Instant Pot Bolognese 
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Instant Pot Bolognese – a classic Italian meat sauce that is rich, hearty, and perfect for a busy weeknight meal or family dinner.
Why We Love This Recipe
- It has all the depth of flavor of a slow-simmered sauce, made in a fraction of the time.
- It’s healthy, hearty, and high protein.
- Can be easily customized using a variety of ground meats in the sauce.
- Perfect for making ahead and freezing for future meals.
- It’s family friendly and makes a large amount, perfect for big gatherings.
Bolognese Sauce Ingredients
- Olive Oil
- Ground beef
- Ground pork
- Carrots, Celery, and Onion – all finely minced
- Minced Garlic
- Crushed tomatoes
- Beef broth (red wine or white wine works too)
- Tomato paste
- Italian Seasoning (try my homemade version)
- Heavy cream (or half and half)
- Sea Salt
How to Make Bolognese Sauce in the Instant Pot
- Begin by chopping the onion, carrots, and celery very finely. No large chunks here – they should be finely minced to blend with the texture of the meat.
- Turn on the Sauté setting on the Instant Pot. Add the olive oil to the pot.
- Add the veggies and garlic and cook for 4 minutes until they begin to soften.
- Add the ground beef and ground pork to the pot and cook until mostly browned.
- Add the crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, beef broth, Italian seasoning, and sea salt to the pot. Stir well to combine, scraping the bottom of the pot to release any browned bits.
- Cover and seal the lid. Set Manual mode (high pressure) for 20 minutes.
- When cycle is complete, open the valve and perform quick release of pressure.
- Stir in the heavy cream or half and half and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you freeze Bolognese sauce?
Yes! Allow cooked sauce to cool and add to a freezer safe container or bag, sealing to remove excess air. Freeze for up to 6 months.
Can I use ground turkey or other ground meat in this sauce?
Yes, feel free to substitute ground turkey or Italian sausage for all or some of the ground beef and pork.
What’s the best way to serve Bolognese sauce?
Serve Bolognese sauce over your favorite pasta and top with fresh parmesan cheese and/or chopped parsley. For best results, serve over larger tube-shaped pasta, or wide pasta noodles that will hold up to a hearty meat sauce. To make it a low carb meal, serve the Bolognese over zucchini noodles or spaghetti squash.
Can I make this in the slow cooker?
Yes, this recipe can easily be adapted for the slow cooker. To make, brown the meat on the stove top and add to the slow cooker with the remaining ingredients (except heavy cream.) Cook on Low for 8 hours or High for 4 hours. Stir in heavy cream after cooking and serve.
What are some other optional ingredients?
Feel free to season to taste with crushed red pepper flakes, black pepper, or fennel seed. Chopped pancetta is another traditional bolognese sauce ingredient that can be included with the ground meat. Bay leaves are sometimes added to the sauce while cooking as well.
More Classic Italian Favorite Recipes
Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce with Hidden Veggies
Instant Pot Rigatoni with Meat Sauce
Instant Pot Bolognese
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1/2 cup finely diced carrots
- 1/2 cup finely diced celery
- 1/2 cup finely diced onion
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup low sodium beef broth
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Homemade Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 cup heavy cream or half and half
Equipment
Nutrition
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Whole30
Vegetarian
Paleo
Keto Friendly
Dairy Free
