresh basil if desired.

Step 12

Remove the bay leaf before serving and serve the Bolognese sauce over your favorite pasta, topped with grated Parmesan cheese.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	2773.4 grams (2773.4g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3241

Total Fat 218.10g	280%
Saturated Fat 83.60g	418%
Polyunsaturated Fat 4.70g
Cholesterol 773mg	258%
Sodium 6288mg	273%
Total Carbohydrate 85.20g	31%
Dietary Fiber 17.40g	62%
Total Sugars 51.10g
Protein 216.70g	433%

Vitamin D 236IU	1182%
Calcium 788mg	61%
Iron 21mg	115%
Potassium 4925mg	105%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 61.9%

Protein: 27.3%

Carbs: 10.7%