Family dinner ideas UK

Spaghetti Bolognese

The weeknight classic, with the veg cooked in. Serves 4, about 40 minutes.

Spaghetti Bolognese - AI-generated illustration

Photo: AI-generated illustration of the dish.

You'll need

  • 500g lean beef mince (5% fat)
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 carrots, grated
  • 2 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 2 tins chopped tomatoes (400g each)
  • 2 tbsp tomato purée
  • 1 tsp dried mixed herbs
  • 300g dried spaghetti
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

Method

How to make it

  1. Soften

    Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion and grated carrot over a medium heat for 5 minutes until soft. Add the garlic for the last minute.

  2. Brown

    Turn up the heat, add the mince and break it up with a spoon. Cook until it is browned all over with no pink left.

  3. Simmer

    Stir in the tomatoes, tomato purée and herbs, bring to a bubble, then simmer gently for 20 minutes until thick. Season to taste.

  4. Boil

    Cook the spaghetti in a big pan of boiling salted water for 10 to 12 minutes, or as the packet says, then drain.

  5. Serve

    Divide the spaghetti between four plates and spoon the sauce over the top.

Food safety

Cool leftovers, get them into the fridge within 2 hours and eat within 2 days. Reheat once only, until steaming hot all the way through.

Shopping list

  • Lean beef mince 500g
  • Onion x1
  • Carrots x2
  • Garlic
  • Chopped tomatoes x2 tins
  • Tomato purée
  • Dried mixed herbs
  • Spaghetti 300g
  • Olive oil

What's in a portion

522kcalCalories (estimated)
39gProtein (estimated)
72gCarbs (estimated)
10gFat (estimated)
3.3gof which saturates (estimated)
15gof which sugars (estimated)

Every figure is an estimate per portion, worked out from UK government food-composition data (CoFID). Your portions and brands will differ, so treat these as a guide. Salt not measured. Dried herbs are not included in the figures (not measured). How our recipes are made.

Allergens

Contains: gluten (spaghetti).

Always check the label on anything packaged — recipes and brands vary, and we cannot see your packet.

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