How Much Mince for Bolognese Per Person?

As a guide, allow 125g of beef mince (for bolognese) per adult (normal appetite).

For a proper spaghetti bolognese, allow about 125g of raw beef mince per person. Because the sauce is bulked out with onions, tinned tomatoes and pasta, a little mince goes a long way — you don’t need as much as you would for burgers or a plain meat dish.

How much to buy

• Light eater: ~100g each
• Normal: ~125g each
• Hungry: ~150g each
• Child: ~75g each

So a 500g pack of mince comfortably feeds four adults as bolognese, with sauce to spare. For a big batch to freeze, simply multiply up.

A tip for flavour

Browning the mince well — in batches so it sears rather than steams — builds far more flavour, which matters most when you’re keeping the meat quantity sensible.

How much beef mince (for bolognese) for 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 people

Portion sizes

• Light: 100g per person
• Normal: 125g per person
• Hungry: 150g per person
• Child: 75g per child

How this is worked out

Bolognese is bulked out with onions, tomatoes and pasta, so you need less meat than for a plain grilled dish. Around 125g of raw mince per adult makes a hearty, meaty sauce without being wasteful.