Mushroom Bolognese Sauce

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Mushroom Bolognese Sauce is insanely hearty and packed with rich flavors. It’s sure to satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and anyone else who loves mushrooms! It’s so good that I continue to make it weekly during the colder months!

mushroom bolognese sauce in a large white bowl and fresh basil

Vegan Bolognese Recipe

Whole30 has made me think outside the box and despite the long list of ingredients that aren’t allowed, I’ve still been able to come up with lots of Whole30 recipes that are so good you would never know they are Whole30 compliant.

This recipe is based off a vegan mushroom bolognese I had at a local restaurant. I was so impressed by how hearty the bolognese sauce was, that I knew I had to recreate it at home so I could enjoy it all the time.

mushroom bolognese sauce in a bowl with gnocchi and a black fork

This recipe comes together with a few fresh ingredients from the produce section of your local grocery story and a few pantry staples that you probably already have on hand.

So What Is Bolognese Sauce?

Bolognese sauce is a thick and hearty sauce, typically made with meat, that can be served over pasta, gnocchi, or enjoyed by itself with a spoon. Rather than using meat, we are using mushrooms to make this bolognese the heartiest and most delicious bolognese you’ll ever have!

two hands holding a bowl of mushroom bolognese sauce

What Is The Difference Between Spaghetti Sauce And Bolognese Sauce?

Spaghetti sauce vs bolognese: the red spaghetti sauce we typically serve over spaghetti (or zoodles) is called marinara sauce. Marinara sauce is a tomato sauce made with tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and herbs. Bolognese is a hearty sauce that is typically made with meat like ground beef or Italian sausage.

This bolognese sauce gets its rich and hearty feel from the mushrooms rather than meat.

It’s honestly amazing how mushrooms can turn into something SO hearty. I mean, you really wouldn’t know that there wasn’t any meat in this sauce.

a bowl with gnocchi and mushroom bolognese with a large grey pot

What Is Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Made Of?

This vegetarian and Whole30 Mushroom Bolognese is made from a combination of pantry staples and fresh produce like dried oregano, bay leaves, crushed red pepper, tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, and portobello mushrooms.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Mushroom Bolognese Sauce is one of my favorite recipes when it gets chilly, and there are so many reasons to love it!

  • It’s great for meal prepping and can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days in an airtight container, it can also be stored frozen.
  • Mushroom Bolognese is my favorite thing to eat when it’s cold outside.
  • Using pantry staples means you’ll most likely already have these ingredients on hand, with the exception of a few produce items.
  • It’s a real crowd pleaser, and everyone from vegans to meat lovers to kids will love this mushroom bolognese. I’ve even heard people who don’t like mushrooms say they love this bolognese recipe!
  • It’s so easy to make. Everything is made in one pot, so the cleanup is simple!

How To Make Bolognese Sauce

Mushroom Bolognese is one of the easiest recipes ever. It all comes together in one pot, so the cleanup is a breeze.

chopped mushrooms in a large pot

1. Prepare the ingredients. Clean the portobello mushrooms, (this video shows you how to do it easily), chop the onion and red pepper.

2. Make the sauce. Heat a large pot over medium heat, and add the onions, garlic, shallots, and dried basil and sautรฉ. Next add the mushrooms, dried basil, oregano, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper, and cook until the mushrooms have cooked down.

Add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, fresh basil, red pepper, and bay leaves. Simmer for 15 minutes, then taste and season with salt and pepper, or more herbs if needed. 

chopped mushrooms that are cooked in a large pot

3. Ready to serve! Remove the bay leaves and serve the bolognese.

Can I Add Meat To This Bolognese Recipe?

You can absolutely add meat to this bolognese recipe. I love adding ground chicken or turkey but you can also add ground beef or Italian sausage. Below is an old photo (from over 2 years ago!!!) when I first made mushroom bolognese with ground turkey.

whole30 recipes mushroom bolognese7

If you’re adding a protein to the bolognese sauce, you’ll want to cook the meat in the pot you are using to make the sauce first. Then transfer it to a plate while you cook the mushrooms. Add the meat back into the pot when you mix in the tomato paste.

Tips For Making Awesome Mushroom Bolognese

  • Sprinkle some parmesan cheese over sauce if you aren’t doing Whole30.
  • Add ground turkey or beef if you want to add some protein.
  • Serve it over zoodles, gnocchi, or pasta.

More Whole30 Recipes

Whole30 Survival Guide

To help guide you through Whole30, I created the best guide ever! I wish I had something like this when I did my first Whole30.

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I wanted it to be beneficial to everyone, so whether this is your 1st or 100th Whole30, you will definitely benefit from this survival guide!

Did I mention it’s FREE? Here’s what’s inside the free Whole30 Survival Guide:

  • 10 amazing Whole30 recipes
  • All my tips, tricks, and secrets to surviving Whole30
  • Whole30 date night ideas
  • My favorite Whole30 products and where to get them
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WANT TO TRY THIS MUSHROOM BOLOGNESE SAUCE RECIPE?

PIN IT to your Whole30 recipes, dinner recipes, or vegetarian recipes board to save it for later!
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mushroom bolognese sauce pinterest long pin

Did you make this recipe? Post a photo on Instagram and tag me @JZEATS or #JZEATS so I can see! Leave a comment below and let me know what you think, too!

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5 from 6 votes

Mushroom Bolognese Sauce

Mushroom Bolognese Sauce is insanely hearty and packed with rich flavors. It's sure to satisfy vegans, vegetarians, and anyone else who loves mushrooms!ย 
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4
Calories: 155
Author: Jordan

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Heat a large heavy bottomed pot over medium heat with olive oil. Add the onions, garlic, shallots, and dried basil and saute for 2-3 minutes until the onions begin to turn translucent. I usually prepare the mushrooms while these cook.
  • Next mix in the mushrooms, dried basil, oregano, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Cover and cook for 2 minutes to help the mushrooms release their juices. Uncover and continue cooking for 8-10 minutes or until the mushrooms have cooked down.
  • Add the tomato paste, diced tomatoes, fresh basil, red pepper, and bay leaves. Simmer for 15 minutes, taste and season with more herbs, salt, and pepper if needed.
  • Remove the bay leaves, garnish with fresh chopped basil, and serve.
If you tried this recipe, please leave a review letting me know how it was!

Video

Notes

*Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.ย 
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Nutrition

Calories: 155kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 372mg | Potassium: 1879mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 20g | Vitamin A: 3690IU | Vitamin C: 104.3mg | Calcium: 100mg | Iron: 3.5mg
Nutrition information is approximate and was calculated using a recipe nutrition label generator.
Tried this recipe?I’d love to see your dish, mention @jzeats or tag #jzeats!
5 from 6 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




8 Comments

  1. This is so delicious, Iโ€™ve been eating it on its own! I added ground turkey so it could be a legit meal. Will make again and again.

  2. 5 stars
    Thanks for sharing this amazing recipe.my family loved it.will be sharing this recipe with my friends.they will like it.

  3. Bronwyn Yupper says:

    5 stars
    Love it after my pilates class. A nice cup of almond milk chai latte afterwards. My Shih Tzu loves it too. More vegan recipes please.

    1. Thank you! I love that your dog enjoys too ๐Ÿ™‚

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  6. chefkreso says:

    Thanks for this recipe, tried it yesterday and loved the flavors so much, my friends were happy too!

    1. Glad you enjoyed it! Ive been making this one a lot lately