Amatriciana
Amatriciana
Guanciale, tomato and pecorino — the Roman-Amatrice pasta that is not a generic bacon-and-red-sauce.
Recipe by I Want Some Food · Reviewed by the editorial kitchen. Native name preserved: Amatriciana.
0 people cooked this in the public kitchen yet. Kitchen-tested by I Want Some Food. Not a purchased rating.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Spice
- Mild
- Cost
- Weeknight budget$8–16 USD · indicative, not a store price
About
Amatriciana is rendered guanciale, a little white wine if you have it, tomato, and pecorino. Onion is a Roman argument. We keep it optional. If you use bacon and skip the pecorino, you have made a different, still edible pasta.
Ingredients
- Pasta200 g
- Guanciale100 g
- Tomato, crushed or peeled300 g
- Pecorino Romano30 g
- Fresh chilli (optional)2½ ml
- Onion (optional)¼
- Black pepper2½ ml
Scaling multiplies the written quantities. Baking still prefers a scale.
Steps
Step 1
Render guanciale in a cold pan until the fat runs and the edges crisp. Lift some bits out for the top. Soften onion in the fat if using.
8 minStep 2
Add tomato and chilli. Simmer 10 minutes. Boil pasta. Toss together with pecorino and a splash of water.
12 min
Adapt this recipe
The canonical recipe stays intact. Personal versions are labelled. Serving changes are maths, not AI.
Adaptations · 0 / 15 used. Resets 24 August.
Substitutions
Guanciale → Pancetta
Less funky. Still a tomato-pork pasta.
Tips
- Pancetta is the usual stand-in. Bacon smokes the dish.
- The sauce should coat, not drown.
History & culture
Amatrice's dish that Rome adopted. Bucatini is the usual noodle; rigatoni is allowed.
Guanciale and pecorino are older than tomato. The red plate is after the Americas.
Traditional
Provenance: Editorial adaptation. Original editorial adaptation for I Want Some Food. Not copied from another recipe site. Official recipe photography is pending. Photograph: Andy Li via Wikimedia Commons (CC0). https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amatriciana%20-%20The%20Oven%202025-07-24.jpg
Questions about this recipe
Answers taken from this dish's times, amounts, swaps and tips — not a chatbot.
How long does Amatriciana take?
30 min all in — 10 min prep, 20 min cook. That is the time on this recipe, not a guess.
How many does it serve?
The recipe is written for 2 plates. Scale the ingredient list on the page if you are cooking for a different number.
How hard is it?
Easy.
How spicy is it?
Mild.
What allergens should I watch?
This recipe is labelled for Wheat, Milk. Labels are informational — check the packets in your kitchen. This is not medical advice.
Does it fit a diet?
The published recipe is labelled Nut-free.
What does it cost to cook?
Weeknight budget — about $8–16 USD, as a grocery budget for this recipe, not a restaurant price.
What equipment do I need?
Frying pan, Saucepan.
How much salt do I put in?
This recipe does not list a salt amount. We will not invent one.
What can I use instead?
Guanciale → Pancetta. Less funky. Still a tomato-pork pasta.
Any tips from this recipe?
Pancetta is the usual stand-in. Bacon smokes the dish. The sauce should coat, not drown.
Can I use an air fryer?
This method is not written for an air fryer. The core technique on the page still applies.
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