Baked Bean Bolognese
A bolognese is always a midweek hero, and this one comes with a thrifty twist! By adding in a tin of baked beans, we’ve made a smaller amount of beef mince stretch a little further. Perfect for feeding the whole family, you can hide loads of veggies in the rich, tomatoey sauce, and use up any kind of dried pasta that you’ve got stashed away in your cupboards. Best of all, it’s on the table in just 40 minutes!
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NutritionPer Serving
- Calories438
- Carbs66g
- Protein26g
- Fat4.4g
- Saturates1.5g
- Sugars20g
For the full list of ingredients and comprehensive instructions, please see the recipe card below. Before you scroll, there’s important stuff in the blurb!
This recipe may sound strange, but this Baked Bean Bolognese really is delicious and purse-friendly!
Buying low fat meat can be expensive, especially if you’re feeding the whole family, but with a few clever swaps you can make a small amount of meat go further.
Adding the baked beans along with plenty of vegetables means you can make 400g of mince beef serve 4 people instead of just 2! Plus it would taste just as delicious on a jacket potato the next day, so that’s lunch sorted!
As well as being a super thrifty meal, our Baked Bean Bolognese is a great slimming alternative to a traditional bolognese, whether you’re counting calories or following Weight Watchers.
What diets is this Baked Bean Bolognese suitable for?
This Baked Bean Bolognese recipe can be made gluten free as long as you swap out the following ingredients for gluten free versions;
- Dried pasta
- Worcestershire sauce
- Beef stock cube
It can also be made vegetarian as long as you swap out the following ingredients for vegetarian versions;
- 5% beef mince. Swap for a meat free alternative or more diced mushrooms.
- Worcestershire sauce. Use a vegetarian Worcestershire sauce or Henderson’s Relish.
Please make sure to double or triple check all of your ingredients if you’re cooking for people with allergies.
Do you need any special ingredients to make Baked Bean Bolognese?
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No special ingredients are required for this recipe.
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‘We loved this meal, full of flavours and very filling. Plus added bonus that you can batch it, means we have a yummy dinner that simply needs warming up. 😋’
How many calories are in this Baked Bean Bolognese?
There are 438 calories per portion in this Baked Bean Bolognese, which means it falls into our Weekly Indulgence category.
This Baked Bean Bolognese is perfect if you’re following a calorie controlled diet and fits well with any one of the major diet plans such as Weight Watchers.
As a guide, an average man needs around 2,500kcal (10,500kJ) a day to maintain a healthy body weight. For an average woman, that figure is around 2,000kcal (8,400kJ) a day. Obviously, if your goal is to lose weight then you might want to adjust these slightly! You can read more about these recommendations on the NHS website.
Step 1
Heat two non-stick pans and spray liberally with low-calorie cooking spray. Add your mince to one pan and fry until browned on all sides. Add the vegetables and garlic to the second pan and fry. This should take around 5 minutes.
Step 2
Once the mince is browned, add the vegetables and continue to sauté. Crumble the beef stock cube over and add salt and pepper. Continue to sauté until the vegetables are soft.
Step 3
Add the tomato puree, tomato passata, chopped tomatoes and baked beans and mix well. Simmer for five minutes.
Step 4
Add the mustard powder, italian herbs and Worcestershire sauce and simmer for a further 10 minutes. While the bolognese simmers, cook the pasta according to packet instructions (usually around 10-12 minutes in a pan of boiling salted water).
Step 5
Serve the bolognese on top of the pasta. Nom, nom, nom!
What could I serve alongside this Baked Bean Bolognese?
The following recipes would go great with our Baked Bean Bolognese recipe:
How do you know when Baked Bean Bolognese is cooked?
Cook the pasta according to the instructions on the packet usually dried pasta is cooked between 10-12 minutes.
Standard advice here in the UK is to cook food until it has reached 70°C and stayed at that temperature for 2 minutes. This is to keep your family safe.
How long can you keep Baked Bean Bolognese in the fridge?
Once you’ve put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours.
If you allow any leftovers to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Baked Bean Bolognese in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.
Can I freeze Baked Bean Bolognese?
Yes can freeze the beef mince and baked bean sauce but we do not recommend freezing the pasta. If you do freeze your sauce please remember to do the following;
- Freeze it as soon as it is cold enough.
- Use a container or bag that is suitable for freezing.
Don’t forget to add a label with what it is, and on what date you put it in the freezer!
How do I reheat Baked Bean Bolognese?
From chilled: Place in a microwave proof container with loosely fitting lid and heat for 4-7 minutes until piping hot.
From frozen: Allow to defrost, and heat covered in the microwave for 3-5 minutes then stir. Cook for a further 5-7 minutes until piping hot.
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Baked Bean Bolognese
Our thrifty, slimming friendly Baked Bean Bolognese is a great way to feed the whole family and is perfect whether you’re counting calories or following Weight Watchers.
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Prep Time
10 MINS
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Cook Time
30 MINS
- KCals 438
- Carbs 66G
Looking for Slimming World Syns or Weight Watchers (WW) Points?
With ever-changing plans and point calculations, we have made the decision to remove WW Points from the website - referring to your individual plan or advice from your consultant is always going to give the most accurate results.
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Instructions
- Heat two non-stick pans and spray liberally with low-calorie cooking spray. Add your mince to one pan and fry until browned on all sides. Add the vegetables and garlic to the second pan and fry. This should take around 5 minutes.
- Once the mince is browned, add the vegetables and continue to sauté. Crumble the beef stock cube over and add salt and pepper. Continue to sauté until the vegetables are soft.
- Add the tomato puree, tomato passata, chopped tomatoes and baked beans and mix well. Simmer for five minutes.
- Add the mustard powder, italian herbs and Worcestershire sauce and simmer for a further 10 minutes. While the bolognese simmers, cook the pasta according to packet instructions (usually around 10-12 minutes in a pan of boiling salted water).
- Serve the bolognese on top of the pasta. Nom, nom, nom!
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17 comments
See what others have to say
ValerieThursday 1st February 2024
Can you do this in the slow cooker pleade
Cheryl LloydSunday 4th February 2024
This article has some really useful advice that might be helpful 😊
https://pinchofnom.com/how-to-convert-recipes-to-a-slow-cooker/
Catherine MurphySunday 22nd January 2023
Have made this delicious dish many times on the hob. Just bought a ninja foodi will it work in that?
HollyMonday 23rd January 2023
Hey Catherine, we have a conversion guide for the Instant Pot HERE which would be transferable for your Ninja, hope that helps!
CharlotteWednesday 10th February 2021
Really nice recipe for the whole family, I grate the courgette and carrots and add some slices of smoked bacon to mine to add a bit of a change of flavour. Changes the calories obviously also but nice to mix it up a bit.
HollyWednesday 10th February 2021
Hey Charlotte, so glad to hear you enjoyed the Baked Bean Bolognese!
ChrisTuesday 25th February 2020
Please note re swapping out ingredients for a vegetarian version that Worcestershire Sauce is not veggie either! It contains anchovies. You can buy a veggie version online called Biona Organic Worcester Sauce.
Steve CowderoyMonday 18th May 2020
Hi Chris, thanks for getting in touch with us. The website has been amended to state the changes that would need to be made when swapping ingredients out for vegetarians. Hope this helps.
Rosamund ClarkeThursday 20th June 2019
I’d be infuriated if I had to pay £5 for 500gms 5% fat minced beef but I don’t. I bought 500gms this morning at Lidl for £2.99, Aldi’s is £3.30. Also, you didn’t mention it but I make a very similar recipe and grate both carrots and cougettes.
LisaMonday 17th April 2017
Making this for tea tonight, looks as if there will be loads left over so I plan to freeze some portions to use as lunches whilst at work
KateThursday 20th April 2017
Hi Lisa
Yes, it’s great for freezing and using for lunches
MargaretFriday 24th March 2017
I always make my bolognese with soy mince or Quorn mince or small green lentils – or a mixture of both. Same basis for a delicious shepherd’s pie and a lasagne. Meat eaters seem to be perfectly happy with the result.
KateSaturday 25th March 2017
Hi Margaret
What a good idea
AnitaThursday 23rd March 2017
Have you tried Icelands frozen 5per cent beef mince. It’s around £5-6 for 1kilo. You can cook from frozen.
KateThursday 23rd March 2017
Hi Anita
We’ve not tried it, but thanks for the tip
NicolaSunday 12th February 2017
I’ve made this a few times & I absolutely love it, even convinced my Mum to try it & she loves it too.
KateSunday 12th February 2017
Hi Nicola
Glad you like it. It’s a great way to make it go that little bit further
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