Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

Home » From Fast Food to Fine Dining: Copycat Restaurant Recipes for Every Taste! » Olive Garden » Olive Garden Bolognese

by Stephanie Manley, Last Updated 19 Comments

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

This recipe for Olive Garden Bolognese has been on the Internet for years. It is rumored to be their actual recipe. I haven’t seen this dish on their menu for a long time.

Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (1)

Table of Contents

Olive Garden Bolognese vs Meat Sauce

Let’s get one thing straight from the very beginning – this recipe doesn’t make the samemeat saucethat appears on the regular menu at Olive Garden. It makes something much, much better.

On occasion, and in only some parts of the country, and only if you are exceedingly lucky, you may one day find yourself at an Olive Garden that is running a seasonal special of Beef Bolognese. And if you do wind up in such a situation, be smart and skip the unlimited pasta, salad, and breadstick combo. Order the Beef Bolognese instead. You won’t regret it.

But, why leave enjoying this sauce up to chance? You can enjoy the same great flavor available at the restaurant by making this simple BeefBolognese saucerecipe at home.

What isBolognese Sauce?

Authentic beef bolognese is rich and hearty, chockfull of an assort of meat and vegetables, and cooked for hours over low heat to develop the perfect amount of sweetness and consistency.

Officially, the sauce is known as Ragùalla Bolognese in Italian. A ragù being anymeat sauce and Bolognese being the preferred style of ragù of the people living in the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region, Bologna.

While this recipe isn’t strictly the traditional Ragù alla Bolognese you may expect to see in a trattoria in the Old Country, like most Italian-American dishes, it is a mash-up of old-school inspiration combined with American ingredients and tastes. The most essential thing is that this sauce is darn good.

Recipe Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need to make braised beef bolognese:

  • Olive oil
  • Onion
  • Carrot
  • Celery
  • Garlic
  • Ground beef
  • Italian sausage
  • Dry red wine, Merlot or Pinot Noir recommended
  • Crushed tomatoes
  • Fresh rosemary (dry can also be used)
  • Fresh sage
Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (2)

How to Make Olive Garden Beef Bolognese

  1. Heat oil in a large pan over medium heat.
  2. Add onion, carrot, celery, and garlic. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (3)
  1. Add ground beef and cook for 10 minutes, stirring to break up and crumble the meat while it is cooking.
  2. Add wine to de-glaze the pan and let it reduce.
  3. Add tomatoes, rosemary, and sage. Stir to combine.
Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (4)
  1. Reduce heat and simmer for about an hour.
  2. Serve over fresh, hot pasta.

Choosing the Best Pasta to Serve with Bolognese Sauce

Amazingly, there are hundreds of pasta shapes out there, and despite what some Americans believe, it isn’t just because it makes eating pasta “more fun”.

The real reason why spaghetti is long and thin while rigatoni is short and hollow is that cooks designed these two kinds of pasta shapes to pair with different sauce styles.

Traditionally, Italians almost always serveBolognese saucewith tagliatelle. Tagliatelle is a medium-sized, flat ribbon-cut pasta that provides the right amount of surface area for the thick and meatyBolognese sauceto cling to without overtaking the star of the show.

You will often see Ragùalla Bolognese served with pappardelle in many Italian-American restaurants, a pasta similar to tagliatelle except even wider.

Other good options are pasta that is shaped like tubes such as rigatoni or penne.

Tips For Cooking, Serving, and StoringBolognese Sauce

  • Try in a lasagna.This beefbolognese sauceworks exceptionally well when making lasagna.
  • Serve on bread.A few spoonfuls of this sauce spread on a fresh slice of crusty Italian bread, maybe a dusting of parmesan, and a few splashes of olive oil make a great appetizer or light supper when served with a salad or soup.
  • Store bolognese in the fridge or freeze for later.Keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for three days, or freeze for up to two months.
  • Reheat on the stovetop.Thoroughly defrost before warming through on the stove over medium heat. Remember to stir occasionally to prevent the sauce from burning.
Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (5)

Love Olive Garden? Try these copycat recipes!

  • Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
  • Capellini Pomodoro
  • Chicken Scampi
  • Steak Alfredo
  • Shrimp Alfredo Recipe
  • Fried Mozzarella
  • Olive Garden Soups
  • Olive Garden Italian Dressing Recipe
  • Apple Sangria
  • Italian Lemon Cream Cake

Favorite Italian Recipes

  • Cavatini
  • Chicken Piccata Pasta
  • Instant Pot Pasta and Sausage

Be sure to check out more of my easy Italian recipes and the best Olive Garden copycat recipes.

Please stay connected with us byfollowing us on Instagram!

Olive Garden Bolognese

You can recreate the Olive Garden Bolognese at home with this copycat recipe.

4.91 from 11 votes

Print Pin Rate Add to Collection

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: Bolognese, Olive Garden Recipes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Calories: 323kcal

Author: Stephanie Manley

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped onion
  • 1 cup chopped carrot
  • 1 cup chopped celery
  • 2 teaspoons chopped garlic
  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 6 ounces Italian sausage removed from skin
  • 1 cup red wine (Merlot or Pinot Noir recommended)
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes chopped
  • 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped (or 1/4 teaspoon dry)
  • 1 teaspoon fresh sage

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a large pan. Add celery, carrot, onion, and garlic and cook about 5 minutes. Add meat and cook 10 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally. De-glaze pan with wine; let it reduce. Add tomatoes and remaining ingredients and stir; simmer for about 1 hour. Serve over fresh, hot pasta.

Nutrition

Calories: 323kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 48mg | Sodium: 410mg | Potassium: 651mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 285IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 68mg | Iron: 3mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

REVEALED: Copycat Secrets for 2023

free email bonus

Yes, you CAN make it at home!I'll show you how.

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Previous Post: « Chocolate Peanut Butter Balls

Next Post: Jello Poke Cake »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Michele

    Hi Stephanie, Just wondering how much pasta should I cook for that amount of Bolognaise sauce?

    Reply

    • Stephanie

      This makes a lot, I normally cook up just enough pasta for the meal, and when I reheat the sauce I make fresh pasta.

      Reply

  2. Barb

    Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (7)
    Sounds good to me. I think I’ll be trying it soon.

    Reply

  3. yanagi

    Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (8)
    Since I’m actually allergic to fresh tomatoes can I make this with sauce instead?

    Reply

    • Stephanie

      I think that could work.

      Reply

  4. Andrea

    I can’t get over how MEAN people can be in their comments/reviews, of recipes that a chef is kind enough to go to the time & trouble, to post/photograph! If you don”t have something nice to say…don”t say anything at all!

    Reply

    • Tanya Robinson

      Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (9)
      Thank you! It’s unreal how people will go out of their way to post a nasty comment. Clearly their mom’s didn’t teach them “if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all”!

      Reply

    • Treefrog

      I don’t agree. Constructive criticism has its role and is valuable to me.

      Reply

  5. Teresa Breedlove

    A friend made this for game night and it was awesome.

    Reply

  6. Margaret deVries

    the original Bolognaise sauce had no vegetables or italian sausage…..I wish they would bring it back…
    Think it had a creamier tomato sauce….been so long…..but it was my favourite

    Reply

  7. Anonymous

    Olive Garden meat sauce recipe

    Reply

  8. Laina

    I used to work for Olive Garden and I can tell you that this is not the original recipe. There was a lot of cream, three different meats and tomato suace, but not much veggies.

    Reply

  9. Perry

    Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (10)
    I’ve made this recipe several times in the last few weeks. It’s turning into a favorite of my husband and mine. We eat it on pasta with garlic bread. It’s also very easy to make as long as I plan ahead a bit. Thanks for this! 🙂

    Reply

  10. Judy G

    Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (11)
    I love this recipe. My husband said it is a keeper. We ate this with pasta and garlic bread. Thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

  11. Onion Recipes

    I love this recipe. My wife ate her’s on pasta, but I ate mine right out of a bowl as pictured above with breadsticks. mmmmm!!

    Reply

  12. Rich

    “could tend itself”

    What the hell does that mean? Did you intend to say it could “lend” itself?

    Reply

    • admin

      I did mean to say lend 😉 Thanks for letting me know I had a typo.

      Reply

      • Diana

        Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (12)
        I love everything you take time to post. You make me look good always.

Leave a Reply

Olive Garden Bolognese - CopyKat Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is olive Garden's meat sauce made of? ›

**Our meat sauce is made with pan-seared beef and Italian sausage.

What is the difference between Italian bolognese and American bolognese? ›

American Bolognese: The American version of Bolognese sauce offers more variety in terms of ingredients. While ground beef remains essential, additional proteins like ground turkey or sausage are often included. The vegetable medley expands to include bell peppers and mushrooms, adding more texture and flavor.

What is the difference between Bolognese sauce and spaghetti sauce? ›

It all comes down to the meat and tomatoes. While both are pasta sauces, Bolognese places more emphasis on the meat.

Does Olive Garden make its own sauce? ›

The pasta remains stored until it's needed for a customer, at which point the cooks boil it and pair it with one of the chain's beloved homemade sauces, such as marinara, meat sauce, alfredo, or five cheese marinara.

Does Olive Garden make their sauce from scratch daily? ›

Our soup and sauce masters create dishes by hand and from scratch, every day. With fresh, whole ingredients like kale, peppers and squash. Because they know cooking that way – the Italian way- everything tastes better. to everything they make.

What makes bolognese taste like bolognese? ›

The ragú from the city of Bologna is usually made a combination of pork and beef (and sometimes veal) and often contains cured pork, such as pancetta, to help season it. The meats are cooked in a heavy pot with softly cooked carrots, celery, and onions. There is a hint of warm spice from freshly grated nutmeg.

Do Italians use spaghetti in bolognese? ›

Although in Italy ragù alla bolognese is not used with spaghetti (but rather with flat pasta, like tagliatelle), "spaghetti bolognese" has become a popular dish in many other parts of the world.

What do Italians call bolognese? ›

Just about every Italian region has its own type of 'spaghetti bolognese' known generically as pasta al ragù, meaning simply pasta with sauce – the type of pasta and the type of sauce are combined according to regional traditions.

Why do you add milk to Bolognese sauce? ›

According to our Food Director Amira, not only does milk add a rich flavour to the bolognese, but it also “helps cut through the acidity of the tomatoes and red wine”. She adds: “It also makes the mince meat nice and tender, creating that melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.”

Do you put sugar in bolognese sauce? ›

Yes, sugar. I know, if I had perfect tomatoes I would have no need for sugar, but because I don't have perfectly sweet, warm from the summer sun, just picked from my garden tomatoes, I had a hint of sugar. You can add honey or maple syrup if that's more your thing, but the sweetness is key in my option.

Do you simmer Bolognese sauce covered or uncovered? ›

Cook, covered and stirring occasionally, until the flavors have melded and the meat is extremely tender and flavorful-- at least 4 hours, but I like to cook mine all day! About 30 minutes prior to serving, stir in the cup of milk and continue to cook, uncovered and slightly simmering, until ready to serve.

How to pimp up spaghetti bolognese? ›

Next, add the staples that no good Bolognese is without

"Finely chopped carrots, celery and onions. I know it doesn't sound like it, but these are the things that give proper depth of flavour." "Crisp up some bacon or pancetta first. If you want a bit of a spiciness then chorizo also works well.

What can I add to bolognese to get more flavor? ›

Just add seasoning and the flavour will be completely different from what you're used to. You can add various herbs, too. Try a teaspoon of dried Italian mixed herbs (added at the start) or a tablespoon of fresh, chopped oregano (added towards the end) in the meat sauce.

How does Gordon Ramsay make the best spaghetti bolognese? ›

Recipe For Gordon Ramsay's Spaghetti Bolognese
  1. Meat. • 1/2 lb Ground beef.
  2. Produce. • 1 Carrot. • 2 cloves Garlic. • 1 Onion. ...
  3. Canned Goods. • 2 tbsp Tomato puree.
  4. Baking & Spices. • 1 tsp Black pepper. • 1 tsp Salt.
  5. Oils & Vinegars. • 2 tbsp Oil.
  6. Dairy. • 1/2 cup Whole milk.
  7. Beer, Wine & Liquor. • 2 tbsp Red wine.

Does Olive Garden marinara sauce have pork in it? ›

Following encouragement from and talks with PETA, Olive Garden made its marinara sauce for both breadsticks and pastas vegan. Previously, you had to ask for the kids' tomato sauce, which is still vegan. Current subscribers: You will continue to receive e-mail unless you explicitly opt out by clicking here.

What kind of meat is in Prego meat sauce? ›

Be the hero at dinner with Prego® Bolognese Meat Sauce. Versatile and delicious, this red sauce features the rich, sweet taste of vine-ripened tomatoes balanced with flavorful seasoned beef and pork.

What is spaghetti meat sauce made of? ›

Season ground beef with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, add the beef and chopped onion and brown. Drain excess grease. Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, parsley, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, worcestershire, and sugar to the skillet.

Is Olive Garden's spaghetti with meat sauce good? ›

But this time I tried the spaghetti with meat sauce and was pleasantly surprised. Hearty amount of meat in the sauce and plentiful... The salad and bread sticks were good as usual. But this time I tried the spaghetti with meat sauce and was pleasantly surprised.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 5637

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.