Sausage Bolognese Recipe: Tips for Making Sausage Bolognese

Sausage Bolognese is a take on the classic Bolognese pasta sauce, made with flavorful ground Italian sausage instead of ground beef or pork. Bolognese is the international name for ragù alla Bolognese, a long-simmering Italian meat sauce that traditionally accompanies lasagna or tagliatelle.

Cooking the sauce starts with sautéing a base of soffritto—a flavorful, aromatic vegetable mixture that combines onion, carrot, and celery—in olive oil until soft. Ground or diced meat—in this case, sausage—makes up the body of the sauce, and wine, chicken stock, and tomato purée form the braising liquid.

“Meat sauce” refers to any tomato-based sauce made that calls for ground, diced, or shredded meat, but Bolognese refers to a specific type of Italian meat sauce. Bolognese, which traditionally calls for milk and tomato paste, is a distinctly creamy sauce with less tomato than other Italian pasta sauces (like marinara sauce).

Bolognese’s base always consists of a diced onion, carrot, and celery soffritto mixture, while a meat sauce can contain any combination of vegetables (or no vegetables at all).

Whether you’re a seasoned chef or novice in the kitchen, you can successfully craft a satisfying sausage ragù. Follow these tips to make the most flavorful, creamy sausage Bolognese sauce possible:

1. 1. Experiment with ingredients. Adjust this classic Bolognese recipe to suit your preferences or the ingredients you have on hand. Substitute red wine for white wine to make a fuller-bodied sauce. Use beef broth instead of chicken broth for an extra meaty flavor. Swap half-and-half or heavy cream for the milk for a creamier dish. For freshness, incorporate additional spices and Italian herbs, such as red pepper flakes, garlic, fennel seed, fresh basil, oregano, thyme, and bay leaves.
2. 2. Slow cook the sauce. Prepare this recipe in a slow cooker for an easy make-ahead meal. Sauté the sausage and veggies, then add them to a slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. Cook the sauce on low heat for 3 to 4 hours.
3. 3. Store properly. Store this hearty sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow the Bolognese to cool to room temperature before storing it in a freezer-safe bag and freezing it. When you’re ready to eat the sauce, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat it on the stovetop.