Creamy White Bolognese

Name: Creamy White Bolognese
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h 5 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: Italian American
Ingredients: 1 pound ground beef; 1 pound ground pork; 1 cup thick cut bacon, chopped; 1 cup onion, diced; 1 cup carrots, diced; 1 cup celery, diced; 2 tablespoons minced garlic; 1 1/2 cups dry white wine; 2 cups chicken broth; 1 1/2 teaspoons salt; 1 teaspoon dried rosemary; 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme; 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper; 1 cup heavy cream; 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese; 1 pound pappardelle pasta

A rich and savory pasta sauce made with ground beef, pork, bacon, and parmesan that skips the tomatoes for a silky, comforting finish.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 Italian American· September 20, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

20 minutes

Cook

45 minutes

Total

1 hour 5 minutes

Serves

White Bolognese is one of my favorite ways to switch up a traditional pasta night. Instead of the usual red sauce, this version relies on a beautiful blend of meats, white wine, and heavy cream to create a deep flavor profile that feels fancy but is actually quite simple to put together. It is the perfect meal for a cozy evening at home with family.

Because this sauce is so luxurious, I love serving it with wide noodles like pappardelle to really hold onto all that goodness. Don't forget to keep a little bit of your pasta water aside before you drain it, as that starchy liquid is the secret to making your sauce perfectly glossy and smooth when you toss it all together.

🧺 Ingredients

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1 cup thick cut bacon, chopped
1 cup onion, diced
1 cup carrots, diced
1 cup celery, diced
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 1/2 cups dry white wine
2 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon dried rosemary
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
1 pound pappardelle pasta

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Heat a large Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the beef and pork, breaking the meat apart with a spoon until mostly browned. Remove the meat from the pot and set it aside.
2
Add the chopped bacon to the pot and cook until crisp, about 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the bacon and set it aside with the other meat. Drain the pot, but keep about 2 tablespoons of the bacon fat inside.
3
Add the onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to the pot. Cook over medium heat for about 5 to 6 minutes until the vegetables have softened.
4
Stir in the white wine, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Use your spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pot. Let it simmer for 10 minutes until the wine has mostly reduced.
5
Return the cooked beef, pork, and bacon to the pot. Pour in the chicken broth and bring everything to a gentle simmer for 10 minutes.
6
While the sauce simmers, cook your pasta according to the package instructions. Be sure to reserve at least 1 cup of the starchy pasta water before you drain it.
7
Stir the heavy cream and parmesan cheese into the meat sauce. Continue to simmer for 4 to 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
8
Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss well to coat. Add a splash of the reserved pasta water if you need to thin the sauce out. Serve immediately.

💡 Tips

Store any leftover sauce in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. When reheating, add a small splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce and restore its creamy texture.

#pasta #dinner #comfort food #italian #meat sauce

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