Ragu Raving Over Penne Recipe

This thick and hearty Bolognese is so good, your family and guests will be raving! Perfect Halloween comfort food – whip up a batch while the kids are trick-or-treating, then come home to a warm, delicious meal everyone will adore. This recipe makes a large quantity, perfect for freezing leftovers for a future spooky night! Get ready for a flavor explosion that's both easy and impressive.

Prep Time 20 mins
Cook Time 320 mins
Calories 294.8 kcal
Protein 28g
Rating 4.7 (9 Reviews)
Ragu Raving Over Penne 26

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Chef Forktionary, author of this recipe

Recipe adapted from Food.com. Standardized by Forktionary.

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How to Make Ragu Raving Over Penne

  1. Cook bacon until crisp. Remove from pan, crumble, and set aside. Discard bacon grease.
  2. In a large slow cooker or Dutch oven (if not using a slow cooker), sauté the onion, carrots, and celery in a little olive oil until softened. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
  3. Add ground beef and Italian sausage to the pot; cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned. Drain off any excess fat.
  4. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, beef broth, red wine, oregano, dried basil, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Add crumbled bacon.
  5. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer (if using a stovetop) or set slow cooker to low for 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally.
  6. While the sauce simmers, cook penne pasta according to package directions.
  7. Before serving, taste and adjust seasonings with salt, pepper, and additional Italian seasoning as needed. Stir in butter and fresh basil.
  8. Serve the sauce over the cooked pasta, top with Parmesan cheese and extra red pepper flakes if desired.

Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)

Sodium

24 g

Sugar

19g

Fat

11g

Carbs

15g