One taste of this easy bolognese sauce, and you’ll never go back to store-bought options again! I love classic bolognese. However, it can take hours and hours to make. So, I came up with this quick bolognese sauce to speed up the process without sacrificing any flavor, and I’m happy to say I’ve perfected the process.

sausage bolognese sauce this recipe
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With the perfect combination of chicken, bacon, and Italian sausage, this sauce is perfectly seasoned and simmered to rich, savory perfection. Plus, it’s lighter than traditional recipes so you don’t leave the dinner table feeling quite as weighed down, and all the ingredients come together in a single pot in about an hour.

Hearty and delicious, this five-star sauce is a satisfying comfort food that you can whip up on any night of the week. Try it out, and you’ll feel like you’re dining in a fancy Italian restaurant!

What is Bolognese Sauce?

Bolognese sauce, also known as ragù is an Italian meat sauce consisting of meat, a trio of veggies (onions, carrots, celery) wine, milk, and some type of tomato product. It’s traditionally simmered at low heat until a thick consistency and served with tagliatelle pasta.

Bolognese sauce is very similar to spaghetti sauce, except bolognese sauce usually has meat and vegetables in it. Whereas spaghetti sauce would normally be a sauce on its own but often flavored with herbs.

Easy Bolognese Recipe Ingredients

For our simple bolognese sauce recipe you will need the following ingredients: 

  • Bacon
  • Ground chicken
  • Italian sausage
  • Yellow onion
  • Garlic
  • Chicken broth
  • Tomato paste
  • Milk
  • Bay leaf
  • Parmesan cheese
  • Fresh parsley
  • Red chili flakes, optional
  • Salt and black pepper
ingredients for sausage bolognese sauce

Best Pasta For Easy Bolognese Sauce

Usually, the larger shape pasta works better with thick, robust sauces. But you can really use whatever pasta you have on hand. Here are a few of our favorites:

  • Spaghetti
  • Bucatini
  • Fettuccine
  • Linguine
  • Penne
  • Rigatoni
  • Cavatappi

Milk is the Secret

Why add milk to bolognese sauce? Milk adds a richer depth of flavor to the sauce and makes the meat more tender. It also produces a silky sauce that is more orange than red. For best results, use whole milk or 2% milk. 

You can even add a splash of cream for a richer sauce.

How to Make Bolognese With Sausage

Step 1: Cook the meat – In a large sauté pan or dutch-oven cook the bacon until crisp. Reserve about 3 tablespoons of bacon grease in the pan and drain the rest.

Add in the ground chicken and sausage. Cook until no longer pink while breaking up the meat with a wooden spoon.

cooked sausage meat in saute pan

Step 2: Add the onions – Stir in the onions and garlic. Cook until the onions are soft, about 5 minutes. Make sure to stir frequently to avoid burning.

ground meat and onions in saute pan

Step 3: Deglaze the pan – Add the chicken broth and tomato paste. Stir to combine and release the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

tomato paste with italian sausage in saute pan

Step 4: Stir in the milk – Add milk, salt, and bay leaf. Season the mixture with black pepper. Bring to a simmer, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 30 minutes, covered. The sauce will reduce and thicken.

cooked bolognese sauce in saute pan

Step 5: Finish with Parmesan – Stir in Parmesan cheese and parsley. Serve with cooked spaghetti.

How to Use This Easy Bolognese Recipe

Get the most out of your sausage bolognese by turning leftover sauce into another meal. We rounded up a few of our favorite ways to use the last bit of those leftovers:

close up sausage bolognese sauce recipe

Easy Bolognese Sauce Recipe Storage

I recommend making a large batch of bolognese sauce to keep on hand in the fridge. It’s a game-changer on busy nights! It will keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To store, let the sauce cool completely, and transfer it to an airtight container before placing it in the fridge.

Can you freeze Bolognese Sauce?

Yes, you can freeze bolognese sauce for up to 6 months. Let it cool completely, and transfer it to a freezer-safe container or sealable bag, spreading it out evenly. Or, pour the sauce into an ice cube tray, and freeze until solid. Then, transfer the cubes to a sealable bag, and you can easily grab a few when you need a quick meal.

More Pasta Dishes

Lemon Asparagus Chicken Pasta

Orecchiette with Baked Mini Chicken Meatballs in Tomato Cream Sauce

Chicken Mushroom Spinach Pasta

Margherita Pasta

If you try our bolognese sauce, please leave a star rating and a comment letting us know how you liked the recipe.

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easy homemade bolognese sauce recipe

Bolognese With Sausage

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  • Author: Katya
  • Prep Time: 15 min
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
  • Yield: 6 1x
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Simmer
  • Cuisine: Italian
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Description

This sausage bolognese sauce is so versatile and simple to make. See the post on how to make the most out of leftovers.

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 4 strips bacon, chopped
  • 1 lb. ground chicken
  • 8 oz. Italian mild sausage, about 2 links, removed from casing
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 6 oz. can tomato paste
  • 1 1/2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
  • 1 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/4 tsp. red chili flakes, optional
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 lb. spaghetti, cooked, reserve 1/2 cup pasta water

Instructions

  1. In a large heavy-duty sauté pan or dutch oven, cook the bacon over medium-high heat until crisp. Drain all but 3 tablespoons of bacon grease. Add chicken and sausage. Cook until no longer pink while breaking up the meat with a spoon.
  2. Add onions and garlic. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes, stirring frequently.
  3. Add chicken broth and tomato paste. The chicken broth will come to a quick simmer. With a wooden spoon scrape and stir the bottom of the pan to loosen browned bits.
  4. Add milk, salt, and bay leaf. Optional, stir in red chili flakes. Season with black pepper to taste. Reduce heat to low, and simmer, for 30 minutes, covered. The sauce will reduce and thicken.
  5. Stir in Parmesan cheese and parsley. Taste the sauce for salt before tossing with spaghetti.
  6. Toss the sauce with cooked spaghetti. Add reserved pasta water to thin out if needed.

Notes

  • Leftovers: Leftover bolognese sauce will last up to 4 days in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 644
  • Sugar: 10 g
  • Sodium: 831.7 mg
  • Fat: 25.3 g
  • Carbohydrates: 68.9 g
  • Protein: 34.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 103.6 mg

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