Ground Bison Spaghetti Recipe with a Spicy Red Bolognese
This ground bison spaghetti recipe is made with lean bison, a flavorful red sauce (that’s surprisingly easy to make), and is set atop classic spaghetti noodles. It’s a crowd pleaser and sure to become a family favorite!
Servings: 4
Calories: 632kcal
Equipment
- 1 large skillet
- 1 deep pot
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground bison or beef, see notes below
- 12 oz spaghetti ½-3/4 of a standard 16 oz box
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- ⅓ cup carrots minced
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 jar marinara sauce 24 oz
- 2 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon salt and pepper
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil with a hefty handful of salt. Add the spaghetti and cook until al-dente.
- Add the ground bison to a large skillet over medium heat, and break it up as it cooks (this is easiest to do with a wooden spoon). Once the meat is almost browned but still a little pink, add the minced carrots and garlic. Saute until fragrant and softened (about 3-4 minutes).
- Add the tomato paste, marinara sauce, spices, and bay leaves to the bison. Mix to combine. Cover and let simmer for 15-20 minutes.
- Once the sauce is done, remove the bay leaves. Serve over the spaghetti and enjoy with fresh grated parmesan cheese!
Video
Notes
Substitutions
Pasta: Use any pasta you like! Bucatini is nearly the same as spaghetti.
Ground bison: You can use ground beef but will need to drain the fat before adding in the carrots and garlic.
Marinara: Any Italian-flavored marinara will do.
Garlic: If using canned, minced garlic, use 4 tablespoon in place of garlic cloves.
Common Questions
What is al dente? This is a term to describe when the pasta is cooked perfectly. It should be cooked but still firm when bitten. It shouldn't crunch but it also shouldn't melt apart in your mouth.
Can I make this in a slow cooker? Yup, to make this in the slow cooker, brown the beef and add the garlic and carrots. Then add everything to a slow cooker and let simmer on low for 3-4 hours. Mix in your pasta with the bolognese meat sauce just before serving.
See the post for additional substitution options and storage notes.
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
Nutrition
Calories: 632kcal | Carbohydrates: 78g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 1688mg | Potassium: 1207mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 2760IU | Vitamin C: 15mg | Calcium: 108mg | Iron: 7mg