Description
A penne bolognese recipe is an Italian-inspired pasta dish featuring penne noodles tossed in a slow-simmered, meat-based tomato sauce known as ragu alla Bolognese. While many fast pasta recipes focus primarily on acidic tomato purée, an authentic bolognese uses tomatoes merely as a supporting element to highlight tender ground meat and aromatic vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 400 g penne pasta
- 500 g ground beef
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 1 celery stalk, finely diced
- 400 g canned chopped tomatoes
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 150 ml beef stock
- 100 ml red wine, optional
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp salt, or to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp sugar, optional
- 50 g grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil or parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the onion, carrot, and celery. Cook for 5–7 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and beef: Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the ground beef and cook for 7–10 minutes, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned.
- Build the sauce: Stir in the tomato paste, then add the chopped tomatoes, beef stock, and red wine if using. Add oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
- Simmer: Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce the heat and cook uncovered for 25–30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the sugar if the sauce tastes too acidic.
- Cook the pasta: Meanwhile, cook the penne in a large pot of salted boiling water according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve about ½ cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Combine: Add the cooked penne to the Bolognese sauce and toss well. Add a little reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Serve: Divide among four plates and top with grated Parmesan and fresh basil or parsley.
Notes
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 680 kcal
Keywords: penne pasta bolognese, homemade penne bolognese, penne ragu recipe, easy bolognese with penne