Pasta Alla Gricia
A traditional Roman pasta dish with guanciale, pecorino romano, and black pepper.
By CuocoMitra · Published · Updated 5 June 2026
- Total time
- Prep
- Cook
- Serves
- 4
- Per serving
- 632kcal
- Difficulty
- easy
Pasta Alla Gricia is a easy Italian recipe that serves 4 and takes 25 minutes (5 minutes prep, 20 minutes cooking). It uses 5 ingredients across 4 steps. Each serving provides about 631.56 calories.
Ingredients
5 ingredients for 4 servings. Open any ingredient for its nutrition detail.
- Gurullos Pastaspaghetti or rigatoni320 gCereal Grains and PastaPasta
In this recipe: 320 g, spaghetti or rigatoni
Per 100 g
Calories360 kcalProtein12gCarbs75gFat1.5gFiber3gCommon portions
100 g 100 g dry 1 cup 100 g StarchBaseNeutralMildFirmChewy 
Guancialecut into 1/4-inch strips or cubes150 gMeat, poultry, and fishPorkIn this recipe: 150 g, cut into 1/4-inch strips or cubes
Per 100 g
Calories623 kcalProtein11.5gCarbs0gFat63.5gFiber0gCommon portions
1 slice (thin) 10 g 10 g 1 serving (diced) 25 g 25 g 1 oz 1 undetermined 28 g 100 g 100 g 100 g Fat sourceUmami builderFlavor enhancerUmamiPorkySalty
Pecorino Romano Cheesefinely and freshly grated100 gPECORINO ROMANO
Cheesesr_legacyIn this recipe: 100 g, finely and freshly grated
Per 100 g
Calories393 kcalProtein28.6gCarbs3.57gFat32.1gFiber0gCommon portions
1 g 28 g Flavor enhancerGarnishUmami builderSaltySharpTangy
Black Peppercoarsely and freshly ground2 tspSpices, pepper, black
Herbs & Spicessr_legacyIn this recipe: 2 tsp, coarsely and freshly ground
Per 100 g
Calories251 kcalProtein10.4gCarbs64gFat3.26gFiber25.3gCommon portions
dash 1 undetermined 0.1 g tsp, ground 1 undetermined 2.3 g tsp, whole 1 undetermined 2.9 g tbsp, ground 1 undetermined 6.9 g SeasoningFlavor enhancerAromaticSpicyPungentEarthy
Well Tap WaterRemove as ingredient; reserve in instructions120 mlBeverages, water, tap, well
Beveragessr_legacyIn this recipe: 120 ml, Remove as ingredient; reserve in instructions
Per 100 g
Calories0 kcalProtein0gCarbs0gFat0gFiber0gCommon portions
fl oz 1 undetermined 29.6 g serving 8 fl oz 8 fl oz 1 undetermined 237 g liter 1 undetermined 1000 g Liquid baseSolventHydrationNeutralSilkySmooth
What you’ll need
2 tools across 4 steps.
Method
- 1
Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta (spaghetti or rigatoni) and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.
Don't overcook the pasta! Al dente is key for the right texture.
Timer: 10 min
mixing bowl - 2
Prepare the Guanciale
While the pasta is cooking, in a large pan, cook the guanciale over medium heat until crispy and golden brown. Remove the guanciale from the pan and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
Cook the guanciale slowly to render the fat properly and get it crispy.
Timer: 10 min
pan (optional, for hot water) - 3
Create the Sauce
Turn off the heat under the pan with the rendered guanciale fat. Add a few tablespoons of the reserved pasta water to the pan to cool it slightly. Gradually add the pecorino romano cheese and black pepper, stirring constantly to create a creamy sauce. Add more pasta water as needed to achieve the desired consistency.
The key to a smooth sauce is to add the cheese gradually and keep stirring constantly.
Timer: 5 minpan (optional, for hot water) - 4
Combine and Serve
Add the drained pasta to the pan with the cheese sauce. Toss well to coat. Add the crispy guanciale back to the pan and toss again. Serve immediately, garnished with extra pecorino romano cheese and black pepper, if desired. This recipe serves 4.
Serve immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Timer: 2 minpan (optional, for hot water)
Nutrition
Per serving, across 4 servings.
| Nutrient | Per serving | Whole recipe |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 631.6 kcal | 2526.2 kcal |
| Protein | 22 g | 87.9 g |
| Carbohydrates | 61.4 g | 245.6 g |
| Fat | 33.1 g | 132.3 g |
| Fibre | 2.9 g | 11.4 g |
| Sodium | 434 mg | 1736.1 mg |
Computed from the matched ingredient data rather than entered by hand, with 100% of ingredients matched. Treat it as a close estimate, not a clinical figure.
How it tastes
- Salty
- 5 out of 5
- Umami
- 5 out of 5
- Spicy
- 1 out of 5
- Rich
- 5 out of 5
Texture
Mood
Good for
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