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This vegetarian bolognese recipe is made with mushrooms, carrots, celery, garlic, and onion. A delicious meatless vegetarian “meat” sauce recipe that everyone will enjoy!
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (1) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (1)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-17.jpg)
Bolognese sauce is a classic family favorite dish.
Today I’m sharing a delicious alternative to the traditional bolognese sauce. vegetarian bolognese sauce!
As a vegetarian (and just a carb lover in general), pasta is one of my favorite meals.
It’s a great way to get lots of veggies, pasta, and protein for a well rounded meal.
I love to vegetarian-ize classic recipes like bolognese sauce, vegetarian meatloaf, and million dollar baked ziti.
This vegetarian bolognese recipe is a great meatless substitute for “meat sauce.” It is super satisfying, packed full of good for you ingredients, and tastes amazing!
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (2) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (2)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-14.jpg)
ingredients to make meatless bolognese sauce
- baby bella and golden oak sh*take mushrooms: these really give the bolognese that “meaty” taste
- celery
- carrots
- garlic
- onion: you can use yellow or white onion for this recipe
- diced fire roasted tomatoes: the depth of flavor from fire roasted tomatoes is so important to this recipe, don’t skip this!
- dried basil and oregano: or you can use italian seasoning
- sugar: just a touch to offset the acidity of the tomatoes
- nutritional yeast
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (3) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (3)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese.jpg)
How to make vegetarian bolognese sauce
Step 1: Add the baby bella and sh*take mushrooms to a food processor and either pulse or shred them.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (4) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (4)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-2.jpg)
Process the mushrooms up until they are in minced like texture like the picture below.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (5) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (5)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-3.jpg)
Step 2: Transfer the mushrooms to a skillet, and add the celery, carrots, garlic, and onion to the food processor.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (6) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (6)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-4.jpg)
Mince it all up in the food processor until it is in tiny pieces like the mushrooms.
Once it’s all processed it will look like this picture below.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (7) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (7)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-5.jpg)
Step 3: It’s time to let the veggies sweat and cook the liquid out.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (8) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (8)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-9.jpg)
Cook the minced mushroom, garlic, onion, carrots, and celery with the salt and pepper in a large skillet for around 25 – 30 minutes, until most of the liquid has evaporated and the vegetables have reduced in volume.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (9) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (9)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-10.jpg)
Step 4: Next, puree the fire roasted tomatoes in the food processor until smooth.
The fire roasted tomatoes add a great depth of flavor, and the spices help round it all out.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (10) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (10)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-6.jpg)
The flavor is key to nailing the perfect vegetarian bolognese sauce!
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (11) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (11)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-7.jpg)
I have had a few people tell me that they cannot find fire roasted tomatoes.
I buy mine in the same aisle as the other canned tomatoes. If you are unable to find them, just substitute regular canned diced tomatoes, and adjust the spice amounts as necessary.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (12) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (12)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-11.jpg)
Step 5: Add the tomatoes, basil, oregano, nutritional yeast, and sugar to the vegetables. Stir until hot and it is ready to serve!
The texture of the vegetable bolognese is so meaty.
I was genuinely surprised that it felt to me that I was eating meat sauce!
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (13) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (13)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-12.jpg)
Made this today and LOVED it, thank you so much, it’s such a great idea! I make normal bolognese all the time and even my kids didn’t notice anything different about it.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (14) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (14)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-13.jpg)
Top with fresh chopped parsley if you want for more added flavor.
I like to do this for that little extra garnish and flavor.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (15) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (15)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-15.jpg)
I totally love this recipe! It’s so delicious and my 2 years old picky eater devoured it. Yay happy mom over here
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (16) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (16)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-16.jpg)
If you’re vegetarian and not vegan (like me), parmesan cheese is a great topping for this recipe.
Freshly grated is best!
Otherwise, this bolognese sauce is vegan as written.
You could also top with vegan parmesan or nutritional yeast to keep it dairy free.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (17) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (17)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-20.jpg)
It’s honestly so delicious and so filling.
You won’t miss the meat at all!
For more yummy inspiration, be sure to read our 25 best vegetarian recipes.
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (18) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (18)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-21.jpg)
This recipe makes a huge batch of sauce so it is great to feed a lot of people!
More vegetarian pasta recipes
- Easy Meatless Spaghetti Sauce
- Vegan Creamy Tomato Shells
- Veggie Lover’s Baked Rigatoni
- Easy Crockpot Baked Ziti
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (19) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (19)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-19.jpg)
![Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (20) Best Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe - Build Your Bite (20)](https://i0.wp.com/buildyourbite.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegetarianBolognese-18.jpg)
Vegetarian Bolognese Sauce Recipe
Vegetable Bolognese Recipe
Joy Shull
This vegetable bolognese sauce recipe is made with mushrooms, carrots, celery, garlic, and onion. A delicious meatless vegetarian "meat" sauce recipe.
4.59 from 99 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Total Time 50 minutes mins
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Italian
Servings 8 servings
Calories 85 kcal
Ingredients
- 8 oz sliced baby bella mushrooms rinsed and patted dry
- 5 oz golden oak sh*take mushrooms rinsed and patted dry
- 3 celery stalks ends cut off and cut into 3 pieces each
- 4 medium carrots peeled and cut into 3 sections each
- 10 cloves of garlic
- 1 medium onion quartered
- 4 14.5 oz each cans of diced fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- Spaghetti for serving
Instructions
Add baby bella and sh*take mushrooms to a food processor and either pulse or shred, until minced
Transfer mushrooms to a large skillet or dutch oven
Add celery chunks, carrot chunks, garlic cloves, and onion pieces to the food processor and pulse/shred
Add the celery/carrot/garlic/onion mixture to the mushrooms in the pan
Add 1 teaspoon of salt and ½ teaspoon of pepper to the vegetables
Turn the burner on medium high heat and sautee vegetables for 25-30 minutes, stirring often, until vegetables cook down and most of the liquid evaporates
Puree diced fire roasted tomatoes in the food processor until smooth
Add the pureed tomatoes to the vegetables along with the basil, oregano, nutritional yeast, and sugar
Taste and add any seasonings if necessary (if it tastes too acidic, add a little more sugar as necessary)
Heat until hot throughout, then serve
Serve over spaghetti and topped with parmesan cheese, if desired
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1gCalories: 85kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 5gFat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 43mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5g
Tried this recipe? Tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite!Let us know how it was!