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My family’s favorite Pesto Pasta Bolognese. Slow cooked Italian Bolognese sauce with a mix of meat, vegetables, tomatoes, and a splash of vodka to create the most delicious and rich Bolognese. A little pesto adds a pop of fresh flavor. Serve this sauce over rigatoni pasta and top with plenty of freshly grated parmesan cheese. All it needs is a side of crusty bread for mopping up all that sauce. You simply can’t go wrong with this warming Bolognese.
December recipes are a little different for me. Each one I share really needs to feel special. I don’t just want a dish to serve on Monday night, but one you can serve at your next dinner party too.
With so much entertaining happening during the busy holiday season, we need dinners that are simple, but special, you know?
This Bolognese has become my family’s favorite. My brothers especially love this. It’s perfect to serve while everyone is home for Christmas break!
I first made this for my older brother. My siblings have been asking me to make them a good, classic Bolognese dinner for years. I knew when I finally decided to make this recipe that I had to get the sauce just right. It took a few rounds of testing – but no one seemed to mind.
Each version was slightly different, but the recipe I landed on is truly perfect.
It has a few elements that really make it extra special.
The details
What’s awesome about this sauce is that it’s mostly hands-off and simply simmers on the stove all day long. In fact, it’s even better if you can make the sauce the day before to really allow the amazing flavors to develop.
Start by cooking some pancetta. The pancetta is pretty traditional in an Italian style Bolognese and adds a really deep flavor to the sauce. Next add in the veggies, then all the meats. I love to use a combination of ground beef, bison, and pork.
When the meat is browned, stir in the tomatoes and cook until they really coat all of the meat. Then add some vodka, just like you’d make an alla vodka sauce. The vodka balances the tomatoes and creates the most flavorful sauce.
Stir in water and simmer the sauce with thyme and a parmesan rind.
Finish it up
The longer you can cook the sauce over low heat, the better. The more time it has to cook, the more flavor it will develop. And as I said, this is great for making the day before too.
When you’re ready to serve, just boil off some pasta and then toss the sauce with the pasta. I usually add a handful of parmesan cheese too. Then just serve and enjoy! Oh, and be sure to serve with chunks of crusty bread for mopping up all that sauce…delicious.
This recipe feeds a lot, probably way more than you need, so chances are you’ll have leftovers. And those leftovers…they are amazing.
You can serve throughout the week with pasta or make cheesy stuffed peppers (our favorite). You can also freeze the leftover sauce too. The options are endless!
Looking for other family dinner recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Cider Braised Short Ribs with Caramelized Onions
30 Minute Coq au Vin Chicken Meatballs
Lastly, if you make my family’s favorite Pesto Pasta Bolognese be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
My Family’s Favorite Pesto Pasta Bolognese
Servings: 8
Calories Per Serving: 783 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 4 ounces pancetta, chopped
- 1 yellow onions. chopped
- 1 cup chopped carrots
- 1/2 cup chopped celery
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground bison
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 cans (6 ounce) tomato paste
- 1/2 cup vodka
- 1 can (28 ounce) crushed tomatoes
- 3 sprigs fresh thyme
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 parmesan rind
- 1 cup milk
- 1/3 cup basil pesto
- cooked pasta, for serving
Instructions
- 1. In a large dutch oven, cook the pancetta over medium heat, until crispy, 5 minutes. Add the onion, carrots, celery, and red pepper, and cook until the veggies are softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute.2. Add the beef, bison, and pork. Season with salt and pepper. Cook, breaking up the meat as it cooks, until browned all over, 10 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook 5 minutes, then pour in the vodka. Add the crushed tomatoes, 3 cups water, and fish sauce. Stir in the thyme, bay leaf, and parmesan rind. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened, 2-3 hours or up to all day. If the sauce seems dry at any point, add up to 1 cup water. 3. Discard the thyme, bay leaf, and parmesan rind. Stir in the milk and pesto, cook until warmed through, 10-15 minutes. 4. Meanwhile, boil the pasta until al dente. Drain and add back to the pot. Ladle the sauce over the pasta and toss to combine. Divide the pasta among bowls and ladle the bolognese over top. Serve topped with parmesan, and fresh herbs. Enjoy!
This post was originally published on December 6, 2021
I made the sauce yesterday and can’t wait to serve it tonight! How long after reheating and before serving would u recommend adding the milk and pesto? It’s COLD in Blue River and it will be a perfect dinner!
Hey Kristine,
Once warmed through I would add the pesto and milk. I hope it turns out delicious! xTieghan
So good — I posted a very long comment a ways down, but yes this recipe was worth it. I used 1lb spicy and 1lb sweet Italian ssg’s instead of the ground pork and bison (still used ground beef). I didn’t have fish sauce, so I used Worcestershire sauce and umami seasoning from Trader Joe’s.
Hey Brooke,
Awesome!! I am so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend! xTieghan
Great recipe! Super tasty. I made with 2 lbs beef, 1 lb pork and smoked bacon. I unintentionally forgot the fish sauce which I realized when we sat down to eat. Looking forward to making this again (*with the fish sauce)!
Hey Heather,
Awesome!! I am so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend! xTieghan
Lots of great flavors here! This is the best pasta dish I’ve found! I let mine simmer for 4 hours. I used half beef and half pork, and my grocer didn’t have any pancetta left so I used thick cut bacon.
Hey Sasha,
Awesome!! I am so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend! xTieghan
Hi,
Can this sauce be frozen? Thinking of doing a double batch.
Hey Petar,
You bet! Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Tieghan, how do you do it?!!
I’m not even finished with the recipe but just took a little taste and it is AMAZING. Can’t even imagine how good it’ll be after adding pesto and some Parmesan cheese on top!
Thanks for a great recipe. Used venison for this one too and turned out great.
Hey Lauren,
Awesome!! I am so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend! xTieghan
Haven’t tried this one YET. . . but I was wondering if it has any sort of fishy taste from the fish sauce? That would be a game changer for me.
Hi Gretchen,
No fishy taste, just adds some richness to the sauce. Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Warning: If you print the recipe and use the serving size function to cut the recipe in half, it will not cut the 3 cups of water required in Step 2 in half. Didn’t even think to check before adding until I ended up making soup.
Hey Kayla,
Sorry to hear this, thanks for giving the recipe a try! xTieghan
I had plans all week to make this but never made time early enough in the day to get it going and cooking for hours, until last night.
I’ll say, it tasted better and better the longer it cooked.
It was delicious and made a huge batch, leaving enough for another meal for our family of five.
The flavors are rich and very well rounded. I used our homegrown beef and Italian pork sausage. I couldn’t specifically taste the fish sauce but I knew it added that full bodied, well rounded flavor.
I will be making this again very soon on a night when we have friends over!
Thanks for another great recipe, Tieghan!!
Hey Jodi,
Awesome!! I am so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend! xTieghan
What fresh herbs do you top this with before serving?
Hey Gwen,
Any fresh herbs will work well here, I like basil and thyme. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
I can’t wait to make this! Would you recommend using prosciutto or bacon in place of the pancetta?
Hey Caroline,
I would use bacon. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
This recipe sounds great! One question, can I substitute a bottle of red wine for the 3 cups of water? Is the red wine too much with the vodka?
Hi Michael,
I would use something like broth in place of the wine for more flavor than just using water. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
We made it for supper tonight. It was so delicious!
Hey there,
Awesome!! Thanks a bunch for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Hi! Am making this tonight, can I substitute grated Parmesan for the Parmesan rind? If so, how much?
Hey Gwen,
Sure, that will work, I would use 1/2 cup. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Can this be made in a crockpot? If so, how would you adjust?
Hey Gaby,
You bet! I would cook for 6-8 hours on low. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi,
I absolutely love all of your recipes and am excited to try this dish! I am curious to see if you think ground turkey and ground Italian sausage would be good for this recipe? I also have ground chicken but think the other two might be a better option. Thank you! 🙂
Hey Brittany,
Yes, those would work well for you here! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan