Classic Tagliatelle Bolognese Recipe with Rich Meat Ragu

This is the easiest tagliatelle Bolognese or tagliatelle alla Bolognese!

Really the simplest recipe ever. You’ll be surprised how few ingredients are needed to make a rich, comforting Tagliatelle Bolognese. Ready to cook? Let’s head into the bistro kitchen and make an authentic, hearty ragù.

Easy To Make Bolognese Recipe

In Italy the classic pairing for a thick meat sauce is not spaghetti but broader pastas such as tagliatelle or fettuccine, which better hold the ragù. Traditional Bolognese is a slow-cooked meat sauce that relies on depth of flavor rather than a heavy tomato base—tomato paste is used sparingly while long, gentle simmering builds complexity.

What You Need For This Recipe

This easy Tagliatelle Bolognese uses simple, accessible ingredients. Gather:

• Tagliatelle or fettuccine
• Ground beef
• Pancetta
• Onion
• Carrot
• Celery
• Tomato paste
• Water
• Salt and pepper

See the recipe card below for exact measurements and full details.

How To Make Tagliatelle Bolognese Al Ragu

1. Heat a heavy pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and stir until browned.
2. Finely dice the pancetta and add it to the beef. Continue stirring until the meat is evenly browned and no pink remains.
3. Dice the onion and carrot finely and chop the celery. Add the vegetables to the pot and stir to combine.
4. Add two tablespoons of tomato paste and stir well to incorporate it into the meat and vegetables. Cook briefly to deepen the flavor.
5. Season with salt and pepper, then add about one cup of water. Cover the pot and let the ragù simmer gently for 2–3 hours, stirring occasionally.
6. Alternatively, set the covered pot in a preheated 400°F (200°C) oven for 2–3 hours. Check every 30 minutes and add a splash of water if the mixture becomes too dry.
7. Cook the tagliatelle until al dente, drain, and spoon the Bolognese over the pasta. Serve with grated Parmesan.
8. That’s all—simple steps for a deeply flavored tagliatelle al ragu you’ll want to make again and again.

Can You Make Bolognese Sauce In The Slow Cooker?

Yes. This ragù adapts well to a slow cooker or Instant Pot. Follow the stovetop steps through adding the water and then transfer the mixture to your slow cooker.

• High: 2–3 hours
• Low: 4–6 hours

The long, gentle heat of a slow cooker will similarly deepen the sauce’s flavors—check and add a little water if it gets too dry.

Why Do You Simmer The Sauce?

Slow simmering concentrates flavors, allowing the meat, pancetta and vegetables to meld and develop a deep, balanced taste. Gentle, prolonged cooking also reduces excess liquid, producing a thick, velvety ragù that clings to pasta.

Adding the vegetables early in the process enriches the sauce and builds natural sweetness and texture without relying on heavy tomato sauce.

Other Pasta Recipes You’ll Like

If you enjoy this Bolognese, try these pasta ideas next:

• Garlic shrimp spaghetti
• Creamy pasta with bacon
• Shrimp spinach pasta
• Tuna pasta in 15 minutes
• Instant Pot pasta and meatballs

Enjoy making this Tagliatelle Bolognese—simple ingredients, slow cooking, and a delicious result.

Easy Tagliatelle Bolognese

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes

This is the easiest tagliatelle Bolognese or tagliatelle alla Bolognese! Try it—you will love it.

Ingredients

• 300 g tagliatelle or fettuccine (10 oz)
• 250 g ground beef (½ lb)
• 100 g pancetta (3½ oz)
• 1 carrot, finely diced
• 1 onion, finely diced
• ½ celery stick, chopped
• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• ½–1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper

Instructions

1. Heat a pot and add the ground beef. Stir until browned.
2. Dice the pancetta and add to the beef. Stir until evenly browned.
3. Add the diced onion, carrot and chopped celery to the pot.
4. Stir the vegetables with the meat, then add two tablespoons of tomato paste and combine well.
5. Season with salt and pepper and add one cup of water. Cover and simmer gently for 2–3 hours, or place in a 400°F (200°C) oven for the same time, adding water if needed.
6. Cook the pasta al dente, drain, and spoon the ragù over the tagliatelle. Serve with Parmesan.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4
Serving Size: 1

Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 440
Total Fat: 23g
Saturated Fat: 8g
Trans Fat: 0g
Unsaturated Fat: 12g
Cholesterol: 87mg
Sodium: 607mg
Carbohydrates: 35g
Fiber: 2g
Sugar: 3g
Protein: 22g

Please note: nutrition information is approximate and provided for guidance only.