Creamy Cheater Bolognese

Indulge in the ultimate comfort food with this Creamy Cheater Bolognese—a rich and hearty pasta dish that comes together in just 40 minutes! Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe delivers all the flavors of a traditional bolognese with a simple, time-saving twist. Featuring tender ground beef, aromatic vegetables, and a luscious blend of tomato paste, canned crushed tomatoes, and heavy cream, this sauce achieves the perfect balance of tangy, savory, and creamy. Seasoned with dried oregano and basil, it’s brimming with classic Italian-inspired flavors. Toss it with your favorite pasta and top it with a generous sprinkle of parmesan cheese for a cozy, crowd-pleasing meal. Whether you're a novice cook or an experienced chef, this quick bolognese recipe is sure to become a dinnertime favorite.

Nutriscore Rating: 63/100

Prep Time:10 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:50 mins

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 medium onion, finely chopped
• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 14 ounces crushed tomatoes (canned)
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 0.5 cup parmesan cheese, grated (for serving)
• 12 ounces pasta of your choice (e.g., spaghetti, penne)

Directions

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a large skillet or saucepan over medium heat.

Step 2

Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Drain excess fat if necessary.

Step 3

Add the chopped onion and carrot to the skillet and sauté for 4-5 minutes, until the vegetables are softened.

Step 4

Stir in the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 5

Push the meat and vegetables to the side of the skillet and add the tomato paste. Cook the tomato paste for 1-2 minutes to deepen its flavor, then stir it into the mixture.

Step 6

Pour in the crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, dried oregano, dried basil, salt, and black pepper. Stir everything together until well combined.

Step 7

Reduce the heat to low and let the sauce simmer gently for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until thickened and infused with flavor.

Step 8

While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to the package instructions in a large pot of salted boiling water. Drain the pasta and set it aside.

Step 9

Once the sauce is ready, adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.

Step 10

Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce, or serve the sauce ladled over the pasta.

Step 11

Garnish with grated parmesan cheese before serving.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1760.1g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	3048.1

Total Fat 198.1g	0%
Saturated Fat 102.1g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat g
Cholesterol 592.4mg	0%
Sodium 5108.6mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 158.2g	0%
Dietary Fiber 18.2g	0%
Total Sugars 28.5g
Protein 142.0g	0%

Vitamin D 47.6IU	0%
Calcium 1534.0mg	0%
Iron 15.7mg	0%
Potassium 2851.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 59.8%

Protein: 19.0%

Carbs: 21.2%