• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Breakfast
    • Desserts
    • Drinks
    • Entrees
    • Lunch
    • Side Dishes
    • Snacks
    • Dog-Friendly
  • Life
    • Travels
    • Gift Guides
  • About
    • About Sues
    • Work With Me
    • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Newsletter

We are not Martha logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • About
  • Contact
  • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Home
    • Recipes
    • Life
    • About
    • Contact
    • Where I've Been
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Entrees » Pork Bolognese

    Jun 21, 2022 · Modified: Jun 21, 2022 by Sues · This post may contain affiliate links, uses cookies, and generates income via ads · View privacy policy + disclosure statement linked in footer · Leave a Comment

    Pork Bolognese

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Looking for an easy pasta dish that tastes even better than what you can get in a restaurant? This lightly creamy tomato sauce is packed with ground pork and pancetta and served over tagliatelle. Pork Bolognese will become a part of your regular meal rotation!

    Overhead view of pork bolognese with pasta in a bowl with basil and parmesan in background and recipe title at top.
    Jump to:
    • 🍝 What is bolognese?
    • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
    • 🗒 Ingredients
    • 👩‍🍳 How to make pork bolognese
    • 🥗 What to serve with
    • 🥩 Can I make this with beef or chicken?
    • 🥘 More easy pasta dishes
    • 📖 Recipe

    Do you have any staple dishes in your house? Things you make over and over again? Meals that are suitable for any occasion? Food that you could practically make with your eyes closed?

    One of my favorite things to do is to take those beloved dishes and put little spins on them. Once you have a dish down, you can do so many things to make them your own.

    We absolutely love beef bolognese in our house, but did you know you can make bolognese with any type of meat you have on hand? We happened to have extra ground pork in our freezer, so I decided to make an all pork bolognese.

    This pasta dish involves ground pork AND pancetta and is a delicious option for anyone who doesn't eat beef or anyone who simply loves pork.

    🍝 What is bolognese?

    Bolognese is a slowly cooked meat-based sauce, typically made with ground beef, tomato, soffritto (an aromatic mix of diced onions, carrots, and celery), herbs, and milk. It often has pancetta in it as well, and is typically served over a thicker pasta noodle like tagliatelle.

    But really, you can make bolognese with any kind of meat and noodle you want. I've seen recipes for chicken bolognese and sausage bolognese. And now I'm sharing one with you for pork bolognese.

    ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

    Bolognese used to be a dish I only ordered in restaurants. Until I realized how easy it is to make at home.

    It does require some time chopping vegetables and simmering, but otherwise, it's a very simple dish to make. And it can obviously be customized however you want!

    Bolognese is great for serving to a crowd and also makes for fabulous leftovers.

    🗒 Ingredients

    The ingredient list for pork bolognese isn't super short, but most of the items are fresh vegetables, meat, and herbs and there's nothing too out of the ordinary. Here's everything you need to make the dish (see recipe card below for ingredient amounts and full recipe instructions):

    • Olive oil
    • Diced pancetta
    • Onion
    • Carrots
    • Celery stalks
    • Garlic
    • Ground pork
    • Tomato paste
    • Dry red wine (can substitute with beef broth)
    • Whole peeled tomatoes (I recommend San Marzano)
    • Fresh thyme
    • Parmesan cheese rind (optional)
    • Whole milk
    • Salt and pepper
    • Tagliatelle (or thick pasta of your choice)
    • Parmesan (for serving)
    • Basil (for serving)

    👩‍🍳 How to make pork bolognese

    As I mentioned, the process for making this dinner is super easy! Of course, you'll have to start by chopping your onion, carrots, and celery and mincing your garlic.

    Dice your pancetta if you need to, as well. I like to buy the pancetta that comes already diced.

    Now, add olive oil to a dutch oven or deep saucepan over medium heat.

    Add pancetta, onion, carrot, and celery and cook until they're beginning to soften and brown, about 5 minutes.

    Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about one minute.

    Pancetta, carrots, celery, and onions, in a skillet.

    Add pork to saucepan and cook while breaking up with a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes, until meat is starting to brown.

    Ground beef in a skillet with pancetta, carrots, celery, and onion.

    Add wine and using a wooden spoon, scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Simmer for about 5 minutes to reduce.

    Stir in tomato paste and cook for one minute.

    Overhead view of skillet with pork bolognese with tomatoes added.

    Add the tomatoes, crushing them with your hands as you do. Stir in the thyme and parmesan rind, if using.

    Why Add Parmesan Rind to Sauce?

    I love adding the rind from parmesan cheese to my homemade sauces because it really kicks up the flavor and adds a little saltiness and a lot of umami!
    Stir the rind in... It won't melt into the sauce, but will distribute flavor. Just be sure to remove it before serving.

    Bring mixture to a simmer and then reduce heat to low. Cover the saucepan and let simmer for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is nice and thick.

    I love that this needs so long to simmer because I can take the time to clean up my kitchen and make salad, garlic bread, dessert, etc.

    Pork bolognese in skillet with parmesan rind and sprigs of thyme.

    When the sauce is almost done simmering, be sure to cook your pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook tagliatelle (or pasta of your choice) according to package directions. Drain.

    Once the pork bolognese is done simmering, remove the parmesan rind and thyme sprigs.

    Stir the milk in and and let simmer for another 5 minutes.

    Taste sauce and add salt and pepper according to your tastes (I usually add 1 tsp of each).

    Pork bolognese simmering in skillet.

    Serve the pork bolognese over the pasta.

    I highly recommend you top the pasta with chopped basil and grated parmesan. I always add some red pepper flakes, too, since we like a bit of heat in our family!

    And you're ready to serve and enjoy!

    Pork bolognese in a bowl topped with basil with hunk of parmesan and bunch of basil on side.

    This pork bolognese is absolutely packed with flavor with the perfect amount of decadence. It has a really nice creaminess to it thanks to the addition of milk, but you certainly wouldn't describe it as a cream sauce.

    I love the sauce served over tagliatelle, but if you're low-carb or don't love pasta, you can eat the pork bolognese sauce all on its own or even atop a salad or riced cauliflower.

    This is my ideal meal for a quiet Sunday evening when I'm happy to let the sauce simmer for a couple hours and fill my home with delicious smells.

    Landscape head-on view of pork bolognese in bowl.

    🥗 What to serve with

    I actually think this pork bolognese makes a wonderful meal all on its own. But I, of course, have to recommend serving it with some sides! My favorite sides are a nice fresh garden salad (or Caesar if you prefer) and garlic bread. Here are some additional ideas:

    • Chipotle Kale Caesar Salad
    • Roasted Cauliflower Salad
    • Lemon Pepper Asparagus
    • Kale and Quinoa Salad
    • Baked Zucchini Chips
    • Chopped Kale Salad with Pistachio Dressing
    • Homemade Garlic Bread (from Grandbaby cakes- my very favorite recipe!)
    • Italian Salad (from The Modern Proper)

    🥩 Can I make this with beef or chicken?

    Yes! Once you have the basic bolognese process down, you can make this with any kind of meat you want.

    Try bolognese with ground beef, ground chicken, or even sausage. Make it with whatever you have on hand or whatever your favorite protein is.

    And if you you're a vegetarian or want to make this for a meat-free dinner, you can use plant-based meat or leave the meat out all together for a simple tasty tomato-based sauce.

    🥘 More easy pasta dishes

    If this pork bolognese has you craving even more pasta dishes that are easy to make at home, check out some of my other favorite recipes:

    • Lemon Pepper Pasta with Shrimp
    • Steak and Shrimp Scampi
    • Pasta Puttanesca with Sausage
    • Instant Pot Buffalo Chicken Pasta
    • Pasta with Turkey Meatballs and Mozzarella
    • Caesar Salad Pasta
    • Baked Lemon Ricotta Pasta
    • Pasta with Spicy Sausage, Basil, and Mustard
    • Pasta with Green Vegetables, Herbs, and Feta

    To be honest, I could easy pasta every night of the week... And I love that there are so many ways to take it from summer to winter and everything in between!

    Overhead view of pork bolognese with pasta in a bowl with basil and parmesan in background.

    Pork bolognese could be considered a winter comfort food dish or a summer dinner party entree. No matter when you make it, you're going to absolutely love it!

    📖 Recipe

    Closeup view of pork bolognese with fork in dish.

    Pork Bolognese

    Looking for an easy pasta dish that tastes even better than what you can get in a restaurant? This lightly creamy tomato sauce is packed with ground pork and pancetta and served over tagliatelle. Pork Bolognese will become a part of your regular meal rotation!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American, Eclectic, Italian
    Keyword: Pasta Recipes, Pork Recipes
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
    Total Time: 3 hours
    Makes: 8 servings
    Calories: 668kcal
    Author: Sues

    Ingredients

    • 2 Tbsp olive oil
    • 4 oz diced pancetta
    • 1 large onion, diced (about 1 cup)
    • 2 medium carrots, diced (about 1 cup)
    • 2 large celery stalks, diced (about 1 cup)
    • 3 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 Tbsp)
    • 2 lbs ground pork
    • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
    • 1 cup dry red wine (If you don't have red wine, you can substitute with beef broth)
    • 1 28-oz can whole peeled tomatoes (I recommend San Marzano)
    • 4 sprigs thyme
    • Parmesan cheese rind, optional
    • 1 cup whole milk
    • Salt and pepper, to taste
    • 16 oz. tagliatelle (or thick pasta of your choice)
    • Grated parmesan, for serving
    • Chopped basil, for serving

    Instructions

    • Add olive oil to a dutch oven or deep saucepan over medium heat.
    • When hot, add pancetta, onion, carrot, and celery and cook until they're beginning to soften and brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about one minute.
    • Add pork to saucepan and cook while breaking up with a wooden spoon, about 5 minutes, until meat is starting to brown.
    • Add wine and using a wooden spoon, scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Simmer for about 5 minutes to reduce.
    • Stir in tomato paste and cook for one minute.
    • Add the tomatoes, crushing them with your hands as you do. Stir in the thyme and parmesan rind, if using. Bring mixture to a simmer and then reduce heat to low. Cover the saucepan and let simmer for about 2 hours, stirring occasionally, until sauce is nice and thick.
    • When sauce is almost done cooking, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook tagliatelle (or pasta of your choice) according to package directions. Drain.
    • Remove parmesan rind and thyme sprigs. Stir the milk in and and let simmer for another 5 minutes. Taste sauce and add salt and pepper according to your tastes (I usually add 1 tsp of each).
    • Serve the pork bolognese over the pasta. Top with grated parmesan and chopped basil, if desired.

    Useful Products

    Nutrition

    Calories: 668kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 37g | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g
    Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!
    Pork Bolognese
    Tweet
    Share
    Pin259
    Yum1
    Share
    260 Shares
    « Baked Buttermilk Donuts
    Pineapple Passionfruit Refresher {Starbucks Copycat} »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Meet Sues

    Hi and thanks for visiting! I started We are not Martha to show you how to make recipes that impress without stress, including easy weeknight dinners, delightful desserts, + lots of cocktails.

    Learn More...

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • Easter Recipes:

    • Cadbury Creme Egg Ice Cream
    • Easter Oreo Bark
    • Cadbury Mini Egg Scones
    • Chai Carrot Cake Scones
    • Jelly Bean Ice Cream
    • Apple Spice Glazed Ham

    Mother's Day Recipes:

    • Shaved Asparagus Salad
    • Strawberry Shortcake Cookies
    • Iced Lavender Latte
    • Strawberry Crepes
    • Lemon Pepper Asparagus
    • Strawberry Souffle

    Popular Now

    • Basil Chicken in Coconut Curry Sauce
    • Momofuku Milk Bar's Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies
    • Blueberry Vodka Lemonade
    • Chicken Dog Treats

    Footer

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ^ back to top

    About

    • About Sues
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclosures
    • Web Stories

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work with Me

    BE SURE TO CHECK OUT MY AMAZON SHOP TO DISCOVER SOME OF MY FAVORITE COOKING AND BAKING ITEMS THAT I USE IN MY OWN KITCHEN. WE ARE NOT MARTHA IS A PARTICIPANT IN THE AMAZON SERVICES LLC ASSOCIATES PROGRAM, AN AFFILIATE ADVERTISING PROGRAM DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR SITES TO EARN ADVERTISING FEES BY ADVERTISING AND LINKING TO AMAZON.COM. ORDERING ANY PRODUCTS MENTIONED HERE ARE AT NO EXTRA COST TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

    Copyright © 2022 WE ARE NOT MARTHA