This Bolognese Bake is total comfort food! It’s rich, creamy and decadently delicious!
Wait….really? Is that you Monday? GO AWAY!
Wow this weekend blew by! As usual, I spent most of it in my kitchen…my happy place. I whipped up some old favorites and experimented with some new recipes. Today’s Bolognese Bake is an old favorite, and one I know you guys are going to love.
Way, way back, early on at the BHK, I posted my recipe for Bucatini Bolognese. I have to say, it is one of my most favorite recipes on the blog. My entire family loves it and I have served it for company countless times, and it always gets the double thumbs up.
So for today’s Bolognese Bake, I used that same bolognese sauce recipe. But to make it even more fabulous I added a bechamel sauce, aka, a rich and creamy white sauce that makes everything a bit more decadent and delicious. The recipe below for the bolognese will make more than you’ll need for this bake, but it freezes really well and will be perfect for another night. Take it from me, you’ll thank me later.
Now, the plain bolognese on its own is absolutely killer, but this bolognese bake? It’ll knock your socks off guys! It’s comfort food at its best, and it couldn’t be easier. Just toss the al dente pasta with some of the bolognese and then fold in the bechamel. Then put it in individual skillets or a large baking dish and bake for twenty minutes or until heated through. I sprinkle a bit of freshly shredded parm on top along with a few fresh basil leaves, serve it with a small side salad and some crusty bread and it’s comfort food that we enjoy all year long!
Hope you all enjoy it as much as we do! Have a great week!
- Bolognese Sauce:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups onions finely chopped
- 1 1/2 cup carrots finely chopped
- 2 cups celery finely chopped
- 6 garlic cloves chopped
- 3 ounces pancetta finely chopped
- 1 pound meatloaf mix beef/pork/veal
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup chicken stock
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. ground pepper
- Bechamel Sauce:
- 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter
- 4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
- 2 cups milk room temperature
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp. nutmeg
- 1 lb. cavatappi
- 1 cup freshly shredded parmesan cheese for sprinkling on top
- basil leaves for garnish
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Bolognese Sauce: Heat oil over medium heat in a large pot. Add onions, carrots, celery and garlic. Saute for about 10 minutes until vegetables begin to brown. Increase the heat to high and add the pancetta. Saute for 3 minutes. Add the meatloaf mix and the ground pork and continue to cook until meat is no longer pink, breaking up meat with a fork. Add the milk and cook, stirring often until most of the milk is cooked down, about 15 minutes. Add the tomatoes, chicken stock and white wine. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 1 hour, uncovered, stirring occasionally. Add the tomato paste and mix until incorporated. Continue to cook for 20 more minutes. Season with the salt and pepper. Remove from heat.
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Bechamel Sauce: In a medium saucepan, over medium-high heat, melt butter. Whisk in flour, stirring often until lightly browned, about 1-2 minutes. Slowly add in milk, stirring until thickened. Simmer, stirring constantly, until sauce is thick and smooth, about 8-10 minutes. Do not let it come to a boil. Remove from heat.
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Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
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Cook the pasta in salted water, al dente according to package directions. Drain. Add 4 cups of the bolognese sauce to the drained pasta. Toss to coat. Fold in all the bechamel sauce.
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Add the pasta to a 9x13 baking dish or individual skillets sprayed with non-stick cooking spray. Bake for 25 minutes or until heated through and bubbling. Sprinkle with parmesan and garnish with basil leaves.
I absolutely love this Bolognese pasta bake Mary Ann. There’s just nothing like a good bake to start a week right.
I agree Alida! Happy Monday!
Oh my goodness, this looks amazing! I love that it would be wonderful for an ordinary weeknight dinner but would also be an amazing dinner party meal served in individual little skillets with a nice salad and crusty bread. LOVE!!
Thanks Chris! I made it for a dinner party recently and it was a total hit! Hope you have a great week!
Mary Ann! that’s the way to face up a Monday, I will like me one of these Bolognese bakes, like for now, for breakfast, is that totally wrong or just genius??
Yes it is Gaila! I would call that genius!
Yes please! I love Bolognese! Hubby makes it in our home and it is so good! What a lovely twist with the béchamel added to the mix….nice and creamy and those little skillets are adorable! And total comfort food which is what I could go for today (it’s snowing).
I agree with you….the weekend went by waaaaay too fast (as always). Like, can we have another day please?? Pinning this and making soon. Happy Monday, my friend!
Me too Dawn! Snow…UGH! This one’s perfect for a snowy day! Have a great week! XO
With the weather slowly transitioning to warmer but still not quite there…this makes for a perfect dish this time of year! Who am I kidding – this is perfect for a balmy August afternoon, too!! Pinned!
It’s definitely perfect all year long Annie! Happy Monday!
I definitely wish Mondays would just bug off. Like, permanently. Or even better, if we could just make Mondays a part of the weekend, then I’d be fine. :) LOVE that this bake is a take on your old favorite, Mary Ann! This bolognese pasta looks just perfect! SO COZY and Ultimately DELICIOUS! I could just face plant into a vat of this right about now! GIMME GIMME! Cheers!
Me too Chey! You and Boy would love this one Chey! Tom loves when I make my Bolognese!! Hope you have a terrific week! XO
Well you know you are speaking my language with this one ;) Fabulous comfort food and loving it in the little skillets, especially!
I’ve been dying to use those skillets Jennifer! This recipe works in a 9×13 baking dish too though! You’re going to love this one! Happy Monday!
This is great comfort food and it looks delicious. I love bechaml sauce. Have a great weekend Mary Ann.
Thanks Gerlinde! This one’s a tasty one! Hope you have a great week too!
Sooo hearty, cozy, and delish!
We’re thinking along the same lines today Jennifer!
I love that you use both sauces! Sounds and looks delicious. <3
You’d love this one Laura! Hope you give it a try. Happy Monday!
Mondays are brutal…but THIS would definitely make them better. This looks like an oh-so-cozy way to start the week. Gorgeous Mary Ann!!! xo
Comfort food makes everything better Rebecca!! Thanks so much and Happy Monday!
What a perfect way to start the week off, nothing beats a good comfort dish like this!
I agree Matt! Monday’s always need something special! Have a great week! Enjoy the game tonight!
I cannot wait to try this!!! I love this Bolognese Bake and absolutely love how you styled everything! looks so good!
Thanks so much Alice! This is my favorite comfort food dish! Hope you enjoy it if you give it a go!
I am loving this dish that is teetering between winter and spring. It looks perfectly comforting and I know my kids would gobble it up! Have a great week Mary Ann!
Yes, I bet your kids would totally love it Karen! Hope you have a great week too!
Hi Mary Ann
Heading to store to get all the ingredients to make for tonight, looks just perfect to end a Monday with joy! Quick questions: Are those Lodge skillets and did you use eight of them for this recipe? Also,where can i purchase those lovely nautical striped towels in pic with finished servings? Thanks so very much for all your efforts! Lisa
You’re going to love this bake Lisa! I used the skillets for the photo shoot and I got them from Michael’s Craft Store. I’m not sure what brand they are because it doesn’t say on the skillet, but I know they aren’t Lodge. I bought the towel from Sur La Table and it’s just one long towel.I have four skillets which I filled as seen in the photos, which was a pretty big serving. You can also use a 9×13 baking dish and this will feed 8 people.I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!!
Thank you so muchh for the info!!
This is a perfect Monday meal Mary Ann! It is exactly what I am craving to get me through the week. Beautiful photos too!???????? Pinned!
Thanks so much Jackie! This is one of my favorite comfort food meals of all time!
My mom makes a killer bolognese and it’s my favorite comfort food. Love how you finished this version off in the oven!
It’s so good with the bechamel Gina! A bit creamy, but not overdone!
Oh man, pasta gets me every time and this pasta looks just too good!! My family would love it too!
Me too Tieghan! Such a great comfort food dish!
This is the kind of meal I’d love to eat every night, Mary Ann – so good and so comforting. Your pictures are gorgeous as always! I get the Monday blahs too.
Thanks so much Geraldine! You’re so sweet. This is one dish I could eat every night too! I wish my waistline would just cooperate! Lol! Hope you have a great week.
What a fantastic idea! We love bolognese around here, so this is a must!
Go for it Sarah!
I love warm comforting dishes like this and so do my boys!
I hope you give it a go Naomi! It’s really delicious!
I love bolognese, especially the day after I make it. How have I not thought of baking it? It makes so much sense that it would intensify already delicious flavors. Thank you for the great idea!
Anytime Marissa! Hope you enjoy it!
This is my kind of comfort food and I love your individual skillets for serving!
This is my favorite kind of comfort food too Laura! Thanks!
I am in love with those skillets! And the bolognese to boot? YUM. My son Gavin loves bolognese. He has since he was a child and my family always teases me because the nephew get together and everyone want to order pizza and Gav begs for bolgnese. HA! Love how you used cavatappi.
Those are from Michael’s Craft Store! I’ve been dying to use them on the blog! Gavin will love this recipe! My whole family loves my bolognese and it just seemed like a great idea to add some bechamel to it for a little change! Enjoy!
Hey Mary Ann this is really awesome. I have a question that can is there any substitute for ground pork..?
Thanks so much! You can just sub in some extra ground beef for the pork. Enjoy!
yeah.. I’ll do it. Thanks.
I think I might have the smaller version of your little cast iron skillets. So cute!! And the recipe sounds absolutely delicious.
I love them too Sarah! This one is so delicious! I hope you give it a try!
Looks absolutely delicious Mary Ann. I love the use of pancetta and the bechamel sauce inclusion is fantastic. Winner!
Thanks Kevin! We love this one!
YYuuuummmmyyyyyyyy……….!!!!!!!! BOLOGNESE BAKE I am gonna prepare you and I am gonna eat you. This is such a super tasty dish Mary Ann. Eating it with a glass of red wine what do you think? wouldn’t it double the joy? I loved this recipe. You are so awesome Mary Ann.
This one is definitely YUMMY Claire! Perfect with a glass or two of red wine!