This Easy Baked
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What Is Spaghetti Bolognese?
Spaghetti bolognese, also known as
Origins Of Bolognese
Bolognese sauce comes from Bologna, Italy. The first reference to the dish is believed to be in a cookbook titled ‘La Scienza in Cucina e L’arte di Mangiare Bane’ which translates to ‘The Science of Cooking and the Art of Eating Well’. Published by Pellegrino Artusi in 1891, it came out two decades after Italy unified and was the first book to feature recipes from regions all over Italy.
Featuring lean veal, the original recipe was a little different than the recipe many of us know today, but the intent of crafting a hearty meat-based sauce remains! Keep reading to learn more about the history and origins of authentic bolognese sauce. The exact ingredients vary from region to region, but it also features a blend of veggies, meat, and a tomato-based sauce. Personally, we’ve never met a version we didn’t love!
What Goes In Spaghetti Bolognese?
No two chefs make bolognese the same way. However, when it comes to American
- Spaghetti – Cooked to al dente, the tender pasta noodles scoop up all the sauce for the ultimate comfort food.
- Olive Oil – You’ll want to use this to coat the noodles to prevent them from clumping together. Plus, it’s super good for you!
- Pasta Sauce – Of course, you could make your own pasta sauce, but who has time for that? Easy is the name of the game around here. So, we just buy a jar!
- Ground Beef – Minced teeny tiny, this adds bulk to the sauce along with a rich, savory flavor and tons of protein to keep you full.
- Veggies – Chopped onion, diced red and green peppers, and garlic add volume, fiber, nutrients, and lots of savory flavor. Plus, they get hidden in between chunks of meat so your little ones won’t even realize that they’re eating their veggies!
- Herbs and Spices – Fresh Italian parsley, fresh basil, oregano (or Italian seasoning), salt, and pepper create an herbaceous, savory flavor that takes pre-made pasta sauce to the next level of deliciousness!
- Broth – This is used in place of water to cook the noodles, enhancing the baked
spaghetti bolognese recipe’s savory flavor. - Cheese – You can’t have an Italian dish without plenty of Parmesan cheese! Go crazy, and add as much as you’d like!
How to Make Baked Spaghetti Bolognese
If you know us, you know we love a good one pot pasta recipe! So, we transformed our traditional
- Prepare the Noodles. Add the uncooked
spaghetti to a large baking dish, and drizzle the oil on top. Rub the pasta carefully until it is completely coated. - Cook the Beef. In a large skillet, brown the beef over medium heat, and use a spatula to break it into pieces.
- Combine the Ingredients. Add all the ingredients except for the parmesan to the baking dish, and stir until they’re well combined.
- Bake. Cover the
spaghetti bolognese recipe with aluminum foil, and bake until the noodles are al dente and the meat is cooked through. Make sure to stir halfway through! - Serve. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top, and serve right away while it’s still warm!
Variations
When we said there are many different ways to make bolognese, we meant it! That means there’s lots of room to play and experiment with this recipe. So, don’t be afraid to get a little creative! However, to get you started, some of our favorite ways to mix things up are:
- Using Different Meat. Swap out half the beef with ground pork instead. And don’t be afraid to add Italian sausage for a bit of spice, too!
- Adding Cream. Gently stir in ½ cup or so of heavy cream after removing the bolognese bake from the oven to make it extra dreamy. Half and half works well, too!
- Including Wine. Replace all or half of the broth with red wine for a more robust, slightly sweet taste. Dry, medium-bodied varieties like Pinot Noir, Merlot, or Chianti work best.
- Adding Sugar. If your pasta sauce is a little on the bitter side, add a pinch of granulated sugar to help balance out the acidity.
Serving Suggestions
Made with meat, veggies, and pasta, this
And we can’t forget dessert! Finish off your meal with a serving of tiramisú bread pudding or crème brûlée!
How to Store and Reheat
Once combined, this easy baked
For the best results, we highly recommend storing the sauce separately from the pasta. Otherwise, it’ll become soggy, and we definitely don’t want that! Once cooled completely,
When you’re ready to eat, let it thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat your sauce in the microwave or in a pan on the stove, and cook up a fresh batch of
Common Questions About This Baked Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe
The key is to use enough sauce so that the pasta remains moist. Also, be sure to watch the clock — overbaking is a surefire way to wind up with dry spaghetti.
Okay, stay with us, this explanation can get a little confusing! Bolognese sauce is a type of ragù, but ragù is not bolognese. It consists of a combination of meat, tomatoes, herbs, spices, and sometimes wine or cream.
Meanwhile, spaghetti sauce is a simple tomato-based sauce seasoned with just a handful of aromatics, herbs, and spices. As a result, it’s thinner, slightly less rich in flavor, and doesn’t have to contain meat.
Baked pasta dishes can become watery if there’s to much sauce added or if excess pasta water is added. Also, if you include veggies, it may help to cook them down a bit before baking to remove extra moisture.
If your leftovers are a little dry, reheat them in intervals in the microwave next to a bowl of water. The steam will help the spaghetti to become more moist.
More Baked Pasta Recipes
If you’re a pasta lover like us, you won’t want to miss out on more of these easy pasta recipes that are basically comfort in a casserole dish!
Baked Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces ground beef cooked
- 16 ounces spaghetti uncooked
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 16 ounce jar pasta sauce
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- ½ cup red bell peppers diced
- ½ cup green bell peppers diced
- ½ cup fresh Italian parsley chopped
- ½ cup fresh basil chopped
- 3 cups broth chicken or vegetable
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt or to taste
- 1 teaspoon black pepper or to taste
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese shavings for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Cook the beef in a skillet over medium heat until browned, using a spatula to break it into pieces.12 ounces ground beef
- In a large baking dish, add the uncooked spaghetti. Drizzle the olive oil on top, and gently rub it over the pasta until it is completely coated. (This helps prevent the spaghetti from sticking together.)16 ounces spaghetti, ¼ cup olive oil
- Add all the ingredients to a 9×13 baking dish except for the Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.1 16 ounce jar pasta sauce, ½ yellow onion, ½ cup red bell peppers, ½ cup green bell peppers, ½ cup fresh Italian parsley, ½ cup fresh basil, 3 cups broth, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon salt or to taste, 1 teaspoon black pepper or to taste, 5 cloves garlic
- Cover, and bake 45-50 minutes or until the meat is cooked through, the veggies are tender, and the spaghetti is al dente, stirring halfway through.
- Garnish with Parmesan cheese, and serve warm.1 cup Parmesan cheese shavings for garnish
- Store the sauce separately from the spaghetti in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Video
Equipment
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
No details, baking time, amount of ingredients, bake on stove or in the oven, so many questions
Hi Dorian! You can find the complete details in the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Sounds great! I would use crushed tomatoes, and may prefer increasing the amount, instead of purchasing sauce.
Thank you for the feedback! We hope you enjoy the recipe. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Loved it! Super easy! Thank you xx
Looks great!I make your oven baked spaghetti all the time. For this recipe though….what kind of broth is best to use ( beef, chicken, veg)? Thank you!
We used chicken, but you can definitely use any!
I love spaghetti and these are good recipes. Simple and easy.
So glad to hear!
Looks super yummy. Excited to try