Pizzaiola Sauce | Easy Sauce Recipes (2024)

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Pizzaiola Sauce is a rich, tomato-based Italian sauce recipe, made for serving with meat - especially inexpensive cuts of beef! This deeply flavorful pizzaiola sauce recipe pairs well with thin cuts of steak, veal, or chicken. Best of all, you can make carne alla pizzaiola on the stove or in the Instant Pot - whichever you prefer!

Carne alla Pizzaiola

Carne alla pizzaiola, or "meat in pizza style", is a tomato-based sauce dish complete with traditionally inexpensive cuts of meat, tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and in the case of my pizzaiola sauce recipe, onions and peppers.

I love making this pizzaiola sauce recipe with thinly sliced steak, but it's also delicious over chicken. The rich flavors of the tomato sauce complement meat so well, and will leave everyone at the table feeling full and happy!

Try making pizzaiola sauce on the stove or in the Instant Pot following my recipe for pizzaiola, and I know you and your family will love it as much as mine does!

Pizzaiola Sauce FAQs

Pizzaiola Sauce Ingredients

• steaks (or meat of choice)
• salt
• pepper
• olive oil
• minced garlic
• onion, sliced
• peppers, sliced
• tomato sauce
• Italian seasoning
• red pepper flakes
• water
• fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
• shredded cheese (optional)

Pizzaiola Sauce Skillet Instructions

1. If using steak for pizzaiola sauce, first butterfly the steak by slicing it in half horizontally and stopping just before cutting all of the way through, then unfold it and pound it out with a meat tenderizer until it is flat but not overly thin. Cut away the silver skin if the steak has one. Generously season the steaks.
   
2. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat and sear the steak until browned, 3 minutes on each side. Set the steak aside on a plate after browning.
   
3. In the same skillet, add more oil. Add garlic, onion, and bell peppers, and cook until they soften.
   
4. Add tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and water. Stir.
   
5. Bring to a simmer, then add steaks back to the skillet. Simmer for 15 minutes on each side.
   
6. Transfer steaks to a cutting board and let them rest for 5 minutes. Allow the sauce to continue to simmer while the steaks rest, until it begins to thicken.
   
7. Slice steaks thinly against the grain and serve with sauce over top, along with parsley and cheese if desired.
   

Instant Pot Pizzaiola Sauce Instructions

1. For Instant Pot pizzaiola sauce, you do not need to pound your steaks thin. Season them on all sides with salt.
2. Add olive oil to Instant Pot on saute mode. Once hot, sear steaks on all sides, then set aside on a plate.
3. Without cleaning the pot, add the remaining olive oil along with garlic, onions, and peppers. Cook until soft.
4. Add tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and water. Stir.
5. Add steaks back to the pizzaiola sauce in the Instant Pot and make sure they are completely submerged in the liquid.
6. Add the lid back to the pot and cook on high pressure for 50 minutes. Carefully quick release the pressure after 50 minutes.
7. Pull steak apart after cooking and serve as is or over noodles or rice if desired.

Slow Cooker Pizzaiola Sauce Instructions

1. Heat slow cooker and add olive oil. Once hot, add seasoned steaks and sear on all sides until browned. Set aside.
2. Heat more oil in the slow cooker and add garlic, onion, and peppers. Cook until they soften.
3. Add tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, and water, and stir well.
4. Add steaks back to the pot and ensure they are submerged in liquid.
5. Cook on Low for 6-8 hours, or on High for 3-4 hours.

Pizzaiola Sauce Tips

• Although this recipe calls for steak, chicken may also be used. Make sure to pound the chicken out thinly as you would with the steak. I recommend using boneless chicken breasts or boneless thighs.
• The cook time may be different for chicken; use a meat thermometer to check for an internal temperature of at least 165℉ to 175℉.
• No matter what protein or cooking method you use to serve pizzaiola sauce, sear the meat first, then begin cooking the sauce. This will add essential flavor to the sauce.

Storing, Freezing, and Reheating Pizzaiola Sauce

• Store pizzaiola sauce in an airtight container or on a plate tightly wrapped with plastic for up to 4 days in the refrigerator.
• Or, freeze pizzaiola sauce after allowing it to cool in the refrigerator. Store in a freezer-safe container or freezer bag and label with the date. Freeze for up to 3 months.
• To reheat pizzaiola sauce, add it to a skillet over low heat and cook for 10 minutes or until heated through. For frozen sauce, it will take slightly longer, but reheat the same way.

Best Sauces for Meat

• Meatloaf Sauce
• Sauce for Meatballs
• Honey Sriracha Sauce
• Herb Garlic Butter
• Steak Sauce

Did you try this recipe? Let us know what you think in the comments below or send us an email! We love to hear from you.

📖 Recipe