If you’ve ever stood in the meat aisle lately and side-eyed the price of ground beef, you’re not alone. That’s how I ended up making this basic a$$ spaghetti — with something I picked up at Boone’s Butcher Shop, (Bardstown, Kentucky) called “bork.”

What is Spaghetti Bolognese?

Let’s start simple. Spaghetti Bolognese is a comfort classic — spaghetti noodles topped with a slow-simmered tomato-based sauce full of savory flavor, ground meat, garlic, and herbs. Traditionally, it’s made with beef or a mix of beef and pork for richness and balance.

What is “Bork”?

“Bork” is a 50/50 mix of beef and pork — half and half, ground together. The name might make you laugh (it did me too), but this combo brings serious flavor for a fraction of the cost. With the cost of beef up more than 25% in the last few years (depending on the cut and market), bork is an easy, affordable substitute that still gives that meaty, satisfying bite we crave.

Why Cook with Bork?

Besides stretching your grocery dollars, bork adds depth. Pork’s natural fat content lends the sauce body and flavor, while beef lends it a hearty and familiar texture.

Here are a few tips for cooking with bork:

• Don’t overcook it. Bork cooks fast — especially the pork part — so medium heat is your friend.
• Drain wisely. You’ll get a bit more fat than with lean beef. Drain excess fat.
• Season with balance. Because pork is sweeter, balance with salt, herbs (like oregano and basil), and acid (think tomatoes or a splash of wine).
• Use it anywhere you’d use ground beef. Chili, tacos, meatballs, or casseroles — bork can handle it all.

The Basic A$$ Spaghetti

To make it, I sautéed onion and garlic, browned my bork, added crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, a splash of red wine (optional but recommended), and simmered it down. (Or you can just add a basic a$$ jar of your favorite premade sauce to the bork). Tossed it over spaghetti, sprinkled with parm, and called it dinner.
Nothing fancy — just good, simple, and real.

Because at the end of the day, “basic” doesn’t mean boring. It means accessible, doable, and straight-up delicious.