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    You Are Here: Home → Main Course

    Italian Braciole

    December 11, 2018 | Updated December 26, 2020 by Ryan 14 Comments

    12341 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure.

    If you're looking for the perfect comfort food on a cold night, this Italian braciole recipe which is meat stuffed with cheese and slow cooked in a tomato sauce is perfect. Make no mistake, it is labor intensive in the beginning but the work you put up front is so worth the meal you get at the end.

    rolled Italian Braciole on white platter

    I'm not one that eats or makes beef that often. Usually if I do, I make something like short rib ragu or homemade meatballs. But a few years ago I was looking for a good comfort dish during the holidays and came across Giada's braciole recipe on Food Network.

    I had never had Italian braciole but immediately recognized the name at least from watching Everybody Loves Raymond. Anybody that watched that show knows that was his favorite dish that his mom made. I'm not going to lie though, before looking at Giada's recipe I really had no idea what braciole was. I knew it had beef but didn't know what else.

    Basically braciole is meat stuffed with cheese that has been simmering in a sauce for hours. I mean just reading that, you're hooked right? At least I was when I first learned what it was.

    Yes this recipe does involve store-bought marinara sauce but I've done homemade sauce with this and to me it wasn't enough of a difference for the extra work. So my apologies for any that might think it is blasphemous to make an Italian braciole with store-bought sauce. Either way, you should give this a try.

    Jump to:
    • Recipe Ingredients
    • Step-by-Step Instructions
    • Side Dish Options
    • FAQs
    • Pro Tips/Recipe Notes
    • Other Beef Recipes
    • Italian Braciole
    overlay of Italian braciole on white platter

    Recipe Ingredients

    • Olive oil - used to sear the beef.
    • Pancetta - this Italian bacon adds a ton of flavor.
    • Sweet onion, garlic, Italian parsley - where the flavor comes from for the filling.
    • Italian-style breadcrumbs - you want a finer crumb here so don't go with panko.
    • Parmesan and provolone cheese - the combination works great.
    • Flank steak - can also use top round.
    • Dry red wine - use a wine you'd be willing to drink.
    • Marinara sauce - helps slow cook the beef braciole.
    • Crushed red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper - enhances the flavor of the Italian braciole.

    Step-by-Step Instructions

    1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in large sauté pan over medium heat. Add pancetta and cook until it's browned and crispy, about 5 minutes. Add the onions and crushed red pepper and cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. With 1 minute remaining, add garlic. Remove and let cool.
    2. Mix together the breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley and pepper. Stir in the pancetta onion mixture until everything is combined. Set aside.
    3. Lay the flank steak flat and pound until about ¼" thick.
    4. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly to cover the steak.
    5. Starting at the short end, roll up the steak like you would a jelly roll to enclose the filling. Using some butcher's twice, tie the steak to secure. Sprinkle the Italian braciole with salt and pepper.
    6. Heat remaining 2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the beef braciole and cook until browned on all sides, about 2 minutes per side.
    7. Add the wine and bring to a boil and stir in the marinara sauce. Cover and cook in the oven for 2 hours or until the meat is tender. Baste with the sauce very 30 minutes and remove the cover with 30 minutes remaining.
    8. Remove the twine and cut the Italian braciole crosswise and diagonally. Transfer to a plate and spoon sauce over to serve.
    process shots of how

    Side Dish Options

    There are plenty of side dishes that can soak up the sauce which go with this Italian braciole recipe. Some options include:

    • Any type of pasta - penne, ziti, rigatoni
    • Garlic Mashed Cauliflower
    • Goat Cheese Polenta
    • Crispy Roasted Potatoes
    • Goat Cheese Risotto

    FAQs

    What is Braciole?

    Braciole is an Italian dish that consists of thin slices of meat (usually beef, chicken or pork) that are rolled as a roulade and filled with cheese and bread crumbs before seared and then slow cooked in a sauce. There are a ton of variations out there but beef braciole is most common, with the best meat being beef rump, top round or bottom round. I use flank steak which works well with this Italian braciole recipe.

    Is Provolone Cheese Necessary?

    No. I just like the combination of Parmesan with provolone but if you don't want to but two types of cheese, just stick with Parmesan.

    Should I Make My Own Marinara Sauce?

    As I mentioned above I've made my own and used store-bought sauce and haven't noticed enough of a difference to continue making a sauce. The flavor really comes for searing the steak and the red wine. So I suggest using a good bottle of red wine and a store-bought marinara sauce you like. For me, Prego is my go-to sauce for this Italian braciole recipe. However if you want to make your own, try this homemade marinara sauce or roasted tomato sauce.

    What Wine Should I Use?

    Use quality dry red wine for the sauce. When adding wine to a sauce, it has to be something you're willing to drink. I usually go with Chianti or Pinot Noir.

    How to Store

    You can store in an airtight container for in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. If in the freezer, place in the fridge overnight for it to thaw out.

    How Do I Reheat

    Add the sauce and beef braciole to a saucepan and cook covered over low heat for 8-10 minutes or until warm.

    Pro Tips/Recipe Notes

    • Take your frustrations out on the flank steak and pound with a meat tenderizer. Flank steak is tough, so pounding it will help tenderize it and make it melt in your mouth when you cook it.
    • Use fresh provolone and Parmesan cheese. Do not buy pre-shredded cheese. Just try pre-shredded vs. blocks of cheese and side-by-side and you'll notice the difference.
    • When rolling the Italian braciole, start at the short end and roll as tight as possible. If some of the breadcrumb mixture comes out no problem. That means you put plenty!
    • Use a friend or sous chef to help you tie the butcher's twine around the beef braciole. Don't tie it so tight you squeeze everything out. You want to tie it where it just holds the flank steak together. I usually use 5 pieces of twine.
    • Make sure you sear the flank steak on all sides, so every side is browned nicely. It takes about 2 minutes per side. Searing meat is all about building flavor and texture so don't skip it!
    • Cut the braciole crosswise and diagonally into ½ inch slices so it is tender and melts in your mouth.
    sliced Braciole on white plate with rest of Braciole in background

    Other Beef Recipes

    • Beef Ragu
    • Corned Beef Poutine
    • Carne Asada Tacos
    • Guinness Beef Stew
    • Bison Bacon Jam Burger

    If you’ve tried this Italian braciole recipe or any other recipe on Chisel & Fork, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube to see more tasty meals and anything else I'm up to.

    close-up of Italian Braciole on white platter
    Print Recipe
    4.80 from 10 votes

    Italian Braciole

    This beef braciole recipe is meat stuffed with cheese that is slow cooked in a tomato sauce for hours and is the perfect Italian comfort food for a cold night.
    Prep Time30 mins
    Cook Time2 hrs 40 mins
    Total Time3 hrs 10 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 8 slices
    Calories: 381kcal
    Author: Ryan Beck

    Ingredients

    • 4 tablespoon olive oil, divided
    • ¼ lb pancetta, diced
    • ½ cup sweet onion, diced
    • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced
    • ½ cup dried Italian-style breadcrumbs
    • ⅔ cup grated Parmesan
    • ⅓ cup grated provolone
    • 2 tablespoon fresh Italian parsley, chopped
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 (1 ½ lb) flank steak
    • 1 cup dry red wine
    • 3 cups store-bought marinara sauce

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Heat 2 tablespoon olive oil in large sauté pan over medium heat. Add pancetta and cook until it's browned and crispy, about 5 minutes. Add the onions and crushed red pepper and cook until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes. With 1 minute remaining, add garlic. Remove and let cool.
    • Mix together the breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley and pepper. Stir in the pancetta onion mixture until everything is combined. Set aside.
    • Lay the flank steak flat and pound until about ¼" thick. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture evenly to cover the steak. Starting at the short end, roll up the steak like you would a jelly roll to enclose the filling. Using some butcher's twice, tie the steak to secure. Sprinkle the braciole with salt and pepper.
    • Heat remaining 2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the braciole and cook until browned on all sides, about 2 minutes per side. Add the wine and bring to a boil and stir in the marinara sauce. Cover and cook in the oven for 2 hours or until the meat is tender. Baste with the sauce very 30 minutes and remove the cover with 30 minutes remaining.
    • Remove the twine and cut the braciole crosswise and diagonally. Transfer to a plate and spoon sauce over to serve.

    Notes

    • Use quality flank steak. Beef is the star here, so don't go cheap on it. If you have a butcher that can cut it for you, take advantage and ask them to cut about ¼ inch in thickness.
    • Take your frustrations out on the flank steak and pound with a meat tenderizer. Flank steak is tough, so pounding it will help tenderize it and make it melt in your mouth when you cook it.
    • Use fresh provolone and Parmesan cheese. Do not buy pre-shredded cheese. Just try pre-shredded vs. blocks of cheese and side-by-side and you'll notice the difference.
    • Cover your flank steak with a thick coat of the breadcrumb mixture. This is where the flavor comes in so don't skimp it.
    • When rolling the flank steak, start at the short end and roll as tight as possible. If some of the breadcrumb mixture comes out no problem. That means you put plenty!
    • Use a friend or sous chef to help you tie the butcher's twine around the flank steak. Don't tie it so tight you squeeze everything out. You want to tie it where it just holds the flank steak together. I usually use 5 pieces of twine.
    • Make sure you sear the flank steak on all sides, so every side is browned nicely. It takes about 2 minutes per side. Searing meat is all about building flavor and texture so don't skip it!
    • Use quality dry red wine for sauce. When adding wine to a sauce, it has to be something you're willing to drink. I usually go with Chianti or Pinot Noir.
    • Use your favorite store-bought marinara sauce. The flavor comes from the steak and the wine.
    • Cut the braciole crosswise and diagonally into ½ inch slices so it is tender and melts in your mouth.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1slice | Calories: 381kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 70mg | Sodium: 474mg | Potassium: 137mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 250IU | Vitamin C: 3.3mg | Calcium: 60mg | Iron: 2mg
    Did You Try This Recipe?I love seeing what you make so mention @ChiselandFork or tag #chiselandfork on Instagram and please give a star rating below!
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    Comments

    1. Chris says

      December 11, 2018 at 7:54 am

      5 stars
      Man this sounds amazing! I remember from Everybody Loves Raymond as well!

      Reply
      • Rhonda says

        October 23, 2021 at 1:40 am

        It was actually his wife Deb that made the dish and was apparently the only decent thing she ever cooked for him lol

        Reply
        • Ryan says

          October 23, 2021 at 6:52 am

          That and lemon chicken!

          Reply
    2. monika says

      December 13, 2018 at 9:37 am

      What if you absolutely cannot stand parmesan?
      Will this recipe "work" without it or with an equal amount of provolone?

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        December 13, 2018 at 9:49 am

        Cheese is important to this but yes you can use something besides parmesan. An equal amount of provolone would work just fine. Hope you enjoy it!

        Reply
    3. Pat Medrick says

      March 26, 2020 at 1:01 pm

      5 stars
      This was so easy and the results so impressive. Can’t wait to make it again..

      Reply
    4. Toni-Jean F. says

      October 25, 2020 at 9:24 pm

      This sounds really good, but I’m confused. The first instruction says to preheat the oven, but at no point does the recipe say anything about putting it in the oven. Is it done stove top or baked?

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        October 26, 2020 at 7:18 am

        Sorry I recently just made an update and must have deleted. You place in the oven for 2 hours. Just updated. Thanks for pointing out.

        Reply
    5. Sherrie says

      December 18, 2020 at 11:17 am

      Do you cook with the lid on in the oven?

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        December 18, 2020 at 1:20 pm

        Yes for 2 hours and then remove the lid and cook for another 30 minutes.

        Reply
    6. Shari says

      January 31, 2021 at 7:44 pm

      5 stars
      Soooooo goood! My whole family loved it! Can’t wait to make again.

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        February 01, 2021 at 6:56 am

        Glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    7. Janet Shaw says

      January 25, 2023 at 5:47 pm

      Did mine in a slow cooker and came out amazing!

      Reply
      • Ryan says

        January 26, 2023 at 6:43 am

        Awesome!

        Reply

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