Easy Olive Garden Bolognese Sauce

This Easy Olive Garden Bolognese Sauce is rich, hearty, and perfectly slow-cooked in your crockpot for maximum flavor. Loaded with ground beef, Italian sausage, tomatoes, and aromatic herbs, it’s the ultimate sauce for pasta nights, lasagna, or your favorite Italian dishes

Bring the flavors of Olive Garden to your kitchen with this easy crockpot Bolognese sauce!

Slow-cooked for hours, it combines tender ground beef, Italian sausage, juicy tomatoes, and fragrant herbs to create a rich, comforting sauce that’s perfect for pasta, lasagna, or even dipping your favorite ravioli!

More Easy Olive Garden Sauces

• Easy Olive Garden Marinara Sauce
• Olive Garden Siena Sauce
• Olive Garden Meat Sauce
• Olive Garden Garlic Herb Sauce
• Copycat Olive Garden Creamy Mushroom Sauce
• Olive Garden Creamy Garlic Sauce

Why You Will Love This Recipe!

• Slow-cooked for rich, deep, restaurant-quality flavor every time.
• Combines ground beef and Italian sausage for hearty satisfaction.
• Packed with fresh herbs and tomatoes for authentic taste.
• Perfect for pasta, lasagna, or any Italian-inspired dish.
• Minimal prep work makes weeknight dinners stress-free and easy.

Olive Garden Bolognese Sauce Ingredients

• Ground beef adds hearty, savory protein to sauce
• Italian sausage brings bold, rich, meaty flavor
• Onion finely diced for a flavorful aromatic base
• Garlic minced for deep, savory background flavor
• Crushed tomatoes create rich, tangy sauce foundation
• Tomato sauce adds smooth, velvety texture throughout
• Tomato paste boosts deep, concentrated tomato flavor
• Dried basil adds classic Italian herb taste
• Dried oregano brings warm, earthy seasoning notes
• Salt enhances every layer of flavor naturally
• Black pepper balances and sharpens savory notes
• Red pepper flakes add optional gentle heat kick
• Water or broth helps adjust sauce thickness easily

How To Make Olive Garden Bolognese Sauce

Step 1: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and Italian sausage until fully browned. Break it up as it cooks so you don’t end up with meatballs pretending to be sauce. Drain off the grease.

Step 2: Add the diced onion to the skillet and cook for 3–4 minutes until soft. Stir in the garlic and cook 30 seconds more. Your kitchen should smell like an Italian restaurant already.

Step 3: Transfer the meat mixture to your slow cooker. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, basil, oregano, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if you like a little kick. Stir well. Cover and cook: LOW: 6–8 hours or HIGH: 3–4 hours. Give it a stir once or twice if you’re around, but it’ll survive if you forget.

Step 4: If the sauce gets too thick, stir in a little water or broth until it’s the texture you want. Taste and adjust seasoning.

Step 5: Serve over pasta, spoon onto lasagna, pile onto subs, or freeze for future you. Future you will be grateful.

Easy Olive Garden Bolognese Sauce Recipe Tips

• Brown the meat first — don’t skip this or you’ll miss out on big flavor.
• Drain the grease so the sauce stays rich, not oily.
• Let the sauce cook low and slow for the best texture and taste.
• Taste near the end and adjust salt, pepper, or herbs as needed.
• If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of broth to loosen it up.
• Want deeper flavor? Stir in a little Parmesan rind while it cooks.
• Double the batch and freeze half — future dinners just got easier.

Storing Instructions

• Refrigerator: Store cooled sauce in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
• Freezer: Freeze in freezer-safe containers or zip bags for up to 3 months. Lay bags flat so they stack easily.
• Reheating: Warm on the stovetop over medium-low heat, stirring often. Add a splash of water or broth if it thickened in storage.

Easy Olive Garden Bolognese Sauce Recipe Faqs

Can I make this without a crockpot? Yes. Simmer everything in a large pot on low heat for about 45–60 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Can I use only ground beef instead of sausage? Absolutely. You’ll still get a great sauce, just a little less bold in flavor.

Is this sauce spicy? Only if you add red pepper flakes. Leave them out for a mild, family-friendly version.

Can I make this ahead of time? Yes, and it’s even better the next day after the flavors settle in.

What pasta works best with bolognese? Thick noodles like fettuccine, pappardelle, or rigatoni hold the sauce best.

Can I freeze this sauce? Yes. It freezes well for up to three months in airtight containers.

How do I keep the sauce from getting greasy? Drain the meat after browning and skim any extra fat off the top while it cooks.

Can I add vegetables to the sauce? Sure. Mushrooms, carrots, and bell peppers blend right in and boost flavor.

Does this taste like Olive Garden’s sauce? It’s a spot-on copycat with rich meat flavor and that slow-simmered restaurant vibe.

More Easy Olive Garden Sauce Recipes

• Easy Olive Garden Marinara Sauce
• Olive Garden Siena Sauce
• Olive Garden Meat Sauce
• Olive Garden Garlic Herb Sauce
• Copycat Olive Garden Creamy Mushroom Sauce
• Olive Garden Creamy Garlic Sauce

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