Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (2024)

Published August 23, 2019.This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

For an absolutely delicious easy to make weeknight meal, look no further than this steak pizzaiola recipe that is loaded with beef and a garlicky stewed tomato herb sauce.

Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (1)

Weekdays can get a little crazy but if you’re like me and still are wanting to get a great meal on the table for your family then this steak recipe will deliver. In addition, the great part about this recipe is that it uses few ingredients which you are most likely to have already laying around the house.

Steak Pizzaiola

This is a traditional Neapolitan simple recipe consisting of thinly cut pan-fried steaks that are then braised in a very easy to make tomato sauce. If you look at the word pizzaiola, you can obviously see the word pizza, so essentially the sauce would be used as the sauce in this recipe.

When a lot of these traditional recipes were created the world was not rich, so it fell on what was available at the time. If there was leftover pizza sauce it was used as the braising liquid along with meat which created this dish.

Authentic Steak Pizzaiola

Since a lot of these older recipes had variations depending on availability of ingredients the most authentic version consisted of these ingredients:

Steak – A sirloin steak that was thinly sliced and gently pounded using a mallet until flattened is most commonly used for this recipe. You can also use cuts such as strip loin, beef tenderloin, flank steak or round steak.

Olive Oil – In Italy, their version of fat and cooking in fat is olive oil, nothing else.

Garlic – Classically you would fry a whole garlic clove in this recipe, however finely minced garlic helps to spread the flavor further.

Yellow Onion – A roughly chopped or finely minced yellow onion that is lightly caramelized would be in the base of this steak recipe.

White Wine – this ingredient would be optional, but it does add exceptional flavor to the recipe.

Tomatoes – If in season then concasse fresh vine-ripe or Roma tomatoes would be best. If out of season, then whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes will be delicious.

Oregano – this is a necessity for this recipe and you can use dry which would be put in at the beginning of the tomato stewing process or finish with fresh.

How to Concasse a Tomato

cut out the stem and slice an x in the bottom of the tomato. Boil in water for 45 to 60 seconds and then immediately cool in an ice bath for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the skin, slice in half and squeeze out as many seeds as possible and then roughly chop.

Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (2)

How to Make It

1. season the steak with salt and pepper.

2. Pan-fry the thin cuts of steak until browned on both sides and set aside.

3. Caramelize the onions and garlic in the same pan until browned.

Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (3)

4.Deglaze with optional white wine and add in the tomatoes and stew for 15-20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper

5. Add the pan-fried beef back into the tomato saucepan, place a cover on it and cook for 5-6 minutes.

6. Finish by mixing in fresh chopped oregano and serve.

How to Make It in a Slow Cooker

Steak pizzaiola is a fairly easy and quick recipe to make, however, if you are on the go and have no time then you can absolutely make it in the slow cooker. With that being said I would suggest you use a large cut of meat like beef stew meat or a small round roast so that it can break down over time.

  • Brown the larger seasoned beef cut in a pan or on the saute function of your slow cooker.
  • Next, deglaze with a little white wine and then simply add in the remaining ingredients except for the fresh oregano, salt, and pepper. If you are using dry oregano, put it in at this stage.
  • Slow cook on low heat for 7-8 hours or high heat for 4-5 hours.
  • Finish with by stirring in fresh chopped oregano, salt, and pepper.

In fact, if you did a slow cooker steak pizzaiola it would make for a delicious meat sauce as well.

Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (4)

Reheat and Storage

How To Reheat: Add the sauce and steaks to a saucepan and cook covered over low heat for 8-10 minutes or until warm.

Store and Freezing:Store the steak and sauce covered in plastic for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Steak pizzaiola will freeze well covered in a container for up to 3 months.

Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (5)

chef notes + tips

  • Pizza sauce in the Napolitano region of Italy is a simple tomato sauce, not the thick tomato paste style pizza sauce that we know in America.
  • You can also use rabbit or poultry meat as well, as these would have been traditional as well.
  • For the wine, I used an Italian Pinot grigio.
  • Make sure the steak is pounded out before pan searing.
  • Since it’s all steak and sauce you should consider serving it up alongside some fettuccine noodles or creamy polenta.

More Amazing Beef Recipes

  • Steak Frites Recipe
  • Beef Braciole
  • New York Strip
  • Florentine Steak
  • T Bone Steak
  • Easy Beef Stir Fry

Be sure to follow me onFacebook,Youtube,Instagram,andPinterestand if you’ve had a chance to make this then definitely drop me a comment and a rating below!

Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (6)

Video

Save

Steak Pizzaiola Recipe

Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (7)

Print

5 from 12 votes

For an absolutely delicious easy to make weeknight meal, look no further than this steak pizzaiola recipe that is absolutely delicious.

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 21 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 8- ounce striploin or sirloin steaks cut in half width-wise.
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 peeled small diced yellow onion
  • 4 finely minced cloves of garlic
  • ¾ cup pinot grigio, optional
  • 10-12 peeled, seeded and roughly chopped fresh vine ripe tomatoes (or 2-28 ounce cans San Marzano tomatoes)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh oregano
  • sea salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Place the sliced steak in between 2 pieces of plastic wrap or butchers’ paper and pound using a mallet until it is half as thick as the original slice. Season with salt and pepper on both sides.

  • Add olive oil to a large frying pan or rondeau pot over medium heat.

  • Once the oil begins to lightly smoke add in the steaks and cook for 2 to 2 ½ minutes per side or until browned. You may have to do this in batches depending on how big the pan is. Remove the steak from the pan.

  • Add the onions and garlic to the pan and roast for 6-8 minutes or until browned.

  • Deglaze with wine and cook until most of it has been absorbed, there should be 2 to 3 tablespoons left in the pan.

  • Add in the tomatoes and stew over medium-low heat for 20 minutes or until the sauce is thick and the tomatoes have broken down. Season with salt and pepper.

  • Add the steaks to the top of the tomato sauce, place a lid on and cook for 5 to 6 minutes to warm the steak back up.

  • Finish by stirring in some fresh oregano and serve.

Notes

Chef Notes:

  • How To Reheat:Add the sauce and steaks to a sauce pan and cook covered over low heat for 8-10 minutes or until warm.
  • Store and Freezing:Store the steak and sauce covered in plastic for up to 4 days in the refrigerator. Steak pizzaiola will freeze well covered in a container for up to 3 months.
  • Pizza sauce in the Napolitano region of Italy is a simple tomato sauce, not the thick tomato paste style pizza sauce that we know in America.
  • You can also use rabbit or poultry meat as well, as these would have been traditional as well.
  • For the wine, I used an Italian Pinot grigio.
  • Make sure the steak is pounded out before pan searing.
  • Since it’s all steak and sauce you should consider serving it up alongside some fettuccine noodles or creamy polenta.
  • To concasse a tomato cut out the stem and slice an x in the bottom of the tomato. Boil in water for 45 to 60 seconds and then immediately cool in an ice bath for 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the skin, slice in half and squeeze out as many seeds as possible and then roughly chop.
  • If you are using dry oregano, put it in when the tomatoes go into the pot.

Nutrition

Calories: 482kcalCarbohydrates: 46gProtein: 23gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 1508mgPotassium: 2221mgFiber: 11gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 1223IUVitamin C: 99mgCalcium: 367mgIron: 12mg

Author: Chef Billy Parisi

Elevate Your Every Day Cooking

Get Chef Billy’s go-to tips that transform “blah” into “brilliant” plus weekly newsletter!

Add a comment

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

28 comments

    • OldBikerCook
    • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (8)

    My version is similar, and your suggestion of using for meat sauce is spot on. I serve over thin noodles, My granddaughter calls it steakgetti. Lol.

    • Reply
    • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (9)

        Excellent!

        • Reply
      • Catherine Dirks

      I’ve made this twice now in a month. I used cubed sirloin from my butcher ( we buy beef a half at a time). My family is crazy about this meal! Thanks for a fabulous dish!

      • Reply
      • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (10)

          appreciate you trying it

          • Reply
        • louise archetti
        • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (11)

        Made this recipe and it was so easy and delicious. I used fresh tomato and seeding it was easier than I thought . Family loved it and Watching Billiy s video makes me want to try more of his recipes. He needs a cooking show! Thanks

        • Reply
        • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (12)

            fantastic

            • Reply
          • Darren Stacey
          • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (13)

          Made this as a more upmarket family meal and it went down a storm! My kids thought I was some kind of ‘food Jedi’ for creating this dish. Granted it takes more time to properly concasse the tomatoes but it’s well worth it, and it teaches you another cooking technique to add to you’re skill set. I served mine with pappardelle pasta and some homemade garlic ciabatta. Would definitely make this again. Thanks Chef Billy

          • Reply
          • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (14)

              thanks for giving it a shot!!

              • Reply
            • Armondo
            • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (15)

            My Grandmother was from Naples, I loved when she cooked this. I am almost 64 now but I seem to remember her putting green bell peppers in it as well, and since we were pretty poor I know she used chuck steak which she trimmed and pounded. My Grandfather loved it and as a boy I used to love sitting at the table watching him eat and drink his wine, dipping fresh Italian bread in it as he ate!

            • Reply
            • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (16)

                Great!

                • Reply
              • Melissa Lee Ragsdill

              Have yet to make, BUT thank you for sharing this recipe!! Must admit, in watching ELR, Everybody Loves Raymond, I’ve heard about this So often, and have wondered what it was, and thanks to you, now I know, lol 😉 Keep up the Fab work, new fan here 🙂

              • Reply
              • Diane
              • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (17)

              I have made several of your recipes. I have learned amazing things. I love to cook and you have made me more confident. I am mostly Spanish and Mexican and Kentuckian heritage. Yes it is funny. I tell people I am a Span-Mex Hillbilly. So we eat a lot of different foods. Now I am Part Italian. wonderful.

              • Reply
              • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (18)

                  Excellent

                  • Reply
                • Susan Cain

                How should I handle the canned, whole tomatoes? Rough chop? Just squeeze them? Should I add the liquid with them or drain first? Thanks.

                • Reply
                • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (19)

                    squeeze. Liquid is fine.

                    • Reply
                  • Cinder
                  • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (20)

                  I loved making this recipe. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the steak which was cooked in a tomato sauce.

                  • Reply
                  • Ines
                  • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (21)

                  Your recipes and videos are amazing. Anyone can prepare great meals with your videos. Thank you so much!

                  • Reply
                  • Mary

                  What do you serve with this? I’m thinking maybe polenta.

                  • Reply
                  • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (22)

                      Polenta is good. Pasta, rice or potatoes as well. I believe I provide options in the blog post 🙂

                      • Reply
                    • Becky Hardin
                    • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (23)

                    I seriously can not wait to make this! It looks and sounds amazing.

                    • Reply
                    • Cheryl S
                    • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (24)

                    I can’t wait to make this! I was looking for a steak pizzaiola recipe years ago when we were watching The Sopranos and never could find one. My husband will be so happy!!

                    • Reply
                    • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (25)

                        Great show!

                        • Reply
                      • Taylor
                      • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (26)

                      So flavorful and delicious! Yum!

                      • Reply
                      • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (27)

                          Thank you!

                          • Reply
                        • lauren kelly
                        • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (28)

                        I am SO excited to make this! What a delicious recipe and gorgeous pictures too.

                        • Reply
                        • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (29)

                            Thank you! Super easy to make and really tasty.

                            • Reply
                          • Aimee Shugarman
                          • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (30)

                          OMg I’m drooling over here. Putting this on our menu asap!

                          • Reply
                          • Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (31)

                              Haha, it is good 🙂

                              • Reply
                          Steak Pizzaiola Recipe (2024)

                          FAQs

                          What is steak pizzaiola made of? ›

                          Steak Pizzaiola is a rustic peasant-style beef dish that combines mushrooms, peppers, and beef that's braised in a pizza-style sauce that's so good it's almost drinkable! Since we use inexpensive cuts of beef for our alla pizzaiola, this dish packs maximum flavor with minimal cost.

                          What is a pizzaiola style? ›

                          Carne pizzaiola or carne alla pizzaiola (roughly translated as 'meat in pizza style'), sometimes referred to just as pizzaiola, is a dish derived from the Neapolitan and Apulian tradition that features meat (often less expensive cuts of beef) cooked with tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, and white wine long enough to ...

                          Who invented steak pizzaiola? ›

                          Otherwise known as carne alla pizzaiola, the origins of this dish likely come from a Sicilian recipe using beef shoulder for the meat. Other ingredients, however, point to Naples, Italy as the origin of the recipe.

                          What does pizzaiola mean in Italian? ›

                          borrowed from Italian, short for alla pizzaiola (Neapolitan dialect â pizzaiòla), literally, "in the manner of a pizza-maker"

                          Why is it called steak pizzaiola? ›

                          This is a traditional simple Neapolitan recipe consisting of thinly cut pan-fried steaks braised in a very easy-to-make tomato sauce. If you look at the word pizzaiola, you can see the word pizza, so essentially, the sauce would be used in this recipe.

                          Who is the famous Italian steak guy? ›

                          Credit: Dario Cecchini. Undoubtedly, Cecchini is the best -and not just for the meat. For more than four decades, Cecchini has captivated the world with his ability to transmit his passion for carne and butchery into an experience.

                          What is the oldest steakhouse? ›

                          The Old Homestead Steakhouse in New York City has been operating for more than 150 years, making it the oldest continuously operating steakhouse in the United States.

                          What is a female pizza maker called? ›

                          The name for a female pizza maker in Italian is pizzaiola. The name for a male pizza maker in Italian is pizzaiolo, and the plural is pizzaioli. Otherwise, the general name that people use in English is either pizza maker or pizza chef.

                          What is the slang word for pizza maker? ›

                          Pizzaiolo: (masculine) & Pizzaiola (feminine): The Italian word for pizza maker. Roadie: On the go? Take a slice on the road. Sinatra: A pie that comes out perfectly golden, has a little bit of sauce peeking out, and whose cheese is glistening.

                          Top Articles
                          Latest Posts
                          Article information

                          Author: Velia Krajcik

                          Last Updated:

                          Views: 5691

                          Rating: 4.3 / 5 (74 voted)

                          Reviews: 89% of readers found this page helpful

                          Author information

                          Name: Velia Krajcik

                          Birthday: 1996-07-27

                          Address: 520 Balistreri Mount, South Armand, OR 60528

                          Phone: +466880739437

                          Job: Future Retail Associate

                          Hobby: Polo, Scouting, Worldbuilding, Cosplaying, Photography, Rowing, Nordic skating

                          Introduction: My name is Velia Krajcik, I am a handsome, clean, lucky, gleaming, magnificent, proud, glorious person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.