Western
Quick Spaghetti Bolognese
A speedy weeknight bolognese — browned mince in a rich tomato sauce over spaghetti, finished with parmesan, in 30 minutes.
About this recipe
Quick Spaghetti Bolognese is a western lunch for 2 that is a gentle, mostly hands-off simmer. It’s built around beef, and it takes around 30 min start to finish. We sized it for a small household and ranked it on OneToCook by how much of it you already have in the fridge.
Ingredients
- 200g spaghetti
- 1, diced onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1, grated carrot
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 250g minced beef buy
- 1 tin canned chopped tomatoes buy
- 1 tbsp tomato paste buy
- 2 tbsp parmesan buy
Equipment
Method
- 1
Brown the minceMince.Cut very finely (releases stronger flavour, but burns faster).Glossary → in a pot, breaking it up; add onion, garlic and carrot and soften, 4 min.
~8 min
- 2
Stir in the tomato paste, then the chopped tomatoes and oregano; simmerSimmer.Cook in liquid with gentle bubbling, just below a boil.Glossary → 15 min.
~16 min
- 3
Boil the spaghetti, toss with the sauce, and finish with parmesan.
~6 min
Smart swaps
Out of something? Try one of these.
- Beef
- pork or chicken thigh, sliced thin against the grain.
- Garlic
- garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push.
- Parmesan
- pecorino, grana padano, or a little extra salt + nutritional yeast.
Cook's notes
- Smash each clove with the flat of your knife first — the skin slips off and it minces in seconds. How to mince garlic →
- Dice the onion before anything heats up so it’s ready when the pan is — a even dice cooks evenly. How to dice an onion →
- Cut carrots into thin matchsticks so they soften in the same time as everything else. How to julienne carrots →
Storage & leftovers
This keeps well — store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, and the flavour often deepens overnight. Reheat gently on the stove, adding a splash of water if it’s thickened.
Frequently asked
How long does Quick Spaghetti Bolognese take to make? +
Around 30 min from start to finish, almost all of it hands-on.
How many people does this recipe serve? +
As written it serves 2. To cook for 4, roughly multiply the ingredients — but cook in batches if the pan gets crowded, so things sear instead of steaming.
What equipment do I need? +
You’ll want: induction hob, pot. OneToCook only suggests recipes that fit the equipment you tell it you have, so you can filter these out if your kitchen is more minimal.
What can I use if I'm missing an ingredient? +
Common swaps for this dish: Beef → pork or chicken thigh, sliced thin against the grain; Garlic → garlic powder (¼ tsp per clove) at a push; Parmesan → pecorino, grana padano, or a little extra salt + nutritional yeast. See the full list of smart swaps above.
Can I make Quick Spaghetti Bolognese ahead of time? +
This keeps well — store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, and the flavour often deepens overnight. Reheat gently on the stove, adding a splash of water if it’s thickened.
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