Delicious Easy Low Calorie Healthy Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe. Perfect for a family meal. Serve with a healthy tossed salad and breadsticks.
Healthy Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe – Delicious Italian Pasta
Bolognese sauce is a meat-based red sauce originating in the Bologna region of Italy and is one of the most flexible of all Italian sauces.
Every cook should have a good Bolognese sauce recipe in their arsenal of delicious recipes.
This rich & flavorful sauce goes well with broad, flat styles of pasta, and the slow cooking process creates a hearty, deep flavor that just can’t be matched by pre-made sauces.
Here is a slightly simplified version of this classic staple of Italian cuisine. Enjoy!
Ingredients Needed for This Healthy Spaghetti Bolognese Recipe
- Ground Beef – lean ground beef
- Olive Oil – extra virgin olive oil
- Onion – yellow onion
- Carrot
- Celery
- Garlic
- Red Wine – a good Merlot would work well
- Whole Peeled Tomatoes
- Tomato Paste
- Beef Broth
- Bay Leaves
- Dried Basil and Oregano
- Nutmeg
- Red pepper flakes
A Healthy Recipe for Spaghetti Bolognese
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef substitute ½ pound of beef for ground veal for a more authentic flavor
- 4 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 medium medium carrot, chopped
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup dry red wine
- 2 cans whole peeled tomatoes, chopped
- ½ cup tomato paste
- 1 cup beef broth
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ tablespoon red pepper flakes
- 1 pound Spaghetti
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Heating the olive oil over medium high heat in a large skillet or saucepan until it begins to shimmer.
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Add the onion, celery, carrot and garlic. Sauté until the vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.
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Add the ground beef and cook until it browns, mixing it and breaking it up to ensure even cooking.
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Add the red wine along with all of the herbs, and simmer until the liquid has reduced by about half.
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When the liquid has reduced, add the tomatoes, tomato paste, and broth. Bring the sauce to a slow rolling boil and cover. Let it simmer for at least 45 minutes.
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For a richer, deeper flavor, reduce the heat slightly and let the sauce simmer for up to three hours.
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Start your pasta about 20 minutes before your sauce is finished cooking.
We love using fresh tomatoes in pasta recipes. Tomatoes are a very healthy addition to sauces. Don’t be afraid to use your fingers to gently squeeze the tomatoes!
Nothing beats a warm comforting bowl of spaghetti with meat sauce.
Spaghetti Bolognese Meal Prep
Here are a few helpful meal prep tips that can keep this healthy pasta dish quick and easy.
- Do an easy meal prep by chopping the onions and carrots in advance.
- Brown the ground beef, onions and garlic in advance.
- You can cook the pasta a few days ahead and it will be perfect. – Storing Cooked Pasta
Don’t forget the freshly shaved Parmesan to pass around after serving this delicious pasta dish!
What Pasta to Use in Healthy Spaghetti Bolognese?
The most common pastas served with Bolognese sauce are tagliatelle, fettuccine, lasagna, rigatoni, or penne.
There are countless regional varieties and family recipes dating all the way back to the 18th century. So as you can see, there is plenty of room for experimentation.
How Many Calories in Pasta Bolognese
There are typically about 260 calories in 1 cup of spaghetti with meat sauce. You can shave off calories by omitting the cheese.
Different Variations for Bolognese Sauce
Many people substitute the ground beef for ground pork or add pancetta to the mix. While the original versions of Bolognese sauce did not include herbs as seasoning, most modern takes on the dish do.
For the sake of simplicity, a pre-mixed Italian seasoning can be substituted for the dried herbs without harming the deep flavors this sauce is known for.
What Makes This Spaghetti Bolognese Healthy?
Lean beef, vegetables and whole tomatoes makes this recipe a little healthier. This is a naturally low calorie bolognese sauce.
What Tomatoes to Your Recommend for this Italian Sauce Recipe?
We love San Marzano Peeled Tomatoes. Use them whole and break them up using your fingers. San Marzano tomatoes uses tomatoes that are grown in Italy and are perfect for an Italian red sauce.
What Side Dish to Serve with this Amazing Spaghetti?
How about a light Caesar Salad – Lettuce, dressing, sprinkled with a bit of your freshly shaved parmesan
Easy Caesar Salad Made in a Bag
Serve with a platter of baby Arugula, walnuts, sliced pears and Balsamic Vinaigrette
A side of bread sticks
Wedge salad
What wine to serve with Spaghetti Bolognese?
Try a good Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet or Zinfandel.
You will also love our Rigatoni al Forno and Pasta Fredda
