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    Home » Recipes » Dinner

    Smoky Chorizo Bolognese Recipe

    Published: Feb 12, 2021 · Modified: Oct 10, 2024 by Beth Sachs · 6 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe
    Chorizo bolognese pin image with text overlay.

    Smoky and rich, this delicious chorizo bolognese packs a punch in flavour and elevates the humble (but still very tasty) bolognese to the next level.

    Serve with spaghetti and fresh basil for a hearty and warming dinner.

    A pan of smoky chorizo bolognese with spaghetti.

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    This extra-special bolognese is a firm favourite around here. Once you've tried this recipe you'll never go back.

    👩‍🍳 Love bolognese? try my healthy chicken bolognese recipe!

    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Why should you try it?
    • 🥘 Ingredients
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • 💭 Top tips
    • 🍴 Serving suggestions
    • 📖 Variations
    • 🥡 Storage
    • ❓ FAQS
    • 😋Related recipes
    • Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    ✔️ Why should you try it?

    • Smoky and rich.
    • Freezes really well.
    • Double the recipe to feed a crowd.
    • Family favourite pasta recipe.
    • The flavours develop over time.

    🥘 Ingredients

    Ingredients for chorizo bolognese
    • Chorizo - finely chop cured chorizo, or use cooking chorizo if you prefer.
    • Olive Oil
    • Minced Beef (ground beef) - 500g of lean minced beef.
    • Onion - 1 white onion, finely chopped.
    • Garlic - 2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped.
    • Carrot - 1 carrot, finely chopped.
    • Celery - 1 celery stalk, finely chopped.
    • Herbs - thyme, rosemary and bay.
    • Passata - my kids prefer smooth sauces so I use smooth passata. You can use tinned chopped tomatoes if you prefer.
    • Tomato Puree
    • Beef Stock - made with a stock pot or cube.
    • Red Wine - a full-bodied dry red wine would work well.
    • Milk - use full-fat milk or cream.
    • Sugar - caster or granulated sugar.
    • Worcestershire Sauce (optional) - an optional extra but adds a wonderful savoury flavour to the bolognese.
    • Serve with pasta, Parmesan and fresh basil.

    🔪 Instructions

    The recipe card with ingredient quantities and detailed instructions can be found at the bottom of the post

    One: Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a casserole and fry the minced beef until it changes colour. Remove to a plate and turn down the heat to medium.

    Two: Add the chorizo, onion, garlic, carrot and celery and cook for 4-5 minutes.

    Three: Add in the dried thyme, freshly chopped rosemary and bay leaves, and give everything a stir.

    Four: Add the passata, tomato puree, beef stock, red wine, milk and sugar, and simmer on a low heat for 1 hour. Season and serve with pasta, grated Parmesan and fresh basil.

    Step by step photo instructions for making chorizo bolognese
    Main steps for making the chorizo bolognese

    💭 Top tips

    • I recommend using a mini chopper to finely chop the onion, garlic, carrot and celery.
    • Use a sharp knife to cut the chorizo into as small pieces as you can manage.
    • Simmer the bolognese on a low heat for 1 hour with the lid on. Alternatively, you can cook the bolognese in a slow cooker on the low setting for 6 hours.

    🍴 Serving suggestions

    We love chorizo bolognese with spaghetti, grated Parmesan, freshly chopped basil and a side of home-baked focaccia.

    Why not make double the quantity and use the leftovers for the ragu sauce in this easy lasagne recipe?

    📖 Variations

    • Make it spicy by using spicy chorizo sausage and 1 teaspoon of chili powder.
    • Turn it into a bolognese pasta bake by stirring through cooked pasta, spooning it into a baking dish and topping with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until golden and bubbling.
    • Add a teaspoon of marmite to the bolognese to give it a delicious savoury taste.
    • Use 2 tablespoons of ketchup in place of the tomato puree and sugar.
    • Up the vegetables and add chopped mushrooms and peppers.
    • Serve with wholewheat pasta for increased fibre.
    • Add a tablespoon of sun-dried tomato pesto for extra flavour.
    Overhead photo of chorizo bolognese.

    🥡 Storage

    Store: Spoon the cooked bolognese into an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavour will improve over time. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave.

    Freeze: Freeze for up to 3 months in a freezer safe container. Defrost in the fridge for 24 hours before use.

    ❓ FAQS

    How do you make bolognese more tasty?

    Add one or more of the following to boost the flavour of your bolognese;
    1. chorizo
    2. marmite
    3. mushrooms
    4. red wine
    5. milk

    Why do you add milk to bolognese?

    Adding milk adds a wonderful richness to the bolognese and helps to tenderise the meat, making it melt in the mouth.

    Do you put sugar in bolognese?

    Adding a little bit of sugar helps to balance the acidity of the tomatoes and gives a lovely rounded flavour to the sauce.

    😋Related recipes

    More bolognese recipes you might like;

    • Pork Bolognese
    • Lamb Bolognese
    • Turkey Bolognese
    • Quorn Bolognese
    • Savoury Mince
    • Slow Cooker Bolognese

    More delicious dinner recipes to try from the Effortless Foodie kitchen!

    • Bucatini all'Amatriciana.
      Easy Bucatini all'Amatriciana Recipe
    • Spinach and blue cheese pasta
      Creamy Spinach and Blue Cheese Pasta
    • Chicken bolognese garnished with parsley.
      Easy Chicken Bolognese Recipe
    • Leftover roast beef stroganoff with parsley.
      Easy Leftover Roast Beef Stroganoff Recipe

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    Recipe

    Chorizo bolognese with herbs and spaghetti
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    5 from 8 votes

    Smoky Chorizo Bolognese

    Smoky and rich, this delicious chorizo bolognese packs a punch in flavour and elevates the humble (but still very tasty) bolognese, to the next level. Serve with spaghetti and fresh basil for a hearty and warming dinner.
    Course Pasta
    Cuisine Italian
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 1 hour hour
    Servings 4
    Calories 603kcal
    Author Beth Sachs
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    Equipment

    • Mini Chopper
    • Chopping Board
    • Knife
    • Shallow Casserole
    • Wooden Spoon
    • Measuring Jug
    • Measuring Spoons

    Ingredients

    Metric - US Customary
    • 500 g Minced Beef
    • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
    • 200 g Chorizo cured sausage
    • 1 Onion peeled and finely chopped
    • 2 Garlic Cloves peeled and finely chopped
    • 1 Carrot peeled and finely chopped
    • 1 Celery Stalk finely chopped
    • 1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
    • 1 teaspoon Rosemary
    • 2 Bay Leaves
    • 300 ml Passata
    • 600 ml Beef Stock
    • 2 tablespoon Tomato Puree
    • 100 ml Red Wine
    • 100 ml Milk use full fat milk
    • 1 teaspoon Sugar
    • Salt and Pepper

    Instructions

    • Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a casserole and fry the minced beef until it changes colour. Remove to a plate and turn down the heat to medium.
      1 tablespoon Olive Oil, 500 g Minced Beef
    • Add the chorizo, onion, garlic, carrot and celery and cook for 4-5 minutes.
      200 g Chorizo, 1 Onion, 2 Garlic Cloves, 1 Carrot, 1 Celery Stalk
    • Add in the dried thyme, freshly chopped rosemary and bay leaves, give it a stir.
      1 teaspoon Dried Thyme, 1 teaspoon Rosemary, 2 Bay Leaves
    • Add the passata, tomato puree, beef stock, red wine, milk, sugar, and the browned beef back into the pan and simmer on a low heat for 1 hour with the lid on. Season and serve with pasta, grated Parmesan and fresh basil.
      300 ml Passata, 600 ml Beef Stock, 2 tablespoon Tomato Puree, 100 ml Red Wine, 100 ml Milk, 1 teaspoon Sugar, Salt and Pepper, 500 g Minced Beef

    Notes

    Top Tips:
    • I recommend using a mini chopper to finely chop the onion, garlic, carrot and celery.
    • Use a sharp knife to cut the chorizo into as small pieces as you can manage.
    • Simmer the bolognese on a low heat for 1 hour with the lid on. Alternatively you can cook the bolognese in a slow cooker on the low setting for 6 hours.
    Variations:
    • Make it spicy by using spicy chorizo sausage and 1 teaspoon of chili powder.
    • Turn it into a bolognese pasta bake by stirring through cooked pasta, spooning it into a baking dish and topping with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes until golden and bubbling.
    • Add a teaspoon of marmite to the bolognese to give it a delicious savoury taste.
    • Use 2 tablespoons of ketchup in place of the tomato puree and sugar.
    • Up the vegetables and add chopped mushrooms and peppers.
    • Serve with wholewheat pasta for increased fibre.
    • Add a tablespoon of sun-dried tomato pesto for extra flavour.
    Storage: Store the cooked bolognese in the fridge for up to 3 days. The flavour will improve over time. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave or frozen for up to 3 months.
    Nutrition: The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
    Nutrition Facts
    Smoky Chorizo Bolognese
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    603
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    41
    g
    63
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    15
    g
    94
    %
    Trans Fat
     
    2
    g
    Cholesterol
     
    123
    mg
    41
    %
    Sodium
     
    1027
    mg
    45
    %
    Potassium
     
    1144
    mg
    33
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    17
    g
    6
    %
    Fiber
     
    3
    g
    13
    %
    Sugar
     
    9
    g
    10
    %
    Protein
     
    35
    g
    70
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    3209
    IU
    64
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    12
    mg
    15
    %
    Calcium
     
    100
    mg
    10
    %
    Iron
     
    6
    mg
    33
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Claudia Lamascolo

      February 13, 2021 at 12:44 pm

      5 stars
      Just reading the ingredients this just shouts great flavors a must try this weekend!

      Reply
    2. Bintu | Budget Delicious

      February 13, 2021 at 1:30 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds like such a delicious and flavourful dish! We love bolognese but this takes it to a whole new level!

      Reply
    3. Julia

      February 13, 2021 at 2:08 pm

      I love adding chorizo to our meals but never tried adding it to a bolognese sauce. What a great idea!

      Reply
    4. Sunrita

      February 13, 2021 at 2:32 pm

      Just the addition of the smoked chorizo took this dish to a completely new level! What a fab idea.

      Reply
    5. Jenn

      February 13, 2021 at 3:09 pm

      5 stars
      I'm a big fan of Bolognese sauce but I've never tried it with chorizo! Guess what I'm making this weekend and I can't wait!

      Reply
    6. Jane

      April 24, 2024 at 7:04 pm

      5 stars
      We really enjoyed this. Didn't have any red wine to add so had to omit it. Still tasted good though.

      Reply
    5 from 8 votes (4 ratings without comment)

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    Hi, I'm Beth!

    Mum of three (and two crazy dogs), living in Cornwall, UK. I love creating easy, delicious and fuss-free recipes, perfect for busy families, just like my own.

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