Rigatoni Bolognese & Pappardelle Bolognese Recipes

Rigatoni Bolognese

Rigatoni bolognese is one of the most popular pasta dishes for a hearty meal. It’s tasty, warm and full of flavour, perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re cooking for two or the whole family, this never fails.

What Is Rigatoni Bolognese?

Rigatoni bolognese is a classic Italian dish that combines thick meaty bolognese sauce with tubular rigatoni pasta. The bolognese sauce is made with ground meat, fresh vegetables and herbs, cooked for hours to develop the flavours. Rigatoni’s ridges are perfect for holding the sauce so every bite is full of flavour.

Rigatoni Bolognese Sauce

Bolognese sauce is famous for its rich meaty flavour and creamy texture. It’s more than just beef sauce, it’s an experience. Slow cooking San Marzano tomatoes, carrots, celery, onions, garlic and whole milk adds depth of flavour to the pasta.

Ingredients

To make an authentic rigatoni bolognese sauce, you’ll need:

• Ground beef and Italian sausage

• Vegetables (onions, carrots, celery, bell peppers)

• Tomato paste and whole peeled tomatoes

• Garlic and Italian seasoning

• Whole milk and water

• White wine vinegar

• Bay leaves, salt, and pepper

How to Make Bolognese Sauce

Follow these steps for a big and tasty sauce:

〰 Chop the veggies: Finely chop the onion, carrots, celery and bell peppers. A food processor makes this step quick and easy.

〰 Blend the tomatoes: Pulse the canned tomatoes or crush them manually.

〰 Cook the meat: Brown the ground beef and sausage in a pot, then set them aside.

〰 Sauté the veggies: In the same pot, cook the minced vegetables with tomato paste until softened and fragrant.

〰 Add seasonings: Garlic, Italian seasoning and white wine vinegar. Cook until fragrant.

〰 Combine ingredients: Beef, milk, water, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Mix well.

〰 Simmer the sauce: Cover and cook on low for 1.5 hours. Stir occasionally. Adjust seasonings.

Rigatoni Bolognese Recipe

Ingredients

• Homemade Bolognese Sauce

• 16 oz. Rigatoni Pasta

• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• Fresh Basil and/or Parsley

How to Make Rigatoni Bolognese

Once the sauce is done:

〰 Cook pasta: Boil pappardelle according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.

〰 Combine pasta and sauce: Toss pappardelle with bolognese sauce.

〰 Serve: Plate and top with Parmesan cheese, basil or parsley. Drizzle with olive oil.

Rigatoni Bolognese Calories

Each serving of rigatoni bolognese contains approximately:

• Calories: 669 kcal

• Carbs: 74.3g

• Protein: 31.4g

• Fat: 25.5g

• Fiber: 8g

Note: Values may vary depending on serving size and ingredients.

Pappardelle Bolognese

Want to eat bolognese another way? Try it with pappardelle. These wide noodles hold the sauce so well, it’s like a party in your mouth.

What Is Pappardelle?

Pappardelle is a Tuscan pasta with wide strips for sauce. Crafted from eggs and flour, it has a soft luxurious texture that goes hand in hand with bolognese sauce.

Pappardelle Bolognese Sauce

Ingredients

• To make an authentic rigatoni bolognese sauce, you’ll need:

• Ground beef and Italian sausage

• Vegetables (onions, carrots, celery, bell peppers)

• Tomato paste and whole peeled tomatoes

• Garlic and Italian seasoning

• Whole milk and water

• White wine vinegar

• Bay leaves, salt and pepper

How to Make Pappardelle Bolognese Sauce

〰 Prepare the vegetables: Mince onion, carrots, celery and bell peppers. Use a food processor if you can.

〰 Blend the tomatoes: Pulse canned tomatoes in the food processor or crush by hand.

〰 Cook the meat: Brown the ground beef and Italian sausage in a pot, then set aside.

〰 Sauté the veggies: In the same pot, cook the minced vegetables with tomato paste until softened.

〰 Add seasonings: Add garlic, Italian seasoning and white wine vinegar. Cook until fragrant.

〰 Combine ingredients: Add cooked beef, milk, water, bay leaves, salt and pepper. Mix well.

〰 Simmer the sauce: Cover and cook on low for 1.5 hours. Stir occasionally. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Pappardelle Bolognese Recipe

Ingredients

To make this you’ll need:

• Homemade Bolognese Sauce

• Pappardelle Pasta

• Parmesan Cheese

• Basil or Parsley

• Olive Oil

How to Make Pappardelle Bolognese

Cook the Pappardelle

〰 Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

〰 Add pappardelle and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Fresh pappardelle cooks in 2-3 minutes, dried pappardelle 7-9 minutes.

Combine Pasta and Sauce

〰 Drain the cooked pappardelle, reserve ½ cup of pasta water.

〰 Add pasta to the skillet with the bolognese sauce. Toss gently to coat, add a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.

Serve and Garnish

〰 Pappardelle bolognese on plates.

〰 Parmesan and basil or parsley.

〰 Olive oil to finish.

Tips to make Perfect Pappardelle Bolognese

〰 Fresh pasta: If you can get or make fresh pappardelle it will be a game changer.

〰 Don’t overcook the pasta: Al dente is key to ensuring the noodles hold their shape and texture.

〰 Let the sauce shine: Pappardelle is meant to be paired with rich sauces so let the bolognese do its job and coat the pasta thoroughly.

Pappardelle Bolognese Calories

Each serving of pappardelle bolognese contains approximately:

• Calories: 710 kcal

• Carbohydrates: 78 g

• Protein: 33 g

• Fat: 28 g

• Fiber: 7 g

FAQs

Can I make rigatoni bolognese ahead of time?

Yes! The sauce actually gets better the next day as the flavors meld together. Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can I freeze the sauce?

Yes you can. Portion into freezer safe containers and store for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat on the stove.

What can I substitute for rigatoni?

If you don’t have rigatoni, use penne, ziti or any tubular pasta that can hold the sauce.

Can I make this vegetarian?

Replace the meat with plant-based alternatives or lentils for a hearty, vegetarian version.

How can I reduce the calories?

Opt for lean ground beef, use less cheese, and serve with a side salad instead of garlic bread to lighten the meal.