What is the secret to a good ragu?

The secret to this authentic Ragù Bolognese sauce recipe is cooking the meat in milk first before adding white wine and tomato paste . The texture will melt in your mouth! Serve with fresh homemade pasta, lasagna noodles or homemade gnocchi for a classic old world taste.

What is the best cut of meat for ragu?

I use fairly inexpensive braising or stewing steak – often known as chuck steak , which comes from the forequarter. Usually, this consists of parts of the neck, shoulder blade, and upper arm. It's a tough but very flavorful cut of meat.

What is the difference between ragu and Bolognese?

Ragu sometimes includes vegetable chunks, properly prepared Bolognese does not. Ragu typically uses red wine, while Bolognese calls for white . Bolognese uses very little tomato, while ragu sauces often feature tomatoes for most of the sauce's bulk.

What's the difference between a ragu and a stew?

An authentic ragout is cooked very slowly at a low heat. A ragout is essentially the same as a stew, except that most recipes for ragout are originally French, and often the meat and vegetables are cut into smaller pieces than in a typical stew .

What pasta is best for ragu?

pappardelle and tagliatelle are great options, as the long and wide strips are perfect for catching tender morsels of sauce. Though slightly harder to come by, mafalde is a great choice too - the long, wavy strands deft at capturing larger shreds of meat.

Why do you put milk in Ragu sauce?

Milk is a magical ingredient when it comes to bolognese. First, the lactic acid and calcium in milk help to tenderize the meat . More than that, though, milk balances the wine and tomato, creates a creamier texture and adds richness (similar to how butter or yogurt add more richness and flavor to dishes).

How do you make ragu pasta taste better?

Flavor It Even better, season it! Taste the sauce once it's warm and add some seasoning . Maybe it needs a touch of salt, red pepper flakes, or some fresh garlic to liven it up. You could add dried or fresh herbs too: oregano, basil, thyme, tarragon, parsley—they're all great!

How do you add depth to ragu?

Undeniably one of the best known Italian dishes, Ragù is a Mazzetti family favourite. Our Balsamic Vinegar adds depth and flavour to this delicious Ragù recipe.

How long should you simmer ragu for?

Unless you are using a pressure cooker, it will take 2 to 3 hours to extract the collagen from the meat and allow it to soften. You will know it's ready by taste. I constantly taste my ragu it's cooking, and you will notice when the meat just gets really soft and falls apart.

What does milk do in a ragu?

It sounds unconventional to use milk in a meaty red sauce, but upon further investigation, it makes total sense why Italians swear by it. According to our Food Director Amira, not only does milk add a rich flavour to the bolognese, but it also “helps cut through the acidity of the tomatoes and red wine ”.

Crockpot Ragu Recipe (2024)

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This Crockpot ragu recipe is hearty, full of flavor, and it makes a big batch that’s perfect for freezing so you always have a quick and delicious dinner option readily available.

This recipe originally appeared on The Recipe Critic. I contribute one recipe a month to Alyssa’s food blog.

I’ve aimed to make this sauce fairly close to the traditional Italian version, so there is not a lot of tomato in here, contrary to popular belief in North America of what ragu sauce is. So, what is ragu? Ragu is a hearty meat sauce with a splash of cream added at the end to lighten it and give it a wonderful richer flavor. The combination of the meats and mirepoix (sautéd carrots, onions, and celery) really make this sauce shine.

This is the type of thing I always have in my freezer. I usually just throw in whatever without measuring since I’ve made spaghetti sauce so many times, but it’s a staple in my diet. I love being able to quickly defrost and warm up a single-size container of this sauce for a hot meal on busy weeknights when I’m fending for myself. I freeze double-size containers for when my husband and I will both be eating it.

How to make ragu spaghetti sauce in the Crockpot

Sauté the onions, carrots, and celery in a large skillet until softened. Add the mix to your slow cooker.
Cook the ground meats in the skillet until browned, then add them to the Crockpot.
Add the garlic, tomato paste, seasonings, broth, and wine to the Crockpot. Stir. Cook on low for 8 hours.
Stir in the cream and season with salt & pepper as needed.

Ragu is traditionally served over spaghetti. I love to top it with a generous amount of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Fresh parsley is optional!

Instant Pot instructions

Sauté the carrots, onions, and celery in your Instant Pot using the “sauté” function for 3-4 minutes, then add the ground meat and continue cooking until it’s browned. Spoon out most of the fat. Add the remaining ingredients (except for cream and salt & pepper), close the lid, set the valve on “sealing” and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes. Let the pressure release naturally. Stir in the cream and season with salt & pepper as needed. Or, try a similar recipe for my Instant Pot spaghetti sauce.

Recipe notes:

If you’re in a huge rush, you can just throw everything in the Crockpot and mix it together without doing the sautéing/browning step, but the sauce won’t be quite as flavorful, so I don’t recommend skipping that step unless totally necessary.
If you don’t drink wine, you may leave it out. Just replace it with the same amount of beef broth.
This sauce freezes well. I like to freeze it in individual portions.
I prefer using a blend of beef and pork in this recipe. It’s what my mom did when I was growing up, and it just adds a nice balance of flavor. You could also trying making a mix with beef and sausage meat or ground veal.
In a hurry? Buy a bag of the pre-chopped carrots/celery/veggie mixes and throw it in.
I haven’t tested it, but you could cook this sauce for 3-4 hours on high. I do prefer to cook it low and slow, though, for better flavor (at least 6 hours).

More ground beef/pork recipes you may like:

Easy Beef Bowls
Instant Pot Beef Chili
Ground Pork Tacos with Apple Slaw
Crockpot Taco Soup Recipe
Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe (Big Batch!)
Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Easy Cheesy Taco Pasta

Will you make this slow cooker ragu sauce recipe?

Questions? Leave me a comment below.

5 from 1 vote