Slow cooker bolognaise

Spaghetti bolognaise recipe

Spaghetti bolognaise is the dish everyone thinks of when they think of Italy. A rich meat sauce served with pasta, spaghetti bolognaise is enjoyed around the world, and while it’s linked to the Italian city of Bologna, it is said to come from 18th-century Imola (east of Bologna), and is a ragu - a meat sauce cooked low and slow for hours. It’s this method of cooking that makes a traditional spaghetti bolognaise recipe incredibly rich and satisfying, and gave us the inspiration to make this slow cooker spaghetti bolognaise. It’s next-level comfort food, and because each bowlful is guaranteed to bring on plenty of praise, this recipe makes a double batch, so you can store some away in the freezer and use it another time.

Ingredients for spaghetti bolognaise

You’ll need 375g of spaghetti for this recipe, which serves 4. For the double-batch recipe for spaghetti bolognaise, you’ll need 2 tbs of olive oil, plus the essential veggies that will give flavour - 1 finely chopped brown onion, 3 crushed garlic cloves and 2 finely chopped celery sticks. A finely chopped large zucchini will offer added goodness to the dish. And, of course, no spaghetti bolognaise sauce is complete without good-quality beef mince - for this recipe you’ll need 1kg. You’ll also need ⅓ cup (95g) of tomato paste to give the sauce a rich flavour and a luxurious texture. Some red wine, about ½ cup (125ml), also helps to intensify the savouriness. If you’d prefer to cook this without alcohol, you can use beef stock instead. There’s also 700g of tomato passata in the sauce, which is essentially pureed tomatoes and is the perfect base for sauces, soups and stews. And the best spaghetti bolognaise recipe must have oregano, so for this sauce you’ll need 6 sprigs.

How to make spaghetti bolognaise

If you’ve ever wondered how to cook spaghetti bolognaise in a slow cooker, we’ll show you how. Firstly, a traditional spaghetti bolognaise recipe begins with sauteing the veggies to bring out their flavours and create an essential foundation for the sauce. To do this, heat 1 tbs of olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion, celery and zucchini. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until the veggies are golden and the onion softens. Transfer to a slow cooker. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the pan. Add the mince and cook, stirring to break up lumps, for 6-8 minutes or until browned. This gives the beef flavour and texture. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute or until aromatic. Stir in the tomato paste, then add the wine or stock and bring to a simmer. Cook for 1 minute or until heated through, then transfer the beef mixture to the slow cooker. Pour in the passata and add the oregano and season. Cover and let the slow cooker do what it does best - cook for 4 hours on high (or 8 hours on low) or until the mixture thickens. The meat will be soft and melt-in-your mouth delicious. If you’re looking for an easy spaghetti bolognaise recipe with an irresistible, luxurious result, this is it.

Time to serve up the best spaghetti bolognaise

Cook the pasta in a saucepan of boiling water following packet directions until al dente, then drain. Divide the pasta and half of the bolognaise sauce among serving bowls and serve with oregano leaves and finely grated parmesan. Transfer the remaining half of the bolognaise sauce to an airtight container and set aside to cool completely before storing in the fridge or freezer.

Now get cooking

The beauty of bolognaise is that it’s easy to create different, tasty variations. Try this 5-ingredient veggie-loaded spaghetti bolognese to increase your weekly dose of wholesome ingredients. If you’re keen for another better-for-you version, give this rainbow bolognaise recipe a go. It’s packed with colourful veg that give the dish standout flavour. For another easy weeknight meal, whip up this one-pan bolognaise, topped with basil and bocconcini, for a true taste of Italy. And go all out with this baked gnocchi with bolognese sauce to win you applause at the dinner table.