My spicy Bison Bolognese is one of my favorite kinds of spaghetti sauce and is one of our family favorites. You can use ground beef if you prefer, or almost any type of ground wild game like venison, elk, or even ground moose.

Bison Bolognese Recipe

When you are craving a hearty bowl of pasta that your whole family will love, look no further than this bison bolognese. This hearty spaghetti with meat sauce is simple to prepare and only has to simmer for about 45 minutes before you have a pot of steaming savory tomato sauce that is packed so full of meat and flavor that you’re going to want to double this already giant batch to freeze for later. Of course, if you want a deeper, richer, more authentic flavor, you’ll settle in for the afternoon and let it simmer for 2-3 hours before serving.

What is bolognese?

Bolognese sauce is an Italian sauce that is heavy on the meat, and traditionally light on the tomato and includes milk or cream. This recipe isn’t an authentic bolognese in that sense because I love the tomato, but this recipe is definitely more bolognese than marinara, so there you have it. 

I suppose an argument could be made for calling this a spaghetti and meat sauce, but that’s not what I ended up landing on here. No matter what you want to call it, you’re going to want to whip this up one of these nights, stat.

You need more PASTA in your life.

Homemade Bolognese shopping list

Wondering if you have to hit the store? Here’s the list of items you’ll need to make this recipe. For specific amounts, please refer to the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post.

• Yellow onion
• Garlic
• Ground bison
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic powder
• Onion powder
• Oregano
• Olive oil
• Crushed tomatoes
• Diced tomatoes
• San marzano tomatoes
• Red wine
• Basil
• Red pepper flakes
• Red bell pepper
• Orange bell pepper

Try our Creamy Shrimp Alfredo too!

How to make Homemade Bolognese Sauce

Bolognese sauce is easy to make, but it does require some forethought and some time. A great bolognese can take several hours to make properly, so make sure you have some mental energy or a really great reminder/alarm system to keep an eye on it. 

This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

Don’t skip our Garlic Bread Sticks!

Homemade Bolognese with Bison – FAQ

How to save a bolognese with scorched meat on the bottom

If the unthinkable happens and you forget to stir your sauce and wind up with a scorched-bottom pan, don’t worry! Also – DO NOT SCRAPE THE BOTTOM OF THE PAN. 

That’s always my first instinct so I can check and see “how” burned it is. Ridiculous, I know. So RESIST. The moment you break through that layer into the burned portion, that flavor will wind up through the whole entire pot. 

If you’ve scorched the bottom of your sauce, the first thing you want to do is to kill the heat on your stove. 

Next, carefully spoon all the sauce that isn’t stuck from the burnt pot into a fresh pot, leaving that burnt layer intact. 

If you can manage to do this, you’ll likely save the bulk of your sauce from the garbage can! Leave the burned sauce in the burned pan and soak it in water with a dryer sheet in it overnight. It should come off very easily in the morning. 

What’s the difference between marinara and bolognese?

Marinara is typically made without meat, and is a simple sauce of fresh tomatoes, basil, garlic, and olive oil. 

Bolognese, on the other hand, typically contains meat as the main ingredient, with some tomatoes, seasonings, and dairy cooked into the mix as well. It is generally very thick and hearty, and hits a totally different set of notes than marinara. 

Can you use a different type of meat for this recipe?

Absolutely. Any type of ground meat could work in this delicious sauce. Try adding some ground venison, elk, caribou, or even moose in this versatile sauce. Or you can always stick to ground beef as well, which is a great standby if wild game meat isn’t available.

Get my easy Side Dish recipes!

What should you serve with bolognese?

I’m a traditionalist when it comes to my spaghetti and sides, so on my table, you’re likely to see a giant Caesar Salad along with a loaf of French bread spread with Smoked Garlic Butter and lightly toasted in the oven.

If I’m making this ragu for company and I’m feeling particularly ambitious, you might find this Grilled Garlic Twisty Bread on the table as well.