Amatriciana Pasta
Amatriciana Pasta is one of those simple, classic Italian dishes with flavourful tomato sauce, smoky bacon and just a kick of heat. Super easy to make and great for weeknight cooking.
It's one of my favorite easy family dinner recipes to cook. It's only got a handful of ingredients and it takes very little prep and very little effort to cook. And it's a huge hit with the whole family!
Why You'll Love This Amatriciana Pasta Recipe
⭐️ You only need a handful of basic ingredients to make this dish and it's super easy!
⭐️ It's super flavourful, total comfort food. You can serve it with cooked vegetables or salads.
⭐️ It's just perfect family food - filling, tasty and easy!
Ingredients
Everything you need to make our delicious amatriciana pasta
- Bacon - we use smoked bacon for extra flavour, you can swap this for pancetta cubes if you prefer.
- Garlic
- Onion - finely diced red onion works best.
- Dried Chilli Flakes - just add as much or as little as you like, depending on how spicy you like to go with your food.
- Tins of Tomatoes - can't recommend Mutti polpa tomatoes enough! Honestly they're so rich and delicious.
- Caster Sugar - this adds sweetness and balance to the sauce.
- Olive Oil, Salt & Pepper
- Penne - I usually use fresh penne when I make this dish.
- Grated Parmesan Cheese - to serve.
How To Make Amatriciana Pasta
Prep Time – 5 minutes / Cook Time 20 minutes (approx)
- Cook the garlic, onions and bacon - Add a good splash of olive oil to a large non-stick frying pan over a low heat. Tip in the garlic, onion & bacon and cook gently for 10 minutes until browning nicely.
- Add the tinned tomatoes, sugar and chilli flakes - then bring the sauce to the boil - then reduce the heat and simmer with the lid off for around 20 minutes. This lets the sauce cook down and thicken.
- Cook the pasta - When the pasta sauce has around 5 minutes left to cook put the fresh penne pasta on to cook as per the packet instructions. Drain using a colander once cooked.
- Toss the sauce and pasta together and serve. I like to scatter mine with grated Parmesan cheese but that's optional.
INGREDIENT SWAPS AND ADD INS
Swap the bacon - swap out the bacon for pancetta cubes if you prefer. You can also make this dish with diced chorizo (and it tastes great, although not authentic)
Skip the spice - if chilli heat isn't your thing, just skip it. The sauce is still delicious without the chilli spice.
TOP TIPS FOR MAKING amatriciana PASTA
⭐ Use fresh pasta, it just adds a more delicious taste to the dish.
⭐ If I'm adding side dishes to this I usually serve up steamed broccoli tossed in olive oil, lemon juice salt and capers (it's delicious - try it) or a nice big chopped salad.
⭐ Store cooled leftover amatriciana pasta in an airtight container in the fridge. Leftovers are delicious cold next day.
⭐ Buy the best quality canned tomatoes you can, they make all the difference when cooking a simple sauce.
More QUICK Pasta Recipes
Get More Here Bacon and Pasta Recipes Here
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Amatriciana Pasta
Supe flavorful rustic Italian pasta dish
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic - finely chopped
- 1 red onion - finely diced
- 10 rashers smoked bacon - diced
- 28oz canned crushed tomatoes (2 x 400g cans finely chopped tomatoes)
- 1-2 teaspoon sugar (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon chilli flakes
To serve
- 18oz Fresh penne pasta (500g)
- ½ cup Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the garlic, onions and bacon – Add a good splash of olive oil to a large non-stick frying pan over a low heat. Tip in the garlic, onion & bacon and cook gently for 10 minutes until browning nicely.
- Add the tinned tomatoes, sugar and chilli flakes – then bring the sauce to the boil – then reduce the heat and simmer with the lid off for around 20 minutes. This lets the sauce cook down and thicken.
- Cook the pasta – When the pasta sauce has around 5 minutes left to cook put the fresh penne pasta on to cook as per the packet instructions. Drain using a colander once cooked.
- Toss the sauce and pasta together and serve. I like to scatter mine with grated Parmesan cheese but that’s optional.
Notes
- Fresh pasta is nicest with this dish, really adds oomph!
- Add the sugar and chilli to your own tastes.
- Use the best quality canned tomatoes you can, it makes all the difference to the sauce.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 558Total Fat: 20gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 64mgSodium: 1457mgCarbohydrates: 62gFiber: 6gSugar: 13gProtein: 35g
Nutritional content will vary depending on the exact ingredients you use and how careful you are with measuring - this nutritional information is given as a general guide only and may not be accurate - you should always calculate your own nutritional information especially if you have specific dietary requirements.
Wendy is the creator of Daisies & Pie, a UK food blog sharing easy meals and home lifestyle tips since 2012
