Imagine a rich, hearty sauce that simmers for hours, filling your kitchen with an irresistible aroma of herbs, tender meats, and robust tomatoes. This big batch Bolognese is not just a sauce—it's a culinary experience that will elevate your home cooking from ordinary to extraordinary. Whether you're feeding a hungry family or meal prepping for the week, this slow cooker recipe promises restaurant-quality flavor with minimal effort.
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 6 hrs
Total Time: 6 hrs 20 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 10 cups
Ingredients
- 2 pounds ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork
- 2 large onions, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups diced carrots
- 2 cups diced celery
- 10 cups crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup red wine
- 2 tablespoons dried basil
- 2 tablespoons dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare all ingredients by finely chopping onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Measure out all spices and have them ready.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and ground pork, breaking the meat into small crumbles. Cook until meat is browned and no longer pink, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Transfer browned meat to the slow cooker using a slotted spoon, leaving excess fat behind. Drain any remaining fat from the skillet.
- In the same skillet, sauté chopped onions, garlic, carrots, and celery for 3-4 minutes until vegetables begin to soften, releasing their aromatics.
- Add sautéed vegetables to the slow cooker with the browned meat.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes, red wine, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. Stir all ingredients thoroughly to combine.
- Cover slow cooker and set to low heat. Cook for 6 hours, allowing flavors to meld and sauce to thicken.
- Stir sauce occasionally during cooking to prevent sticking and ensure even cooking.
- After 6 hours, taste and adjust seasoning if needed with additional salt and pepper.
- Let sauce rest for 15-20 minutes before serving to allow flavors to further develop.
- Serve over pasta, use in lasagna, or store in airtight containers for future use. Sauce can be refrigerated for 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Tips
- For the most tender and flavorful meat, use a mix of ground beef and pork. The pork adds richness and depth to the sauce.
- Always brown your meats before adding to the slow cooker. This crucial step develops a deep, caramelized flavor that transforms an ordinary sauce into something spectacular.
- Don't skip sautéing the vegetables. This process releases their natural sugars and creates a more complex flavor profile.
- Use a good quality red wine that you would also enjoy drinking. The wine adds acidity and depth to the sauce.
- Let the sauce rest after cooking to allow flavors to fully meld and develop. Patience is key in creating an exceptional Bolognese.
- This sauce freezes beautifully. Portion into containers for quick and easy meals in the future.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 326kcal
Carbohydrates: g
Protein: g
Fat: g
Saturated Fat: g
Cholesterol: 50mg
