Bucatini with Amatriciana Sauce

A rich and flavorful Amatriciana Sauce made with staple ingredients – tomatoes, onion, garlic, olive oil, a hint of red pepper and guanciale, pancetta, prosciutto or bacon. Served over a bed of bucatini, this dish is simple yet tastes and feels special!

Amatriciana Sauce is simple. This classic Italian recipe is made with classic, staple ingredients and requires just a few minutes hands on time.

If you love an incredible homemade pasta dish, don’t miss my Braised Pork Ragu with Pappardelle.

Why You’ll Love Amatriciana Sauce

• It’s a delicious dish to feed a crowd, or your family! You can use the slider in the recipe card to adjust servings.
• This flavorful sauce starts with guanciale, pancetta, prosciutto or bacon (whatever you have on hand) and is sautéed with olive oil to release the flavors.

Onion and garlic are added into the oil, cooked until tender, and then simmered with tomatoes to create the incredible sauce.

Then it’s tossed with bucatini! The subtle texture of the hollow noodles perfectly soak up the tomato sauce, giving you amazing flavor in each and every bite.

Of course, no pasta dish is complete without a sprinkle of fresh grated Parmesan or pecorino romano!

Amatriciana Sauce Ingredients

• Guanciale, Pancetta, Prosciutto or Bacon – They all offer amazing flavor! Guanciale and Pancetta are my favorite, but I’ve used them all. Whatever you have on hand or easy access to will work just fine. I prefer chopped/chunks for that added bite of texture.
• Olive Oil – Extra Virgin is always my go to, but regular works as well. In a pinch you can substitute canola oil or butter.
• Onion – Red or Yellow.
• Garlic – Fresh or minced. I use a jar of minced found in the produce section of your grocer for easier clean up.
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes – This staple ingredient offers a little heat to the dish.
• Peeled Tomatoes – Fresh or canned (I generally used canned, you’ll never notice the difference). Chop or puree for a smoother sauce.

Amatriciana Pasta

• Pasta – Bucatini is preferred here, because it soaks up the sauce, but you can use your favorite pasta or spaghetti. You can also make homemade pasta using my egg noodle recipe.
• Cheese – Fresh grated parmesan or pecorino romano are the perfect garnish that compliments the flavors.

How to Make Amatriciana Sauce

1. Add oil and meat over medium heat and brown.
2. Add onion, garlic and red pepper until tender.
3. Add tomatoes and simmer.

How to Make Amatriciana Pasta

1. Prepare pasta al dente.
2. Strain and toss with sauce.
3. Garnish with parmesan or pecorino.

Tips

• Don’t over-cook your pasta! Regardless of whether it’s packaged or fresh, make sure to cook it al dente, so it has that textured bite.
• This sauce comes together quickly and needs only 30 minutes to simmer. Don’t rush it, but you also don’t need to let it sit for hours, which is what I love about this recipe!
• No matter which type of meat you choose, leave it in bite-sized chunks because the texture is important here.

To Store

Refrigerated covered up to 3 days. To reheat, warm in oven or on the stovetop with a drizzle of olive oil or butter to refresh the sauce.

Wine to Serve With Amatriciana Sauce

A medium bodied red pairs well with Bucatini with Amatriciana Sauce. Try a Sangiovese, Chianti, Montepulciano, Merlot or Tempranillo.