Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (2024)

Published: · Modified: by Chef Dennis Littley

5 from 25 votes

Jump to Recipe

Beef Braciole was one of the recipes I developed during the early days of my restaurant career. I always cut my own steaks and the end of the Strip was never really fit for a good steak.

I would save those pieces for other recipes, and Braciole was always a customer favorite in the restaurants I worked at.

Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (1)

I can promise you if you ask your Italian grandmother how to make Beef Braciole it won’t be this way. I can also promise you that after you make and eat my version of this Italian Classic you’ll agree that there’s more than one way to make braciole.

Table of Contents:

What Ingredients do I need to make Beef Braciole?

Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (2)

Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make Braciole. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the up cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

What Kind of Beef Should I use for Braciole?

There are a lot of different cuts of meat you can use for Braciole, I like to use Eye Round because of the uniform size. Top Round is also a good choice and will be a little more tender than eye round.

In my restaurant days, it was the ends from the sirloin steaks I hand cut. I’ve even used filet a time or too depending upon what I had on hand and who I was making it for.

How do I make Beef Braciole?

Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (3)

Mix the ricotta, spinach, roasted red peppers, Romano cheese, and seasonings together. Refrigerate until needed.

Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (4)
  • Use a meat hammer and pound each piece of beef thin. Pound out each side, but don’t pound so hard that you tear the meat. As you pound the steaks, don’t just pound straight down. You need to hold the piece and almost push it outwards as you hit the meat trying to stretch it as you pound. *This will also help tenderize the meat. The meat hammer should have a ridged side that helps with the tenderizing.
  • After pounding the meat, lay a piece of prosciutto on top of the beef before adding the ricotta stuffing.
  • Add 1-2 tablespoons of the ricotta stuffing and spread it out in the center of each piece of beef, leaving a little room around the edges unstuffed.
  • Roll the beef up, shaping it like a small football. Try to seal the braciole as much as possible.
Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (5)

Once the beef braciole are all formed, you can get the breading station ready.

  • Flour seasoned with salt and pepper
  • Egg wash ( beaten egg with milk)
  • Seasoned bread crumbs (your own or store-bought)

Dredge the braciole in the seasoned flour (this is a good time to help reshape the braciole, the flour will help you close it up a little more). Then in the egg wash, and finally in the seasoned bread crumbs.

Repeat the process until all the braciole are breaded.

Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (6)

add some olive oil to a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the braciole to the pan.

Don’t be in a hurry to turn them over, you want a nice crust on the braciole and good color. Turn your braciole over and allow the other side to brown, repeat the process to all the sides of the braciole. You want some color all the way around.

Place the sauteed braciole in a 350 degree preheated oven for 20 minutes.

Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (7)

While the braciole are in the oven, start making the sauce.

  • Saute the mushrooms in olive oil till fully cooked
  • Add sambuca and allow alcohol to burn off
  • Add tomato sauce and grated Romano cheese
  • re-season to taste

*If the sauce gets too thick, thin it out with a little water.

Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (8)

Serve the beef braciole with the mushroom tomato sauce and grain or pasta of your choice.

Recipe FAQ’S

What is the best cut of meat for braciole?

Braciole is best made frompounded slices of beef eye round, sirloin, or filet. The individual slices are stuffed, rolled and usually served in a tomato-based sauce.
*Pounded pork or veal cutlets can also be used.

What region of Italy is braciole from?

The most traditional braciole recipes made with beef are fromSicily, Calabria, and Naples. Northern-Italian braciole are made generally made from pork or veal.

What does braciole mean in English?

Literally translated braciole translate to chops. When it comes toItalian cooking, braciole refers to thin slices of meat rolled stuffed, rolled and braised in a hearty tomato sauce

More Italian Recipes You’ll Love!

  • Sicilian Style Seafood with Pasta and Eggplant
  • Chicken Saltimbocca Recipe
  • Chicken Parmesan Recipe
  • Very Best Bolognese Sauce Recipe

Did you make this? Please RATE THE RECIPE below!

Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (13)

Print Recipe Save

5 from 25 votes

Beef Braciole with Mushroom Tomato Sauce

My restaurant-style beef braciole with a mushroom tomato sauce may not be your Grandmother's braciole but I promise it will bring smiles to your dinner table and soon become a family favorite.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time45 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Calories: 993kcal

Ingredients

Braciole Stuffing

  • 8 oz ricotta cheese full fat or part skim
  • ½ c grated Romano cheese
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 4 oz baby spinach cooked and chopped
  • ¼ cup roasted red peppers chopped – optional
  • ½ teaspoon granulated garlic
  • ½ teaspoon granulated onion
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Braciole Assembly

  • 1 ¼ lb eye round trimmed or beef of your choice – sliced thin and pounded
  • ¼ proscuitto sliced thin
  • 1 large egg
  • ½ cup milk or water for egg wash
  • 1 cup flour seasoned with sea salt and pepper
  • 2 cups bread crumbs Italian seasoned, panko, or plain

Mushroom Sauce

  • 8 oz mushrooms sliced
  • ½ cup Sambuca
  • ½ cup Romano cheese grated
  • 2 cups marinara homemade or your favorite brand
  • re-season to tastes

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

Braciole Stuffing

  • Start by briefly cooking the spinach in a little water (2-3 Minutes). Once the spinach has been prepared allow it to cool and then squeeze out any remaining water.

    Chop the spinach so that the pieces are easier to deal with when mixing.

  • Mix the ricotta, spinach, roasted red peppers, Romano cheese, beaten egg and seasonings together.

    *Refrigerate until needed.

Beef Baciole

  • Trim any excess fat, and grizzle from meat you'll be using for the braciole. Slice the meat, against the grain, just like you would cut it if it was a roast.

    *Each piece will weigh 2-3 ounces

  • Use a meat hammer and pound each piece of beef thin. Pound out each side, but don't pound so hard that you tear the meat. As you pound the steaks, don’t just pound straight down. You need to hold the piece and almost push it outwards as you hit the meat trying to stretch it as you pound.

    *This will also help tenderized the meat, your meat hammer should have a ridged side that helps with the tenderizing.

  • After pounding the meat, lay a piece of prosciutto on top of the beef before adding the ricotta stuffing.

  • Add a full tablespoon of stuffing and spread it out in the center of each piece of beef, leaving about a half inch unstuffed all the way around.

  • Roll the beef up, shaping it like a small football. Try to seal the braciole as much as possible.

  • Once the braciole are all formed, you can get the breading station ready.

    Dredge the braciole in the seasoned flour (this is a good time to help reshape the braciole, the flour will help you close it up a little more). Then in the egg wash, and finally in the seasoned bread crumbs.

    Repeat the process until all the braciole are breaded.

    Flour seasoned with salt and pepper

    Egg wash ( beaten egg with milk)

    Seasoned bread crumbs (your own or store-bought)

  • Add some olive oil to a saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the braciole to the pan.

    Don’t be in a hurry to turn them over, you want a nice crust on the braciole and good color. Turn your braciole over and allow the other side to brown, repeat the process to all the sides of the braciole. You want some color all the way around

  • Place the sauteed braciole in a 350 degree preheated oven for 20 minutes

Mushroom Sauce

  • While the braciole are in the oven, start making the sauce.

    Saute the mushrooms in olive oil till fully cooked. Add the sambuca and allow alcohol to burn off, then add the tomato sauce and grated Romano cheese

    re-season to taste. If the sauce gets to thick add a little water to the sauce.

  • Serve the braciole with the mushroom tomato sauce and grain or pasta of your choice.

Notes

**Sambucca is the only acceptable anise-flavored liqueur that can be used in this dish. I have tried other types and they all turn out badly. If you don’t have Sambucca it’s okay to just leave it out of the sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 993kcal | Carbohydrates: 77g | Protein: 62g | Fat: 41g | Saturated Fat: 20g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 237mg | Sodium: 1654mg | Potassium: 1441mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 3797IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 596mg | Iron: 10mg

Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

More Beef Recipes

  • Slow Cooker Chili
  • Easy Baked Ravioli Recipe
  • Best Smoked Brisket Burnt Ends
  • Garlic Herb Bottom Round Roast

About Chef Dennis

Chef Dennis Littley is a classically trained chef with over 40 years of experience working in the food service industry. In his second career as a food blogger he has made it his mission to demistify cooking by sharing his time-tested recipes, knowledge, and chef tips to help you create easy-to-make restaurant-quality meals in your home kitchen. Let Chef Dennis help you bring the joy of cooking into your home.For more details, check out his About page.

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Comment

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

  1. Charlie Ward

    There is no mention of prosciutto in the ingredient list. How much?

    Reply

    • Chef Dennis Littley

      about a 1/4 pound

      Reply

  2. Charlie Ward

    The instructions for cooking the braciola are not included in the recipe.

    Reply

    • Chef Dennis Littley

      I’ve been having issues with my recipe program, thanks for the heads up.

      Reply

  3. Sue

    Hi there – the filling ingredients list a beaten egg but the instructions never say to add an egg to the ricotta mixture – I’m going to add it assuming you just forgot to list it in the instructions … 🤞

    Reply

    • Chef Dennis Littley

      thanks for catching that Sue, and yes you were right, it goes in the ricotta mixture.

      Reply

  4. Naiby

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (19)
    Mmh! That sauce makes all the difference. I never had sambuca in a sauce before, but now I’ll definitely experiment with my other sauces.

    Reply

  5. Amy

    Fabulous recipe!! It was my first time making braciole and I was a little nervous. Thanks for the easy step by step directions. An amazing dinner!

    Reply

  6. Enriqueta E Lemoine

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (20)
    I was looking for a beef braciole recipe and landed here thanks to Google. Now I have the NEED to make your recipe. Thank you for the great turorial.

    Reply

  7. Jenny

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (21)
    This is a winner! The stuffing is so flavorful. I love this recipe, fantastic– thank you, Chef Dennis. Give this 5 stars.

    Reply

  8. Heidy

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (22)
    I love a good homemade Beef Braciole! This has to be one of any all-time favorite dishes. I haven’t had it in so long! I have most of the ingredients on hand, so this is going on the menu this week! It looks amazing!

    Reply

  9. Beth

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (23)
    I’m going to be getting a beef eye of round in my meat subscription box next week, and this braciole is exactly what I want to make with it – I love the combo of the tenderizing, stuffing and breading in this dish.

    Reply

  10. Farrukh Aziz

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (24)
    This looks really simple, yet so delicious! I loved the flavor of this braciole, and it was awesome with pasta!

    Reply

    • kushigalu

      Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (25)
      Never tried braciole before your recipe sounds amazingly delicious.i will be making this soon. Thanks for sharing

      Reply

  11. Amanda

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (26)
    Thank you for such a helpful guide! I’ve always wanted to make braciole, and you helped me nail it — so delicious!

    Reply

  12. Brianna

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (27)
    Beef braciole is one of my favorite dishes at a good homestyle Italian restaurant and I love that I can now make it at home! Your mushroom sauce sauce is divine!

    Reply

  13. Desicart

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (28)
    Yum! This looks so delicious and tasty!

    Reply

  14. Jessica Formicola

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (29)
    I looooove beef braciole, and yours looks like perfection! The step by step photos really help, too!

    Reply

  15. Emily Flint

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (30)
    This sounds really, really amazing! It’s making me hungry!!!

    Reply

  16. Audrey

    Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (31)
    This recipe really is just like one you would have at a restaurant.

    Reply

Beef Braciole Recipe (Braciola) (2024)

FAQs

Why is my braciole so tough? ›

Further, if you haven't pounded the meat thin enough, it can still be tough after cooking, so make sure to pound it to an even, thin slice. Lastly, the cooking time matters, as if you cook it too short it can be tough, so make sure to cook it slow and prolonged to get a more tender result.

What is the best cut of meat for beef braciole? ›

The other common way to make braciole is to use the top round cut of beef, which is a little less expensive than flank steak. Instead of being prepared as one long, thin roast, top round is sliced and pounded into multiple smaller steaks that are then rolled into individual bundles.

What does Braciola mean? ›

ˌbrä-chē-ˈō-ˌlā : a thin slice of meat wrapped around a seasoned filling and often cooked in wine.

Can I prep braciole the night before? ›

You can easily make braciole a day or two ahead of time, I've done that many times especially for parties. If I make them ahead of time for a party I also like to take my time removing the strings and cutting the rolls while they're cold.

What to do if meat is too tough? ›

You may need some sweetness and acidity to bring up the tough meat. Simmer in liquid. Just like for burnt meat, if your meat gets tough and dry then you can simmer it in a little bit of broth for a couple minutes. Don't allow it to overcook again but just allow the liquid to penetrate the meat.

What is the hardest cut of beef to cook? ›

Shank. Shank is arguably the toughest, cheapest cut of beef. Located in front of the brisket at the cow's forearm, this beef cut is notable for its sinewy dryness. Due to its lack of popularity, shank is not typically found in retail stores.

What is the most expensive cut of beef called? ›

A5 Japanese Kobe Beef

What is this? Japanese Kobe steak is one expensive meat. In fact, it's usually considered the most expensive steak in the world, although prices vary by location, restaurant, etc. In fact, Japanese Kobe is often hailed as having the best marbling of any steak that your money can buy.

What is the difference between braciole and braciola? ›

In Italy, "braciole" often refers to simple grilled slices of meat, usually pork. This is because "braciola" can be a term for any piece of meat cooked over embers or "braci." These are typically smaller pieces of meat, simply seasoned, grilled, and enjoyed right off the fire.

What does Fazool mean in Italian? ›

1. Italian for bean . 2. Term used for money or a bill .

What is the difference between spiedini and braciole? ›

While they are quite similar, Spiedini means "skewer" in Italian and can refer to a number of different Italian meat preparations. My recipe uses pecorino Romano, lots of onions, and bay leaves and gets baked, while my braciole uses parmesan, a little bit of garlic, and parsley and is braised.

How do you reheat beef braciole? ›

You can store the beef braciole in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, inside an airtight container. Reheat the dish in a pan over low heat for about 10 minutes or until warm.

Does cooking tough meat longer make it tender? ›

This is certainly true when it comes to notoriously tough cuts of meat like beef brisket and pork shoulder. Cooking these cuts of meat slowly, either by braising, stewing or grill roasting, is the best way to get these tasty cuts of meat meltingly tender.

Why is my meat tough after cooking? ›

Both factors are influenced by the cut of meat you choose and how long the meat is cooked. The more a muscle is used, the stronger, and therefore tougher, the cut of meat will be. And the longer meat is cooked, the more liquid it loses and the tougher it becomes.

Can tough cooked meat become tender? ›

When cooked in the presence of moisture, collagen dissolves into gelatin, which allows the meat fibers to separate more easily. This is the essence of tenderizing tough cuts of meat.

Why does meat get tough when overcooked? ›

Your overcooked steak is tough and chewy because of a lack of its natural liquid and fat, so here are some ways to infuse liquids and fats into your steak. Covering your overcooked steak with a thick sauce or gravy will help balance out the dryness and make up for its lack of flavor.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Greg O'Connell

Last Updated:

Views: 5569

Rating: 4.1 / 5 (42 voted)

Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Greg O'Connell

Birthday: 1992-01-10

Address: Suite 517 2436 Jefferey Pass, Shanitaside, UT 27519

Phone: +2614651609714

Job: Education Developer

Hobby: Cooking, Gambling, Pottery, Shooting, Baseball, Singing, Snowboarding

Introduction: My name is Greg O'Connell, I am a delightful, colorful, talented, kind, lively, modern, tender person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.