Description
This Easy Rigatoni Bolognese is rich, hearty, and packed with beef, pork, tender vegetables, and fire roasted tomato sauce. Rigatoni catches the thick sauce so every bite tastes cozy and full.
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 carrots, diced
- 2 celery ribs, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 1 tsp basil
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes
- 28 oz fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 1½ cups beef broth
- ⅓ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, optional
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta, or pasta of choice
Instructions
- Soften the vegetables: Heat the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, carrots, and celery and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until softened.
- Brown the meat: Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the ground beef and ground pork, then cook for 8 to 10 minutes, breaking it up, until browned with no pink spots left.
- Cook the tomato paste: Stir in the tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the tomato paste darkens and coats the meat.
- Simmer the sauce: Add the fire roasted diced tomatoes and beef broth, scraping the bottom of the pan. Bring to a gentle bubble, then simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until thick.
- Cook the pasta: While the sauce simmers, boil the rigatoni in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
- Finish and toss: Stir the heavy cream and Parmesan into the sauce, if using. Add the rigatoni and toss until coated, adding splashes of pasta water if needed.
Notes
For a milder sauce, reduce or skip the red pepper flakes.
The sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead and reheated before tossing with fresh pasta.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze the sauce alone for up to 3 months.
Add a splash of broth, water, or cream when reheating to bring the sauce back together.
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Cuisine: Italian American
Keywords: rigatoni bolognese