There is nothing like Sunday dinners to me. Often times we go to Matt’s mom for a comforting home style meal, but on the ocassions we don’t, I resort to easy staples like this bolognese.
To give this family favorite a flavor boost, I use Johnsonville’s Sweet Italian sausage. For simplicity, I cook it in the oven—just line a baking sheet with foil and place the sausage on top and it’s nearly done by the time the pasta is ready.
What can be easier than that? Only one thing—have someone else make it. And that’s exactly what I did a few Sundays ago. Matt and Cole had dinner duty, so easy recipes like this are great when the little guy is the sous chef.

Sausage Bolognese
Ingredients
- 1 package (19 ounce) JOHNSONVILLE® Italian Mild Sausage Links
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 medium onions, finely chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped (about 1 cup)
- 2 carrots, peeled, finely chopped (about 3/4 cup)
- 1 pacakage (16 ounce) Johnsonville Ground Mild Italian Sausage
- 1/2 cup dry red wine
- 3 cups (about) beef stock or chicken stock, divided
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup whole milk
Instructions
Place sausage link on foil lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until cooked through.
Heat oil in a large heavy-bottom pot over medium-high heat. Add and salute onions, celery, and carrots until soft, about 8-10 minutes. Add ground sausage cook and break up with a spoon; cook until browned, about 15 minutes. Add wine; boil 1 minute, stirring often and scraping up browned bits. Add 2 1/2 cups stock and tomato paste; stir to blend. Reduce heat to very low and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld, 1 1/2 hours. Season with salt and pepper.
Bring milk to a simmer in a small saucepan; gradually add to sauce. Cover sauce with lid slightly ajar and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until milk is absorbed, about 45 minutes, adding more stock by 1/4-cupfuls to thin if needed.
Cook pasta according to package. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water. Transfer ragu to a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add pasta and toss to coat. Stir in some of the reserved pasta water by tablespoonfuls if sauce seems dry. Serve with Parmesan.
Wow, i just wanna face plant this! Amazing 🙂
Sausage bolognese. . comfort food to the max. This looks beyond delicious!
A home cooked comfort meal is the best!
Pure comfort food! Bolognese is always a hit in our house!
I seriously need this in my life!
I wish I had this for dinner! That is one big pot of delicious comfort!
Dinner tonight! This looks amazing!
I could not agree more, Sunday dinners are truly the most comforting! Loving this pasta! 🙂
Pasta Bolognese is definitely a family favorite around here too! And we always make it with sausage- I just think it has so much more flavor than ground beef. This looks gorgeous- I may have to make it this weekend!
I LOVE meals like this! It looks amazing!
Looks delicious!
I love Sunday dinners too! This looks amazing!
Looks so delicious Naomi! We LOVE bolognese at our house! Will definitely be trying!
I love nice and hearty this dish looks!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
I like the way your work, easy meals that someone else can make! I think my daughter would love to give this a try! She’s a budding cook and pasta is her favorite!
It is bad that I could totally eat this for breakfast right now? It looks THAT good!
Sorry, this is NOT bolognese sausce …… In Italy , in Bologna we use ” tagliatelle egg pasta ” and the sauce is very different . If you like i send you the really recipe
Bye
I love a long cooking bolognese, they’re always so flavorful.
This looks so yummy and comforting!!
This is beautiful! My boyfriend is totally obsessed with sausage so I’m absolutely making this!
So much yes! This meal is perfectly hearty for cold winter days. LOVE!
I want to snuggle up in that plate of bolognese and never come out. Love this easy dish!