Women are like a good bottle of wine. We get better with age.
It took me like a decade or two to finally feel completely comfortable in my skin. To be happy with myself on the inside and out. To feel confident. It’s so cliché but we really do learn from the experiences in our lives. We learn, we grow, we become better people.
Today’s Sunday Supper is an extra special one because we are celebrating 
I hope I’m this gorgeous at 50.
And what better recipe to share with you today than my Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce with Pappardelle Pasta.
With this severely cold winter and chilling winds that the Midwest is experiencing this year just about the only things getting me through are Netflix, running, good food and a glass of wine.
I’ve never felt cold weather like this before and some days, when I can, I just stay inside because it’s too darn cold to leave the house. On a day that was filled with running countless errands (grocery store, post office, etc.) and taking my daughter to ballet, I came home to the deliciously wonderful smell of this homemade Bolognese sauce.
Let me tell you, after being out and about in the cold all day, this was heaven on earth. The smell was just intoxicating.
There’s something about a slow cooked homemade Bolognese sauce. The slow cooking process really allows the flavors to develop, meld together and creates an incredible pairing for pasta and crusty bread. If you’ve never made a slow cooked Bolognese sauce, you need to try this. This is perfect for a dinner party because it makes enough for 6-8 people and, the best part, the slow cooker does all the work for you! My secret ingredient for this Bolognese sauce was adding anchovy paste.
Might sound weird, but it adds a wonderful flavor and you can use less salt. Don’t knock it ’til you’ve tried it. And if you don’t own a slow cooker, what are you waiting for? You need to get one!
So, here’s to Hearty Burgundy and many more years to come!
Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce with Pappardelle for a Gallo #SundaySupper
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 large carrot finely chopped
- 2-3 celery stalks finely chopped
- 1 medium sized yellow onion finely chopped
- a pinch of Kosher salt and fresh cracked black pepper
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 heaping cup Hearty Burgundy from Gallo you could even do 3/4 cup
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- Two 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 pound Spicy Italian sausage; casings removed and chopped
- Cooked Pappardelle Pasta for serving
- Freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, carrots, celery and onions. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook about 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste, anchovy paste, thyme and nutmeg, and continue cooking until the vegetables have softened and started to brown, for about 2 minutes. Deglaze with the Gallo Hearty Burgundy wine, pulling up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Season with just a touch more salt and pepper if needed.
- Carefully pour into the slow cooker. Stir in the heavy cream, tomatoes and red chili pepper flakes. Using your hands, crumble in the uncooked ground beef and Italian sausage pieces and stir the meat well so as to incorporate into the sauce. Make sure there are no large clumps of meat in the sauce. Cover and cook on high for 4 to 6 hours or on low for 8 to 10 hours. Skim the accumulated grease from the surface before serving.
- Serve over pasta and garnish with freshly grated parmesan cheese and some parsley and enjoy with a glass of the Hearty Burgundy.
Recipe adapted from the 
Today is all about celebrating Gallo’s 
- Fruity Burgundy Sangria by Shockingly Delicious
- Beef Burgundy in Puff Pastry by Webicurean
- Beef Burgundy Pasta by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Burgundy Mushroom Sauce over Beef by The Dinner-Mom
- Classic Coq au Vin by Foxes Love Lemons
- Cornish Beef Pasty with Burgundy Gravy by Neighborfood
- Hearty Burgundy and Chocolate Chili by Peanut Butter and Peppers
- Hearty Burgundy Beef Stew by Yours And Mine Are Ours
- Majestic Burgundy Mushrooms & Cookie Cups with Burgundy Cream by NinjaBaking.com
- Mushroom Bolognese Kale Lasagna by Alida’s Kitchen
- Oeufs en Meurette by Curious Cuisiniere
- Pollo Alla Cacciatorra (Hunter-Style Chicken) by The Foodie Army Wife
- Red Wine Braised Short Ribs with Polenta by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Roasted Salmon with Burgundy-Balsamic Glaze by girlichef
- Sausage & Mushroom Ragu by The Messy Baker
- Sausages in Burgundy Sauce with Mushrooms by Soni’s Food
- Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce with Pappardelle by Hip Foodie Mom
- Slow Cooker Hearty Burgundy Wine Pork Roast by Family Foodie
- Berry Burgundy Sorbet by Magnolia Days
- Red Wine Cherry Chocolate Bars by The Not So Cheesy Kitchen
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on Twitter today! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm EST. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy! You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.
Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Gallo Family Vineyards via Sunday Supper, LLC. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author, and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Gallo Family Vineyards.
You are going to be gorgeous at 50, Alice. And yes, if we learn from our experiences, women do get better with time like wine…Speaking of gorgeous, love this pasta with Bolognese sauce. I’ve clipped the recipe for use in my brand new slow cooker.
Thank you, Kim!! you will love this . . please let me know if you make this. . I’d love to hear how you like it!
Looking good Alice! I know for a fact you’ll still be beautiful & vibrant at the age of 50. Remember those Asian genes 😉 But in all seriousness, a giant pot of delicious bolognese, a big flurry of cold winter & red wine =food heaven!
haha, thanks so much Alice! yes, thank God for the Asian genes!!
I can only imagine how great this smells as it is slow-cooking for hours. I bet you were so hungry by the time it was done. It’s on my to-make list for sure.
Thank you, Renee . . this really was fabulous. . I hope you try it! I wish we could try every single dish this week! and I loved your sorbet!!!
What a gorgeous bolognese sauce! Perfect for entertaining and for these cold winter days. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you, Marjory! Cheers!
Time to pick up some anchovy paste! Thank goodness I have a wee bit of Hearty Burgundy left as this looks like perfect comfort food for this wintry day! How I love slow cooked meals…and yours looks terrific!
Thanks so much Liz! and re: the anchovy paste, I know it sounds odd but I used a lot less salt and I think this was fabulous! thank you!!
Stunning photos! I also chuckled at your measurement of 1/2 heaping cup. I say just go for 3/4 cup and call it a day 🙂 Love the Pappardelle pasta too.
haha. . thank you, Renee! I ended up using 3/4 cup! 🙂 thank you!
I agreed with your first sentence 100%.
Your pasta looks so hearty and delicious! Love the beautiful red color! Love this recipe!
Fifty is only a number when it comes to a woman’s age, Alice. A big number, but still only a number! lol !
Love that the flavor in this develops in the slow cooker. I would pile several ladles of this on my noodles! And your comment about looking gorgeous at 50? Hilarious.
Yes, I agree we all get better with age 🙂
Your Bolognese sauce is intriguing with the addition of anchovy paste in it. I will have to give it a try!!!
I like how you think. It is so true — we do get better with age! I adore a good meaty sauce over pappardelle and this recipe is just fantastic. Looking forward to one day breaking bread with you!
I also look forward to the day we can break bread and meet! Thank you so much Isabel! I’m trying to get to the Food and Wine conference. . it’s just tricky. . it’s the weekend before we go to CA for our family vacation!
This looks delicious, Alice – pinning this one!
Stunning pictures! This sauce looks amazing!
Great recipe! Everyone should have at least one (or five) crockpots in their kitchen. I love making pasta sauces in them – the whole house smells amazing!
Heck yes, we get better with age. It is one gorgeous bottle of wine. Alice, I love this sauce. 1. It looks wicked flavorful. 2. It’s made in a slow cooker–um, love me some easy recipes. Pinned.
I love that opening quote of your post. Perfect 🙂
Pappardelle is my favorite kind of pasta, there’s just something about it that makes it taste better to me than any other variety.
I really need to get some anchovy paste. I’ve just started becoming obsessed with fish sauce, so I’m sure anchovy paste would be right up my alley too. Bring on the funk!
haha, I don’t remember now exactly where I saw it or tried it but someone used it in a pasta dish and it was excellent!
FYI – the new Food52 contest announced this morning is “Your Best Anchovies”!
http://food52.com/contests/354-your-best-anchovies
You should definitely enter this recipe 🙂
Thanks Lori! I did! 🙂
Not only am I impressed with how delicious this sauce is (and so easy in the slow cooker – smart!), but I am beyond impressed with how beautiful your photos are. This kind of thing is tricky to photograph, and you nailed it!
Ah, thanks so much Alida! 🙂
Oooh this looks perfectly comforting on a cold winter night and I love the delicious flavors you’ve got going here!Great sauce and great recipe Alice!
Thank you, Soni!
I’m with the others–I have no doubt you’ll still look great at 50! Isn’t the crock pot an amazing invention? One of my favorite things is coming home after a long day and having hot meal waiting in the crock pot!
Girl, if only I looked 1/10th as good as you look and had 10% of your energy level! You’re truly one of the most fabulous women I know! And you ARE only going to get better with age, just like this wine. Which I wish I had a bottle of right now to drink. Along with a giant bowl of your ah-may-zing bolognese. And if only we were eating and drinking together, sharing a laugh. That’d be perfect, eh?
You will absolutely look gorgeous at 50, what are you talking about?! Amongst other gorgeous things is your bolognese sauce. Wow, let me just take a dive face first into that.
Alice this Bolognese looks simply divine! I love that it’s prepared in the slow cooker. I’m always looking for more ways to utilize my slow cooker. And I love wine with any sauce. And anchovies. Yum! Ok, I’m so hungry now. 🙂 Happy Tuesday! Karista
I just found out I have a slow cooker kicking around in my house, and am looking for as many recipes as I can to make use of it. This looks SO good!
Absolutely love your pictures. I’m sold. Never made bolognese, definitely thought about it though…love Sunday supers. Even nicer when you can throw it in a slow cooker, who would ever complain to that, eh? Thanks for sharing! ohh, and the wine does look fabulous! Today is National Drink Wine day! 🙂
This sauce looks AMAZING!!