Pasta all’Amatriciana – Quick and easy pasta dish with just a few simple ingredients of diced tomatoes, bacon, onion, and red pepper flakes. Oh and cheese, we always need cheese. Here you go. This is one my very best recipes. This is one of the “oldest in my arsenal of recipes” recipes. This is one of three dishes that I make when A) I don’t know what to make and don’t have a lot of time B) Making a dish for a group C) Cooking for someone for the first time.
I watched a dish of this nature on a cooking program maybe a decade or so ago. I just jotted down some notes and then made my own version. This is what I make when I want to wow people who don’t really know how to cook. Once they learn how easy it, I seem less impressive, skill-wise.
his was the last dish I made before my daughter was born, that’s how much I love it. I guess I needed it get through labor. Here’s proof, click here, this is the About Me section of my blog, scroll to you see the pregnancy pictures, the last one is me making this dish. Yes, I have a deep love for this recipe. And for all of you, so I am finally sharing it.I make this dish probably once every month or two. I have been blogging for a year and a half now and never posted it. Every time I make it say, Oh, I’ll photograph it next time. Next time comes around and I say the same thing. Finally, I made it three times in one week (in two different states) that I finally just quickly took some rather bad pictures. One day I will get around to photographing it properly, but for now, you’ll have to rely on my word that it is delish.
Pasta all'Amatriciana
Ingredients
- Olive oil
- 1 garlic clove; thinly sliced
- 6-8 pieces crumbled cooked thick-cut bacon
- 1 small onion; thinly sliced
- 3 cans diced tomatoes; undrained
- Pinch of Red pepper flakes; + if you like it spicy
- Salt/pepper; to taste
- 1 lb . long pasta of choice (spaghetti, fettuccine, angel hair)
- Pasta water
- Pecorino-Romano cheese
Instructions
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Cook pasta one according to package directions reserving about a cup of pasta water.
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Cook and crumble the bacon, set aside. (For extra flavor, reserve some drippings to cook the onions)
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In a skillet, sauté the onion and the garlic in olive oil (or bacon renderings) until onions are thoroughly cooked, about 7 minutes.
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Add all 3 cans of tomatoes with juice, mix thoroughly. Add bacon, pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Bring to simmer and cook until everything is warm; about 3 minutes.
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Add cooked pasta straight to sauce with a bit of the pasta water until it reaches the desired thinness, about 1/4 a cup.
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Top with pecorino-Romano cheese.
30 Comments
Christine @ So TIPical Me
August 10, 2015 at 1:53 pmI could literally eat this Every. Single. Day.
Michelle
August 11, 2015 at 12:27 amI knew I liked you.
Debra @ Bowl Me Over
August 10, 2015 at 2:37 pmI know I’ve said this before, but I totally love reading your stories. I even click thru on all of your links and enjoy seeing the journey. 😀 Now the pasta? WOW! I want this for dinner tonight! And since I have everything I need…I think I will!
Michelle
August 11, 2015 at 12:27 amExcellent Debra, I hope you enjoy it.
Florian @ContentednessCooking
August 11, 2015 at 2:34 amI love pasta! Your recipe looks so fresh and flavorful, delicious!
Michelle
August 11, 2015 at 11:24 pmIt’s nearly Vegan, omit the bacon and you’re in business.
Marye
August 11, 2015 at 6:21 amThis sounds so good! My family love pasta, this will go over really well!
Michelle
August 11, 2015 at 11:24 pmSo happy to hear that Marye.
lizzy
August 11, 2015 at 7:37 amPasta is my weakness, this recipe is making me hungryyyy
Michelle
August 11, 2015 at 11:25 pmThen my job is done (insert maniacal laughter here.)
Sabrina @ Dinner, then Dessert
August 11, 2015 at 9:20 amThis is one of my favorite pasta dishes to make too! I love that I get to eat pasta with bacon! It looks so delicious!
Michelle
August 11, 2015 at 11:27 pmIt’s so simple. Love it.
allie @ Through Her Looking Glass
August 11, 2015 at 9:58 amAnything with bacon and onions is top notch in my book. Many thanks for sharing this recipe Michelle. I know my kids will love it. I make a similar recipe that was inspired by a Rachel Ray cooking show I once saw. Three cheers for quick, easy and delicious!
Michelle
August 11, 2015 at 11:28 pmGotta love our cooking programs.
Cynthia/What A Girl Eats
August 11, 2015 at 11:58 amThis looks so yummy and rich! You can never go wrong with bacon in any dish can you?
Michelle
August 11, 2015 at 11:28 pmBacon makes things so much better.
Gwen @simplyhealthyfamily
August 11, 2015 at 3:49 pmawww, I remember my fav pregnancy dishes 😉 No wonder this one was yours it looks amazing!
Michelle
August 11, 2015 at 11:28 pmThank you Gwen, all my pregnancy cravings are now my daughter’s favorite foods…correlation?
Healing Tomato
August 11, 2015 at 9:36 pmThat pasta sauce looks so very delicious. All those wonderful tomatoes came together so well in this recipe. I see that you are still craving some good old Italian meals. Seems like you miss it very much. I hope you get to go back someday soon.
Michelle
August 11, 2015 at 11:29 pmItaly only ENHANCED my need for Italian food.
Sandra - The Foodie Affair
August 11, 2015 at 10:44 pmI have a couple of recipes that I make over and over, but never photograph. In fact, just the other day my husband said, “aren’t you going to take a picture?” after making dinner – lol Nope! Just wanted to EAT! So glad you shared one of your favorite recipes. Looking at the sauce is making my mouth water!
Michelle
August 11, 2015 at 11:30 pmDo you find you confuse your family when you DON’T take picture? It does mine.
Karen @ The Food Charlatan
August 11, 2015 at 11:57 pmI love simple recipes like this! It looks like pure comfort food. I was the same way with both of my pregnancies: the first one I was baking cookies right before we left for the hospital, and the second kid I burned my arm on a 500 degree oven the night before we went in. Pregnant ladies are hungry,okay? haha.
Michelle
August 12, 2015 at 9:42 pmCookies and a burn, you have memorable pre-birth stories.
Joy @ Joy Love Food
August 14, 2015 at 11:23 amI love quick and easy pasta dishes, this sounds wonderful, especially with the bacon, yum!
Michelle
August 14, 2015 at 11:11 pmI know, bacon! Yum.
Sandi Gaertner (@sandigtweets)
August 14, 2015 at 7:17 pmYou had me at bacon…what an amazing sounding sauce!
Michelle
August 14, 2015 at 11:11 pmThank you Sandi.
Derek
August 27, 2015 at 5:05 pmThis looks great! Thanks for sharing!
Michelle
September 1, 2015 at 11:15 pmThanks for stopping by Derek.