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    Home » Mains

    The Best Vegan Bolognese Sauce

    Updated: Nov 14, 2021 by Verna Rindler · This post may contain affiliate links · 26 Comments

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    vegan bolognese sauce in a pot and on plate with spaghetti

    This Easy Vegan Bolognese Sauce is hearty, meaty, and a delicious take on a classic Italian recipe. It comes together in one pot using pantry-staple ingredients and is layered with rich flavors!

    vegan bolognese sauce on a plate atop spaghetti

    This is The Best Vegan Bolognese Sauce you’ll ever taste! Every bite is so warm, comforting, and rich. Made with pantry-staple ingredients, you can mix and match as you like and throw in the vegan “meat” of your choice.

    A classic Italian bolognese sauce is packed with meat, herbs, tomatoes, and a hint of acidity. Vegan bolognese is just as delicious but made with healthy and hearty plant-based ingredients. It’s not even close to being boring (I’m looking at you, marinara sauce) and tastes unlike any pasta sauce you’ve tried before.

    This vegetarian bolognese recipe works so well and is perfect for family dinners because it’s:

    • Made with simple, pantry-staple ingredients.
    • Really flexible! Mix and match the ingredients and use any vegan meat you love.
    • Packed with plant-based protein.
    • Nut free and easy to make gluten free.
    • Loaded with delicious, hearty, and meaty flavors!
    Jump to:
    • What is vegan bolognese sauce made of?
    • How to make the best vegan bolognese
    • Tips for success
    • Frequently asked questions
    • More Italian vegan recipes to try
    • The Best Vegan Bolognese Sauce

    What is vegan bolognese sauce made of?

    • Vegan “meat” - Bolognese is known for being meaty and we can still load this Italian tomato sauce with a few plant-based meat options to replicate that classic hearty texture. Use anything from vegan ground beef (like Beyond Meat, Impossible Burger, or Gardein), regular or spicy Italian sausages, vegan sausage crumbles, cooked lentils, soy curls, mushrooms, or fried tofu.
    • San Marzano whole tomatoes - Your sauce is only as good as your tomatoes and San Marzano tomatoes are the best! You can make this with fresh, quartered tomatoes instead or use another high quality brand of canned tomatoes if you prefer.
    • Vegetables - Onion, garlic cloves, celery, carrot, and mushrooms give the sauce a great baseline of savory flavors.
    • Vegetable bouillon - Better Than Bouillon Vegetarian No Beef Soup Base is the best choice because it’s so beefy.
    • White wine - This will give the bolognese a necessary hit of brightness and acidity. Any dry white wine you enjoy drinking will work or, if you prefer to make this recipe without alcohol, replace the wine with water or stock and a wee splash of balsamic or white wine vinegar or even lemon juice.
    • Liquid aminos - Or gluten free tamari or soy sauce.
    • Liquid smoke - The smokiness plays well with the rich and meaty flavors here.
    • Italian herbs and seasonings - Like fresh rosemary, granulated garlic, fennel powder, dried thyme, celery salt, dried oregano, and nutritional yeast.
    ingredients for vegan bolognese sauce simmering in a pot

    How to make the best vegan bolognese

    This sauce comes together in one pot. It’s best to have all of your chopped veggies, herbs, and aromatics layed out ahead of time so you can throw them in the pot, then sit back and relax.

    1. Saute the vegetables: Add the onions, garlic, celery, carrots, and mushrooms to a soup pot or large dutch oven with olive oil. Saute over medium heat until they start to soften.
    1. Add the herbs and tomatoes: Stir in all of the herbs and spices, liquid aminos, nutritional yeast, bouillon, liquid smoke, and wine. Let the mixture simmer for a few minutes before adding the tomatoes. Cover the pot with a lid and let the bolognese sauce simmer for 30 minutes.
    1. Puree the bolognese: Afterward, use high powdered blender or nutribullet to puree part of the sauce. Could use immersion blender too.
    1. Stir in the meat: With the pureed sauce back in the pot, stir in your vegan meat or protein of choice. Cover with a lid and let it simmer for another 15 minutes.
    1. Adjust the flavor: Taste and adjust the flavors with added seasonings or thin it out with more water if needed. Serve it hot and fresh over pasta or store it for later.
    step by step photos how to make vegan bolognese
    a plate of vegan spaghetti bolognese with a fork

    Tips for success

    • If you like your sauce sweeter, stir in a pinch or two of sugar.
    • Be patient! The layers of flavor develop and become even better over time. Give the sauce as much time to simmer as possible.
    • If you’re making lentil bolognese, make sure the lentils are cooked beforehand. You can use red, green, or brown lentils.
    • You can use red wine instead of white but make sure you use a vegan-friendly bottle.
    • Give this sauce a little heat by stirring in a pinch of red pepper flakes or cayenne.
    • To make it extra tomato-y, stir in some tomato paste.
    • This vegan bolognese recipe is naturally nut free but if you’d like it to be rich with texture, feel free to stir in a handful of chopped walnuts.
    • Top each serving with fresh basil or parsley and lots of vegan parmesan cheese!

    Frequently asked questions

    Is bolognese the same as meat sauce?

    Meat sauce is a popular American spaghetti sauce made by simmering ground beef with tomato sauce. Yes, bolognese (also known as Ragù alla bolognese in Italy) is made with tomatoes, but it has a deeper flavor profile, more body, and a heartier texture than meat sauce. The key difference is that the meat is added to the bolognese sauce at the end of the cooking process rather than cooking the sauce and meat together.

    What kind of pasta should you serve with vegan bolognese?

    Bolognese is often served with long pasta noodles, like spaghetti or linguini, but a wide pasta noodle is always the best choice. Fettucini, pappardelle, or tagliatelle noodles will scoop up the sauce instead of leaving a pool of it at the bottom of your bowl. For a healthy option, serve the sauce with gluten free noodles or zucchini noodles instead.

    How do you store bolognese sauce?

    Once the sauce is finished cooking and fully cooled, transfer it from the pot to an airtight container. It stores well in the fridge for up to 5 days.

    Can you freeze bolognese sauce?

    Absolutely! Once it’s cool, place the sauce in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months.

    More Italian vegan recipes to try

    • Vegan Zuppa Toscana Soup
    • Garlic and Balsamic Roasted Mushrooms
    • Easy No Knead Focaccia
    • The Best Vegan Meatballs

    Enjoy everyone! Happy Day! Please feel free to comment below and give this recipe a rating. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!

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    vegan bolognese sauce on a plate atop spaghetti

    The Best Vegan Bolognese Sauce


    ★★★★★

    5 from 12 reviews

    • Author: Verna
    • Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
    • Yield: 8-10 Servings 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    This Easy Vegan Bolognese Sauce is hearty, meaty, and a delicious take on a classic Italian recipe. It comes together in one pot using pantry-staple ingredients and is layered with rich flavors!


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For sauce:

    • 1 -2 tablespoons oil or vegan butter
    • 1 large yellow onion diced
    • 4-6 cloves of garlic, chopped
    • 1 large rib of celery, diced
    • 1 med-large carrot, grated
    • 1 and 1/2 lbs (680g) cremini mushrooms, chopped smallish
    • 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped - don't skimp
    • 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
    • 1 teaspoon fennel powder
    • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1/4 teaspoon celery salt
    • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
    • 1 tablespoon Better Than Bouillon Vegetarian No Beef soup Base 
    • 1 tablespoon Braggs liquid aminos, lite Tamari or soy sauce
    • 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
    • 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
    • 1/3 cup dry white wine
    • 2 cans San Marzano whole tomatoes (28 oz each)
    • 1/2 cup water plus more if needed

    Optional 'meat' add in (pick one) 

    • 1 cup soy curls, measured then rehydrated and chopped
    • 1/2 to 1 pack vegan ground beef, or crumbles, cooked (like beyond meat, impossible burger, Gardein, etc,..)
    • reg or spicy vegan Italian sausages
    • 1 cup or so cooked red lentils
    • 3/4 cup TVP

    For serving:

    • cooked pasta or polenta
    • vegan parmesan

    Instructions

    1. First gather and prep all ingredients. Add herbs and spices to a bowl and set aside. Add whole tomatoes to a large glass mixing bowl and with your hand gently squish the tomatoes to break then down into smaller pieces. Set aside.
    2. Add the onions, garlic, celery, carrots, mushrooms, oil and a pinch of salt & pepper to a large pot/ Dutch oven and sauté on medium heat ( if avoiding oil sauté in water or broth). Cook for 10 minutes or so until veggies start to soften and the mushrooms release their juices.
    3. Now add the herbs, spices, Braggs, Nutritional yeast, bouillon, liquid smoke and wine. Simmer for a couple of minutes. Stir in the tomatoes. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes stirring occasionally.
    4. After 30 minutes remove lid and take 3 big ladle fulls of sauce, puree then return to pot (optional). Stir in cooked ground 'beef'/ protein of choice, if using. Cover and simmer for 15 minutes.
    5. Remove from heat add some water and seasonings if needed. If you like your sauce sweeter add a pinch or two of sugar to taste. Serve over pasta or polenta, sprinkle with vegan parmesan and enjoy!

    Notes

    •  add a pinch of cayenne for little heat
    • Meal prep: This recipe makes a lot of sauce so feel free to portion and freeze some for a rainy day.
    • To store and freeze: sauce will keep covered in fridge for up to 5 days and freezes well.

    This post was originally published Nov, 2018 and has been updated with new photos and more. The recipe itself is unchanged

    • Prep Time: 20 minutes
    • Cook Time: 55 minutes
    • Category: Mains, Gluten free,
    • Method: Stovetop
    • Cuisine: Italian

    Keywords: vegan bolognese, vegan bolognese sauce, meat free sauce, vegan pasta sauce,

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @cheeky_chickpea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #cheeky_chickpea_

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rita

      November 19, 2021 at 6:47 am

      This will be a weekly meal in our house !

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        November 19, 2021 at 3:54 pm

        Nice to hear, thank you!!

        Reply
    2. April

      May 24, 2021 at 11:55 am

      This bolognese sauce fooled my husband he didn’t know it was vegan Great recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        May 24, 2021 at 12:29 pm

        glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    3. Harriet

      April 05, 2021 at 7:51 am

      truly one of the best pasta sauces I have made. We used impossible meat. None of my family new it was vegan!! Thank you for sharing such an amazing recipe.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        April 05, 2021 at 11:31 am

        You are so welcome thrilled everyone enjoyed it!

        Reply
    4. Lisa

      November 08, 2020 at 4:14 pm

      Fabulous bolognese sauce Verna! Hugs to you. I love all your vegan recipes😊

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        November 08, 2020 at 4:53 pm

        Aww thanks for your kind words Lisa you made my day!

        Reply
    5. Dee

      October 10, 2020 at 11:03 am

      Hi, what can I substitute for the white wine? Thanks!!

      Reply
      • Verna

        October 11, 2020 at 7:52 pm

        Hi Dee, you could just add some red wine or add a little water, I like the recipe best as written though, Enjoy!

        Reply
    6. May

      October 09, 2020 at 2:41 pm

      Going to give your bolognese a go! The ingredients sound delicious. My husband likes the recipe from Gordan Ramsay but I refuse to cook meat for him anymore. My friend suggested your food blog to me. Excited to try your vegan recipes.

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        October 09, 2020 at 5:34 pm

        Oh nice! Hope you and your husband enjoy the recipe! Thanks so much May!

        Reply
    7. Caroline

      October 09, 2020 at 1:05 pm

      Best vegan meat sauce I've ever made. You're recipes are fantastic!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        October 09, 2020 at 2:05 pm

        Oh what a nice compliment, thank you so much Caroline you made my day! Thrilled you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    8. Shawna

      August 09, 2020 at 5:11 pm

      Thank you so much for sharing a meat free and nut free bolognese!! Every recipe I see has walnuts!! I am so grateful to have found this and boy was it tasty!! My husband said it tasted like his Nona’s pasta sauce. Thanks again from my happy family😊

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        August 09, 2020 at 5:41 pm

        What a nice compliment! thank you Shawna. Thrilled your family's enjoying the recipe.

        Reply
    9. Jacklyn

      June 13, 2020 at 11:58 pm

      Made your vegan bolognese using lentils and it was excellent. The sauce has so much flavour we were really impressed. My family thanks you for the easy recipe!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        June 14, 2020 at 12:48 am

        You are so welcome Jacklyn! Thrilled your family loves the recipe. Thanks so much for your comment

        Reply
    10. Joseph

      January 06, 2020 at 11:38 pm

      I made your vegan bolognese using beyond beef plant based ground and it was phenomenal. I cooked the meat separately and added it into the sauce. This recipe is excellent! Thank you

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • Verna

        January 06, 2020 at 11:51 pm

        Yum sounds great!! Glad you enjoyed the recipe. I enjoy using beyond meat products as well sometimes. Thank you so much for your comment Joseph! have a great day!

        Reply
    11. laura

      November 22, 2018 at 4:25 am

      My kids loved it!!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • The Cheeky Chickpea

        November 22, 2018 at 4:56 am

        OH wonderful! So glad everyone loved it. My grand kids love it too. Thanks so much for your comment Laura?

        Reply
    12. troy

      November 11, 2018 at 4:17 pm

      Looks good, I’ll bet Carl likes it. ?

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • The Cheeky Chickpea

        November 11, 2018 at 4:24 pm

        thanks Troy ? Yes He loves it!

        Reply
    13. Karen

      November 09, 2018 at 7:03 pm

      Looking forward to trying this recipe out!

      ★★★★★

      Reply
      • The Cheeky Chickpea

        November 09, 2018 at 7:10 pm

        Awesome let me know if you do! ? Have a great day Karen, thx for your comment.

        Reply

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    Hi, I’m Verna! Major foodie of all things vegan! Welcome to The Cheeky Chickpea; here, you’ll find hundreds of restaurant-worthy easy vegan recipes. Some oil-free and gluten-free, from veggie-powered plant-based comfort foods to decadent desserts. Lots of tricks and tips up my chef sleeve…Grab your apron let’s get cooking!

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