This is a four-ingredient sauce, so weak tomatoes or bland pork have nowhere to hide. The technique that makes it: render the guanciale first and build the tomato sauce in that fat, so the pork flavor is in every bite rather than sitting on top.
By Vince Gonzalez · Published July 2026 · Sourcing verified 5 Jul 2026
Prep10 min
Cook25 min
Makes4 servings
CuisineItalian
Cost$$$
Gluten-free
Contains dairy
The Ingredients — and where to get them
Cook for4servings
Bucatini
The hollow strand holds sauce inside and out; it is the traditional cut and worth seeking over plain spaghetti.
Can you make Amatriciana in an air fryer? — Yes, with an insert
Not on its own — an air fryer can’t hold a pool of liquid. You can simmer it in an oven-safe dish or a silicone insert made to fit the basket, but the broth won’t reduce or brown the way it does on the stove, and that insert comes out scorching, so use oven mitts. For real depth, a pot on the stove wins.
Can you freeze Amatriciana? — Yes
Yes — it freezes well. Cool it fully, portion into airtight containers, and it keeps a few months; thaw in the fridge and reheat gently.
Can you make Amatriciana ahead of time? — Yes
Yes — it holds well and often tastes better the next day. Make it ahead and reheat gently before serving.
Is Amatriciana gluten-free? — Yes
Yes — nothing in this recipe as written contains gluten. As always, glance at the labels on any packaged items (broth, sauces, chocolate), since brands vary.
Is Amatriciana vegan? — No
No — it contains meat, so it isn’t vegetarian or vegan.
Community Notes
Cooked it? Changed something that worked? Leave a note for the next person — first-name basis, no account.
Open data. Every maker on this site is published as a free dataset under CC BY 4.0 — use it in anything, commercial or not, as long as you credit 5best2buy. Browse the datasets →