• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Start Here
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact

Happy Food, Healthy Life logo

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • Recipe Index
  • About
  • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • Recipe Index
    • About
    • Contact
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Vegan Main Dish Recipes

    Published: Jul 17, 2019 · Modified: Nov 23, 2021 · This post may contain affiliate links

    One-Pot Classic Mushroom Vegan Bolognese Sauce

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe

    This ultra-versatile Vegan Bolognese Sauce recipe is perfect for either a busy weeknight dinner or a fancy special occasion meal. Either way, it's sure to impress whoever you're set to feed it to!

    VEGAN BOLOGNESE SAUCE

    What is bolognese?

    Let's just get that right out of the way. Is it a spaghetti sauce? Is it a meat sauce? 

    Traditionally, yes, it's more than just a marinara sauce with herbs. It generally is chunky and meaty and often with a wine added into the sauce.

    The thing is - I'm far far from traditional, and although I'm going to give you my take on a bolognese, it's definitely going to veer a little bit off the path of what you'd call traditional.

    When I very first began my vegan journey and I wanted to substitute ground beef in a recipe, I would just pick up a bag of soy crumbles from the freezer aisle, and while that was oh so convenient, it just wasn't the healthiest of options.

    Now I've found that I can easily replace the protein in sauces with mushrooms, lentils, beans, and quinoa. In this instance, we're depending heavily on delicious mushrooms that cook down to perfection.

    The green peppers also add a texture and bite to the sauce that you are sure to love.

    vegan bolognese

    Is bolognese sauce supposed to be thick?

    Yes yes yes! That is one of the main characteristics of a bolognese sauce. My vegan bolognese is super chunky and thick - it sticks right to the noodles without making a messy puddle at the bottom of the your plate. You know what I'm talking about, and it's not pretty! 

    You do not have to worry about that with this sauce.

    What does bolognese sauce taste like?

    Vegan bolognese sauce is going to be a bit less tomato-y than your traditional spaghetti sauce because of all the added vegetables, spices, and extra yummies!

    Oh and let's talk about those yummies real quick because you definitely don't want to skip them...

    How do you sweeten bolognese sauce?

    There are multiple ways to sweeten your sauce. A sweet wine. Sweet vegetables. Or you could use brown sugar like I do in my recipe. I love the flavor it adds. And then pair it with the richness of the butter and you have a delicious marriage of richness in your mouth.

    So something this fancy... it must be difficult to make, right?

    Oh girl, you know I wouldn't do that to you. I'm all about gettin' you killer vegan recipes on your dinner table in no time. The great thing about this one is you can let it simmer for 15 minutes if you're short on time. Or you can let it go for a full hour if you aren't crunched for time like I normally am. The longer it simmers, the more intwined the flavors will become. You will not be sorry!

    Let me tell you just how easy it is to make vegan bolognese sauce.

    1. In a large saucepan on medium heat, saute mushrooms and green pepper until cooked and liquids have been released from the mushrooms, about 10 minutes.
    2. Once cooked through, add all remaining ingredients - vegetable bouillon cube, crushed tomatoes, butter, brown sugar, dried basil, dried oregano, tomato paste, garlic salt, and bay leaves. 
    3. Cover and simmer for at least 15 minutes, and up to an hour, stirring occasionally.
    4. Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.
    5. Serve over cooked pasta.
    Vegan Mushroom Bolognese

    NOW THAT YOU KNOW HOW TO MAKE VEGAN BOLOGNESE, IT’S TIME TO SNAP A PIC AND LOAD IT ONTO INSTAGRAM (TAGGING ME OF COURSE @HAPPYFOODHOLLY) SO I CAN SHARE YOUR CREATION!

    Vegan Mushroom Bolognese

    VEGAN BOLOGNESE

    This ultra-versatile Vegan Bolognese Sauce recipe is perfect for either a busy weeknight dinner or a fancy special occasion meal. Either way, it's sure to impress whoever you're set to feed it to!
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Cuisine: Italian
    Diet: Vegan
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Calories: 1kcal
    Author: Holly

    Ingredients

    • 8 oz mushrooms finely chopped
    • 1 green pepper finely chopped
    • 1 vegetable stock bouillon cube
    • 2 28-ounce cans crushed tomatoes
    • 2 Tablespoons vegan butter
    • 2 Tablespoons brown sugar
    • 1 Tablespoon dried basil
    • 1 Tablespoon dried oregano
    • 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 teaspoon garlic salt
    • 2 bay leaves
    • 16 ounces cooked pasta such as spaghetti or rotini

    Instructions

    • In a large saucepan on medium heat, saute mushrooms and green pepper until cooked and liquids have been released from the mushrooms, about 10 minutes.
    • Once cooked through, add all remaining ingredients, except for the pasta.
    • Cover and simmer for at least 15 minutes, and up to an hour, stirring occasionally.
    • Taste and adjust seasoning accordingly.
    • Serve over cooked pasta.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1kcal
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @HappyFoodHolly or tag #HappyFoodHealthyLife!
    This Vegan Bolognese Sauce makes a perfect weeknight meal or fancy date night in meal for a special occasion - it's that good!
    « SWEET & SALTY CROCK POT HEALTHY TRAIL MIX
    MEATLESS VEGAN LOBSTER ROLL {VIDEO} »

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, Holly! I’m so happy you’re here. Why don’t you pull up a chair and a mug of whatever goodness you’ve got. I’m most likely sippin’ on coffee or maybe a glass of wine, and I’m definitely in a pair of sweats and fuzzy socks. Always comfy. Always real.

    More about me

    Popular Recipes


    • Plant-Based Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • Quick Vegan Tofu Scramble (Vegan Scrambled Eggs!)
    • The Best Southern Vegan Biscuit Recipe
    • The Easiest (and Best!) Vegan Meatloaf

    Guess What?

    Cooking Doesn't Have to be Hard

    I know the idea of vegan cooking and baking can be uber intimidating, but I swear I gotcho back! I strive to make all my recipes incredibly simple and easy to follow. You'll be comfortable whipping up delicious plant-based foods in no time!

    Start Here

    Seasonal Recipes


    • Healthy Frappuccino Recipe {Vegan!}
    • Vegan "Chicken" Salad Sandwiches
    • Blueberry & Peach Salsa
    • VEGETARIAN SLOPPY JOES

    Footer

    • Recipe Index
    • Work With Me
    • Contact Me
    • About
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
    • Twitter

    Copyright ©2022, Happy Food, Healthy Life. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy