Looking for a tried-and-tested quick Bolognese recipe

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jadeia
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Looking for a tried-and-tested quick Bolognese recipe

Post by jadeia »

My son loves Bolognese, but my own recipe involves slow-cooking the meat with a sauce I prepare the night before. Great tasting, but not always useful.

I'm after a quick pan recipe I can throw together on the fly in under 30 minutes if possible.

I've already Googled and tried the AI route, but I'd really prefer a recipe from someone who's been making it from the heart for years. Home cooks, what's your go-to?

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Hardelli
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Re: Looking for a tried-and-tested quick Bolognese recipe

Post by Hardelli »

Try searching for Ragu recipes instead? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rag%C3%B9

I cant recommend any though :(

Petkeljärven rantaan vie kivikkoinen Kyymäentie, vaan yhä vielä siitä saa Hevonkuuseen matkustaa

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web_724
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Re: Looking for a tried-and-tested quick Bolognese recipe

Post by web_724 »

if you want anything to cook faster, you cut all the ingredients smaller and cook in the biggest pan you have. at least that's what i learned from my mother.

wew

toffee
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Re: Looking for a tried-and-tested quick Bolognese recipe

Post by toffee »

If you don't mind it being very in-authentic and un-Italian, this is my go-to quick recipe. Overall cook time it take longer than 30 min, but the prep is minimal and the washing up is not too bad.

Ingredients:

  • minced meat (500g)
  • onion (pre-chopped / frozen for maximum speed) (equivalent to 1 onion)
  • garlic (from a jar is fine) (optional, as much as you like)
  • frozen vegetables (peas, capsicum/bell peppers, carrots, spinach, however you feel) (as much as you like)
  • tin of tomatoes / passata (whatever size it comes in)
  • olive oil (for frying, probably around 1 tbsp, can actually be any oil you like)
  • dried herbs (e.g. bay leaf, oregano, basil, thyme, Italian herb mix, pepper, dried chilli flakes)
  • cheese

Method:

  • Fry meat in the oil at medium high heat until you see some borwning.
  • Turn the heat down to medium and add onions. Fry onions until see-through. Add garlic and fry for around 30sec until it smells like nicely cooked garlic.
  • Add tomatoes, frozen vegetables and herbs. Mix together, turn up heat until boiling, then turn down heat and simmer. Simmer as long as you want, but it generally needs at least 15 minutes. Season to taste before serving.
  • I typically boil the pasta now, and once it's done the sauce is ready, but you can prepare it earlier if that works for you.
  • Serve with cheese - cheddar works well for kids, parmesan is always good, feta also works nicely, however you feel.

So in the end, a distant cousin of bolognese, but a tasty meat sauce nonetheless.

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jadeia
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Re: Looking for a tried-and-tested quick Bolognese recipe

Post by jadeia »

toffee wrote: Tue Jun 23, 2026 9:01 pm

If you don't mind it being very in-authentic and un-Italian, this is my go-to quick recipe. Overall cook time it take longer than 30 min, but the prep is minimal and the washing up is not too bad.

Ingredients:

  • minced meat (500g)
  • onion (pre-chopped / frozen for maximum speed) (equivalent to 1 onion)
  • garlic (from a jar is fine) (optional, as much as you like)
  • frozen vegetables (peas, capsicum/bell peppers, carrots, spinach, however you feel) (as much as you like)
  • tin of tomatoes / passata (whatever size it comes in)
  • olive oil (for frying, probably around 1 tbsp, can actually be any oil you like)
  • dried herbs (e.g. bay leaf, oregano, basil, thyme, Italian herb mix, pepper, dried chilli flakes)
  • cheese

Method:

  • Fry meat in the oil at medium high heat until you see some borwning.
  • Turn the heat down to medium and add onions. Fry onions until see-through. Add garlic and fry for around 30sec until it smells like nicely cooked garlic.
  • Add tomatoes, frozen vegetables and herbs. Mix together, turn up heat until boiling, then turn down heat and simmer. Simmer as long as you want, but it generally needs at least 15 minutes. Season to taste before serving.
  • I typically boil the pasta now, and once it's done the sauce is ready, but you can prepare it earlier if that works for you.
  • Serve with cheese - cheddar works well for kids, parmesan is always good, feta also works nicely, however you feel.

So in the end, a distant cousin of bolognese, but a tasty meat sauce nonetheless.

This! Thank you! Yeh its not about authenticity when I need to cook a quick meal for the kids, and this looks like perfect, going to try and report back.

Thank.

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