Meat Sauce for Pasta

Meat sauce for pasta, often called Bolognese in its Italian form, is a rich, savory sauce made by slow-cooking ground meat (like beef or pork) with tomatoes, onions, carrots, celery, and herbs. It's a cornerstone of Italian-American cuisine and a beloved comfort food worldwide, designed to coat and complement pasta shapes like spaghetti or tagliatelle.

🍽️ Nutrition at a glance

This dish is a balanced source of protein from the meat and carbohydrates from the pasta it's served with, while the sauce itself contributes moderate fat. It provides key nutrients like iron, zinc, and B vitamins from the meat, along with lycopene from the tomatoes, with a typical serving of pasta with sauce containing roughly 400-600 calories.

Nutrition breakdown

Calories	300 kcal
Protein	20 g
Carbs	12 g
Fat	18 g
Fiber	3 g
Sugar	7 g
Sodium	600 mg
Iron	3.5 mg
Zinc	4.5 mg
Potassium	450 mg
Vitamin A	70 mcg RAE
Vitamin C	15 mg
Vitamin B12	2.5 mcg
Niacin (B3)	5 mg
Lycopene	8 mg

Per 1 cup (250 g) of meat sauce (without pasta) · estimated, varies by recipe

💡 What's interesting

Culturally, the sauce is a symbol of home cooking and family gatherings in many Western countries, with recipes often passed down through generations. Nutritionally, the slow-cooking process helps break down the meat and vegetables, making nutrients more bioavailable, and the tomato base is a significant source of the antioxidant lycopene.