• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Vikalinka logo

WHOLESOME RECIPES YOU CAN TRUST

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Starter
    • Bread
    • Side dishes
    • Asian recipes
    • Vegetarian
    • Drinks
    • Videos
  • Breakfast
    • Eggs
    • Pancakes, Muffins and More
    • Grains
    • Hot breakfast
  • Lunch
    • Salad
    • Soup
    • Sandwiches and more
  • Dinner
    • Chicken
      • Chicken breasts
      • Chicken thighs and drumsticks
      • Whole chicken
    • Beef
    • Pasta
    • Casseroles
    • Slow Cooker and Instant Pot
    • Pork
    • Fish and Seafood
    • Quick and Easy
    • Stew
  • Dessert
    • Cake
    • Pies
    • Cookies
    • Pastry
  • Collections
    • Asian Recipe Collection
    • Russian Recipe Collection
    • Italian Recipe Collection
    • Christmas Recipe Collection
    • Thanksgiving Recipe Collection
    • Easter Recipe Collection
  • About
    • Travel
    • Privacy policy
    • Contact Me
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
  • Dinner
  • Dessert
  • Collections
  • Videos
  • Travel
  • About
Γ—

Home Β» Recipes Β» Dinner Β» Pasta

April 26, 2021

Bucatini all’Amatriciana and Meatballs

Published April 26, 2021 | Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

Jump to Recipe

This Italian classic recipe for Bucatini all’Amatriciana gets a fun twist! Meatballs! Your family will go crazy for this pasta coated in a flavourful tomato basil sauce with a touch of heat from chilli peppers served with juicy meatballs!

Or you can bake meatballs separately with melty mozzarella!

bucatini with meatballs in a cream coloured bowl, topped with fresh basil leaves

My kids absolutely adore meatballs. So when I suggested spaghetti and meatballs for dinner, it was received with an overly enthusiastic YAY! However, when I reached for spaghetti in my cupboard, I came back with a pack of bucatini instead.

No matter, my kids actually prefer bucatini. According to them it’s “fun and slurpy”. And the best sauce, that comes with this type of pasta, is Amatriciana. Bucatini all’Amatriciana it is. Plus meatballs of course!

top down view of bucatini on top of red sauce with meatballs in a pan.

What is Bucatini?

Although very similar to spaghetti, bucatini is thicker and hollow inside. So they behave slightly differently when you try to suck them in like you would with spaghetti. They wriggle and slurp.

Bucatini is slightly divisive as far as pasta shapes go. There are diehard fans, who adore the slurpy pasta. And those, who steer clear of it. As predicted, our family is also divided! In which camp are you? 

Whether you love bucatini or not, this recipe is a keeper. You can easily substitute it with spaghetti if bucatini is difficult to find or it’s simply not your favourite pasta shape!

bucatini all'amatriciana in a panAmatriciana Sauce

Bucatini pasta is very popular in the Rome region of Italy, and the most famous sauce that goes with this spaghetti-like pasta is Amatriciana!

Thick, tomato based sauce, that starts off with fried guanciale or pancetta for an incredible rich flavour. A thickly cut, good quality bacon could be used in place of guanciale or pancetta. 

The main distinct feature of the sauce is its slightly spicy taste, which comes from red chillies. Not enough to burn your tongue, just a touch to make it exciting. You can use fresh chilli or dried chilli flakes like I did in my recipe. 

bucatini and meatballs process images

Meatball Recipe

This dinner is so simple. You could easily cook it on a busy weeknight. I am not sure why I often think that meatballs take too long to make because they don’t.

Mixing and rolling them took a whole 10 minutes! To save time I would recommend opting out for larger meatballs, approximately the size of a medium plum.

However, to make this meal even faster and easier, you can use pre-made, store bought meatballs. I recently started cooking meatballs in my air fryer. They take 8 minutes to cook and come our in perfect round shape without having to stir or even lift a finger!

The sauce is an Italian classic and could be used for a number of different pasta recipes. The whole combo produces an incredibly satisfying dinner for both kids and adults. 

spaghetti and meatballs

Serving Suggestions

All you need to compliment bucatini all’Amatriciana and meatballs is a tasty and simple vegetable side dish like my Lemon Garlic Green Beans with Parmesan Cheese or Roasted Parmesan Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes.

However, if you are looking to make this into a more elaborate Italian dinner, add my Healthy Eggplant Parmesan for a luxurious side dish or take a look in our Antipasti recipe collection for inspiration. 

More Classic Italian Pasta Sauce Recipes:

  • Bolognese Sauce
  • Vodka Sauce 
  • Puttanesca Sauce
  • Creamy Pasta Sauce

This recipe was originally published in 08/2015. Updated and republished in 04/2021.

bucatini with meatballs in a cream coloured bowl, topped with fresh basil leaves

Bucatini all'Amatriciana and Meatballs

Julia Frey of Vikalinka
Try this quick and delicious pasta recipe with the famous Amatriciana sauce and the best tasting, juiciest meatballs!
5 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Course Main
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6
Calories 638 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the meatballs

  • 1 lbs ground beef or a combination of ground pork and beef
  • 2 tbsp breadcrumbs
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tbsp fresh basil chopped
  • 1 tsp oregano dried
  • ΒΌ tsp pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil

For the tomato sauce

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 100g/1/3 cup pancetta or thickly cut bacon cubed, rind cut off
  • 1 shallot or Β½ onion chopped
  • 60ml/1/4 cup dry white wine or Vermouth
  • Β½ tsp dried chilli flakes
  • 400g/14oz canned chopped tomatoes high quality
  • ΒΌ cup basil leaves chopped
  • 1 lbs bucatini
  • salt to taste
  • 2 tbsp Parmesan or Pecorino Romano

Instructions
 

  • Combine all ingredients for the meatballs in a medium sized bowl, mix well and roll meatballs. Set aside.
  • Heat olive oil in a large pan, add the pancetta and cook over very low heat allowing the fat to render. Then add the chopped shallot and continue cooking for 5 minutes longer until the shallot is soft. Pour in the white wine and let it simmer, the liquid should reduce by a half.
  • Add chilli flakes and stir for a few seconds, then add canned chopped tomatoes or crushed tomatoes and basil, stir everything together and let it simmer on low heat for 10-15 minutes, season with salt to taste. Meanwhile cook the pasta according to package directions.
  • While pasta is cooking, brown the meatballs in a separate pan over medium heat for 7-10 minutes. They don't have to be cooked all the way through, just browned.
  • Remove the meatballs from the pan add them to the tomato sauce, cover with a lid to allow the meatball to finish cooking for another 5 minutes.
  • Drain cooked pasta and gently toss it with the sauce and meatballs. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese or Pecorino Romano.

Nutrition

Calories: 638kcalCarbohydrates: 63gProtein: 28gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 93mgSodium: 1489mgPotassium: 583mgFiber: 4gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 263IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 93mgIron: 4mg
Keyword bucatini all'amatriciana
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

More Pasta

  • 5 Minute Ravioli Sauce
    5 Minute Ravioli Sauce
  • sausage pasta baked with cherry tomatoes on top in round pan
    Sausage Pasta Bake with Mozzarella
  • top down view of pan filled with creamy pasta, chunks of chicken sausage and sliced mushrooms.
    Italian Sausage Pasta with Mushrooms
  • close up of cacio e pepe pasta
    Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
652 shares

About Julia Frey (Vikalinka)

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.
read more..

Related Posts

  • 5 Minute Ravioli Sauce

    5 Minute Ravioli Sauce

  • sausage pasta baked with cherry tomatoes on top in round pan

    Sausage Pasta Bake with Mozzarella

  • top down view of pan filled with creamy pasta, chunks of chicken sausage and sliced mushrooms.

    Italian Sausage Pasta with Mushrooms

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Morgan Shilling says

    at

    Homemade bucatini and meatballs in tomato basil sauce. Looking for a delicious side that’s a little different?

    Reply
    • Julia Frey (Vikalinka) says

      at

      I mentioned in my post a couple of great sides like Lemon Garlic Green Beans and Parmesan Roasted Broccoli with Sun-Dried Tomatoes.

      Reply
  2. Jennifer says

    at

    5 stars
    I think I’m a kid at heart because pasta and meatballs is one of my favourite meals. Love the use of bucatini. Fat spaghetti is a good thing πŸ™‚

    Reply
    • vikalinka says

      at

      The fatter the better! Thank you, Jennifer!

      Reply
  3. Louise | Cygnet Kitchen says

    at

    5 stars
    This such a lovely comfort food dish Julia, I can see why your kids love it! I have no idea why I don’t make meatballs more often, so easy really as your recipe shows. x

    Reply
    • vikalinka says

      at

      Thank you, Louise! Some days a little comfort from food is necessary! Thank you for visiting. πŸ™‚

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Julia from Vikalinka

Julia Frey is a London based recipe developer and photographer. Julia founded Vikalinka in 2012 with the main mission to provide her readers with delicious and accessible everyday recipes, which could be enjoyed by everyone.

More about me β†’


  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • YouTube

Popular

  • mushroom sauce in black pan
    Creamy Mushroom Marsala Sauce
  • Beef Stroganoff with mushrooms
    Best Beef Stroganoff (VIDEO)
  • Chicken breasts in mushroom sauce
    Chicken with Garlic Mushroom Sauce (VIDEO)
  • Close up if a plate of pasta cream sauce with sprinkled parsley
    Pasta Cream Sauce (VIDEO)

Footer

As Featured On…

as featured on

Footer

↑ back to top

About

  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Contact

  • Contact

Copyright Β© 2023 Vikalinka