Beef Ragu is a thick and hearty tomato based sauce that is filled with tender shredded beef, a little red wine, and herbs & spices. It is all slow cooked together over low heat for 2.5 hours until the beef just falls apart.
It is perfect served over pappardelle or tagliatelle pasta. This dinner recipe is worthy of company but also makes a great meal prep to eat through the week!
If you are craving a pasta dish but don’t have 2 ½ hours to invest in a sauce, check out these easier pasta sauce recipes:
Or if you are looking for something without meat, this Homemade Marinara recipe is amazing!
Ragu
A ragu is a traditional Italian dish made with ground meat, onions, tomato puree, and wine and served over pasta. This recipe is exactly that with the exception of the ground meat, we are using a whole chuck roast that shreds into tender pieces in this ragu recipe.
Ingredients
This is a pretty straightforward recipe, only calling for easy to find ingredients, a lot of which you probably already have in your kitchen:
- Chuck Roast
- olive oil
- sugar, salt and pepper
- onion
- tomato paste
- dried basil, fennel seed, red pepper flakes, bay leaf
- good canned crushed tomatoes in heavy puree
- red wine
- balsamic vinegar
Beef
When you are choosing a chuck roast for this recipe make sure to choose a nicely marbled roast that doesn’t have too many large chunks of white fat. A “choice” grade chuck roast is perfectly fine for this recipe, no need to get “prime”.
Wine
Select a red wine that you would like to drink that has a deep rich flavor. Something like a Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, or Zin. This is not the time for a delicate wine like Pinot Noir or a sweet wine like port.
Tomatoes
Since the canned crushed tomatoes are the main base for this ragu you want to make sure and buy a high quality brand- Cento, Di Napoli or Muir Glen are all great!
Now is not the time to save $0.75 on store brand crushed tomatoes. Save those for your chili!
How to Make Beef Ragu
Just a few steps and a couple hours and you will have a deep and rich Beef Ragu to serve over pasta! Let’s get started:
- Cut your chuck roast into 3-4 large pieces. Season with salt and pepper.
- grab a large glazed cast iron pot or braising pot (something like a le Creuset or Lodge pot is perfect!). Set it over medium heat, add the oil. Brown the chuck roast pieces on two sides. Remove from the pan and set aside.
- Add the onions to the pot and saute for 10-15 minutes until softened. Stir in the tomato paste, garlic cloves, fennel seed, dried basil, and red pepper flakes, warm for 2 mins.
- Deglaze the bottom of the pot with the red wine.
- Add in the tomatoes, water sugar, bay leaf, balsamic and water give it a stir. Add the beef back to the pot.
- Bring the pot to a boil over medium high heat. Then turn to low and pop the lid on. Set a timer for 2 hours and 30 minutes.
Remove the beef from the pot and shred it with two forks. Set aside.
Skim any grease off the top of the sauce and discard. Turn the heat to medium and simmer the tomato sauce for about 5-10 minutes so it will thicken a little.
Remove the bay leaf and then add the shredded beef to the pot. Turn the heat off. Taste for additional seasonings.
Serving
Serve this hearty Beef Ragu over pasta topped with a dollop of whole milk ricotta cheese and a sprinkle of parmesan or romano cheese!
A side salad like caesar and some warm crusty bread are perfect accompaniments!
Which Pasta To Use with Ragu
Since this is such a hearty pasta you want to make sure you use a pasta that will stand up to the sauce. And if you are feeling really ambitious you can make your own pasta! But if you are up for store bought, I recommend using:
- pappardelle
- tagliatelle
- mafaldine
- rigatoni
Make Ahead
This recipe is like a good stew or chili, it gets better with time. So if you can swing it to make it a day or two ahead, I highly recommend it! Prepare it completely and then let it cool, store it in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Reheat on the stove top over medium heat.
Beef Ragu Recipe
Beef Ragu
Equipment
- Braising Pot or Glazed Cast Iron Pot or Heavy Bottom Pot
Ingredients
- 2 lb chuck roast , cut into 2-3 pieces large fat pieces trimmed, seasoned with salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large yellow or white onion, diced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tsp dried basil
- ½ tsp fennel seed
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (lessen to a pinch if you don't want any "heat")
- 1 cup good red wine (cabernet, merlot, malbec or zin will work)
- 28 oz canned (good!!) crushed tomatoes in heavy puree
- ½ cup water
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 tsp balsamic vinegar
Serving
- pasta – tagliatelle, pappardelle, mafaldine, or rigatoni
- whole ricotta cheese *optional
- shredded parmesan or romano cheese
Instructions
- In a large heavy bottom pot, like a Le Crueset or Lodge cast iron pot, warm the olive oil over medium heat. Brown the chunks of beef on two sides. Then set the beef on clean plate.
- Lower heat to medium low, add the onions to the pot and saute for about 10-15 minutes until they are softened. Add the tomato paste, garlic, dried basil, fennel seeds, and red pepper flakes. Warm through for about 2-3 minutes.
- Deglaze the pot by pouring in the cup of red wine. Scrape up any browned bits for the bottom of the pot.
- Add the canned tomatoes, water, sugar, bay leaf and balsamic. Give it a good stir and then add the beef back to the pot. Bring to a boil over medium high heat.
- Lower the heat to low and pop the lid on, simmer for 2.5 hours.
- Remove the beef from the sauce and shred. Skim any grease from the top of the sauce, then bring the sauce to a simmer over medium heat for 5-10 minutes to thicken slightly. Remove the bay leaf!
- Add the shredded beef back to the sauce. Give it a good stir and then remove from the heat.
Serving
- Boil the pasta to al dente, drain or just pull out of the cooking water. Toss the noodles in the ragu. Serve topped with a dollop of whole milk ricotta and a sprinkle of parmesan or romano cheese.
If nutrition facts are provided they are calculated as an estimate to the best of our knowledge.
Nobody says
Would kind of love this same recipe but for a pressure cooker/instant pot, might just try it out in one anyways
Susie Weinrich says
There will be one coming for the Instant Pot in the next couple months! Stay tuned!
Susie Weinrich says
There will be one coming for the Instant Pot in the next couple months. Stay tuned!!
Maddie says
I let this simmer on the stove for Sunday dinner and it was perfection! It was like eating at an Italian restaurant.