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Home » Recipes » 30 Minute Meals

Bucatini All’ Amatriciana

Published: Aug 5, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

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It’s easy to make Authentic Bucatini all’ Amatriciana. You only need a few simple ingredients to make one of my favorite classic Italian pasta dish, but the results yield amazing flavor that your family will love.

bucatini all' amatriciana in a white bowl


 

Made with crushed tomatoes (San Marzano Tomatoes), guanciale, pecorino cheese, and red pepper flakes.

close up of bucatini all amatriciana in a white bowl

You can have my Amatriciana Recipe on your dinner table in less than 20 minutes which makes one of Italy’s classic pastas perfect for a weeknight dinner.

This is one of my favorite bucatini recipes, another favorite is my Bucatini with Blackened Salmon.

Table of Contents:
  • Ingredients needed to make Bucatini all’ Amatriciana
  • How do I make Bucatini all’ Amatriciana?
  • Recipe FAQ’s
  • More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love!
  • Bucatini All’ Amatriciana

Ingredients needed to make Bucatini all’ Amatriciana

ingredients to make bucatini all' amatriciana

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to my make Bucatini all’ Amatriciana Recipe. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

  • Bucatini – this thick, hollow spaghetti-like shape is perfect for soaking up the deliciousness of the amatriciana sauce. Alternatively, you can use perciatelli, spaghetti or penne.
  • Tomatoes – San Marzano tomatoes are always the best choice for tomato sauces and San Marzano tomatoes will only be available as whole tomatoes in juice; if they’re already crushed they’re not San Marzano. You can crush the tomatoes by hand for a rustic look, or in a food processor for a silky smooth sauce.
  • Guanciale –is cured pork jowl (pork cheek) and is always the first choice for this dish! Guanciale is fattier than pancetta (from the belly) but pancetta makes a good substitute if you can’t find guanciale.
  • Red pepper flakes –  red pepper flakes add the heat to this dish and depending upon your tastes add more or less for the flavor profile you enjoy.
  • Pecorino Romano cheese – this cheese is the only cheese used to make an Amatriciana Sauce. Parmigiano Reggiano cheese can be used, but i won’t taste the same.
  • White wine – a dry white wine such as Pinot Grigio, Verdicchio, or Orvieto is the best choice but any white wine you enjoy drinking will work. The wine can be omitted from this dish.

How do I make Bucatini all’ Amatriciana?

guanciale sautéd in a large frying pan

Add the diced guanciale to a large skillet with a little olive oil over medium-low heat and cook until browned but still tender, about 4-5 minutes.

*You can remove the top skin of the guanciale, but I like the added flavor that comes from it.

*If you want to use onions and garlic in the amatriciana sauce add the onions with the guanciale and when those have finished cooking, add the garlic and allow it to cook for 30-60 seconds.

*If you can’t find guanciale, pancetta is a good substitute and can usually be found in your local supermarket.

deglazed the pan with white wine

Deglaze the pan with white wine to slow the cooking process and loosen all the tasty browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

If you don’t want to use wine to deglaze the pan you can use chicken or vegetable stock.

tomatoes added to pan with cooked guanciale
  • Add the crushed tomatoes and red pepper flakes. Allow the mixture to simmer while the pasta cooks (about 10 minutes)

While the amatriciana sauce cooks, you can begin cooking the bucatini. Make sure when you drain the sauce, to reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water to add the amatriciana sauce.

*Make sure to add a good pinch of salt to the pasta cooking water before adding the bucatini. Cook the bucatini al dente per the instructions on the box.

pasta and cheese added to sauce

Add the pasta water to the sauce with the grated Romano cheese and cooked pasta. Toss the pasta in the sauce to mix well.

*If you use shredded Romano cheese instead of grated add the pasta water and cheese to the sauce before adding the pasta. This will allow the cheese to melt fully.

finished bucatini all' amatriciana in a skillet

Once the bucatini has been tossed in the sauce you’re all done and it’s time to enjoy this classic pasta dish.

partial view of bucatini all' amatriciana in a white bowl

Serve Bucatini all’ Amatriciana with additional grated Romano cheese and garnish with chopped Italian parsley. Add a loaf of crusty bread and a tossed salad and you’ve got an easy and delicious weeknight dinner.

Recipe FAQ’s

Do I have to use Guanciale to make this Amatriciana?

If you can’t find guanciale, you can substitute pancetta. The guanciale is more flavorful and is generally used in most Italian pasta sauces, but pancetta is an acceptable substitute.

Should I add pasta water to the Amatriciana sauce?

Adding some of the pasta cooking water to the amatriciana sauce is recommended. I actually add a little of the pasta cooking water to most pasta sauces I serve.

Can I add onions and garlic to my Amatriciana sauce?

Yes, you can. If you do add the onions when you saute the guanciale and add the garlic after those ingredients are finished cooking, allowing the garlic to cook for 30-60 seconds.
Traditionally neither onion or garlic is in an amatriciana sauce, and if they are added you will need to let the sauce cook for 10-20 minutes longer.

More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love!

  • overhead partial view of pasta puttanesca in a white bowl
    Authentic Pasta Puttanesca Recipe
  • oval serving bowl filled with pasta mixed with salmon, asparagus, grape tomatoes and a cream sauce. with a sprig of basil in the corner
    Salmon Bucatini with Asparagus
  • vegetarian sauce over pasta in a white bowl
    Vegetarian Pasta in Tomato Sauce
  • overhead shot of pasta aioli with broccoli rabe in a white oval bowl
    Pasta Aglio e Olio with Broccoli Rabe

partial view of bucatini all' amatriciana in a white bowl

Bucatini All’ Amatriciana

Chef Dennis Littley
You only need a few simple ingredients to make Bucatini all Amatriciana, and the results yield amazing flavor. Your family is going to love this classic Italian pasta di that will be on your dinner table in about 20 minutes.
5 from 79 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 15 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Entree
Cuisine Italian
Servings 2
Calories 817 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ounces guanciale small to medium dice
  • 2 tablespoons dry white wine optional
  • 2 cups crushed tomatoes whole San Marzano tomatoes crushed
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes more or less to taste
  • ½ cup Pecorino Romano cheese grated or shredded
  • 8 ounces bucatini pasta
  • sea salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon Italian parsley finely chopped for garnish (optional)

Instructions
 

  • Add the diced guanciale to a large frying pan over medium-low heat until and cook until browned but still tender, about 4-5 minutes.
  • Deglaze the pan with the white wine to slow the cooking process and loosen all the tasty browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  • Add the crushed tomatoes and red pepper flakes. Allow the mixture to simmer while the pasta cooks (about 10 minutes)
  • Cook the bucatini while the amatriciana sauce is simmering.
    When you drain the sauce, reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water to add the sauce.
  • Add the pasta water to the sauce with the grated Romano cheese and cooked pasta. Toss the pasta in the sauce to mix well.
    If you use shredded Romano cheese instead of grated add the pasta water and cheese to the sauce before adding the pasta. This will allow the cheese to fully melt.
  • Serve with additional grated Romano cheese.

Notes

Guanciale should be diced in small to medium dices (about a ¼ inch).  Pancetta can be substituted if you can’t find guanciale. 
You can remove the top skin of the guanciale, but I like the added flavor that comes from it.
If you use shredded Romano cheese instead of grated add the pasta water and cheese to the sauce before adding the pasta. This will allow the cheese to fully melt.

Nutrition

Calories: 817kcalCarbohydrates: 104gProtein: 30gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 56mgSodium: 879mgPotassium: 1009mgFiber: 8gSugar: 14gVitamin A: 772IUVitamin C: 22mgCalcium: 376mgIron: 5mg
Tried this recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askchefdennis or tag #askchefdennis!

Comments

    5 from 79 votes (69 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Loreto and Nicoletta says

    August 22, 2022 at 12:12 am

    5 stars
    This is a pasta that takes us back home, it was a welcome treat on our dinner table. There us nothing better than that rich tomato 🍅 sauce with those crispy bits of guanciale. Put that with the al-dente pasta and you have a hit!😋👍👌❤️

    Reply
  2. Amy says

    August 21, 2022 at 7:19 pm

    5 stars
    I made this recipe to go along with sausage and peppers and it was a hit. I had pancetta on hand and it was a great substitute for the pork Great recipe!!.

    Reply
  3. Colleen says

    August 21, 2022 at 6:39 pm

    5 stars
    Sometimes the simplest dishes are the best ones, and this bucatini all Amatriciana is proof of that. We loved it and I will make it again often.

    Reply
  4. Tristin says

    August 21, 2022 at 6:17 pm

    5 stars
    Great pasta recipe! My whole family ate every bite and I was hoping for some leftovers!

    Reply
  5. Jacqueline Debono says

    August 21, 2022 at 4:05 pm

    5 stars
    We love all’amatriciana and make it pretty often. It’s really good with short pasta too, although traditionally spaghetti or bucatini are the pastas of choice. Your recipe was exceptionally delicious.

    Reply
  6. Anna says

    August 20, 2022 at 10:45 am

    5 stars
    Great recipe, I just loved how the bucatini pasta absorbs the sauce and all the flavour! Delicious!

    Reply
  7. Pete says

    August 20, 2022 at 8:07 am

    5 stars
    Tried to make it as authentic as the recipe. Bought San Marzano tomatoes from Costco, but had to substitute with pancetta. The whole family loved it, kids even went for seconds!

    Reply
  8. Linda says

    August 19, 2022 at 9:23 am

    5 stars
    I am a total pasta lover and this dish was over the top delicious. I love that it used crushed tomatoes for a chunkier sauce and the pancetta and Parmesan added just the right flavorings. Great to have this in my back pocket for busy weeknights.

    Reply
  9. Amy says

    August 18, 2022 at 9:10 pm

    5 stars
    We loved this simple yet delicious recipe. It’s going to be on our weeknight menu regularly

    Reply
  10. veenaazmanov says

    August 17, 2022 at 2:51 pm

    5 stars
    It was easy to make and so delicious, definitely a Happy Meal for my family.

    Reply


My name is Chef Dennis Littley, creator and owner of Ask Chef Dennis Productions. As a classically trained chef with 40+ years of experience in the kitchen, I share my time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen.

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