The rolls are made with either beef or pork and fork-tender when completed cooking.
I also like to simmer them in their own pan seam down so they don't open up they are held together with butcher thread or toothpicks.
I can still remember Mom making these on Sunday morning and the smell of garlic in the oil frying before she started to saute them. The outside of the meat was always deliciously seasoned.
These step-by-step instructions will give you the best results that Mom and Grandmom made through the years and I continue on with their legacy of these fabulous stuffed meat rolls.
These braciole are easy to make, and very time-consuming but worth every minute when you take that first delicious bite into this slow-simmered meat roll.
These braciole meat roll-ups are simple to make and very impressive like they came from a 5-star restaurant.
Scroll down to get these easily printable step-by-step instructions on how to make these delicious stuffed meat rolls Italian Style of course!
Step by Step Making Braciole Easy
- Slice the beef or pork 1/4 inch thick, pound the meat if necessary if the meat is to thick
- ill with breadcrumbs, hard-boiled eggs, cheese, garlic, parsley salt, and pepper,
- secure with butchers thread
- fry in oil
- simmer in your favorite Traditional Sunday Tomato Sauce
Tools
- deep fry pan
- cheese grater
- sharp knife
- pie plate for breadcrumbs
- saucepot
- butchers thread (or toothpicks can be used in a pinch)
- meat pounder is optional
- egg slicer
- cutting board
Tips
- make the meat, thin pound it if it's thicker than around 1/4 inch
- season the meat with salt and pepper when it's raw
- these can be baked in the oven instead of fried
- simmer slowly in tomato sauce
- use butchers thread is recommended (or toothpicks in a pinch can be used)
- always fry rolls seam side down
- for those not fond of beef or pork use chicken, turkey, or thin pounded steaks, which can be substituted
- braciole will freeze fine in the sauce or fried then be placed in freezer containers for up to 6 months
Serving Suggestions
- simmered in your favorite meat sauce served on the side
- serve with your favorite cooked pasta
- remove the thread and serve over hard-crusted Italian bread
- can be served with additional meats in sauce IE meatballs, Italian sausage
Shopping List Below(measurements in the printable recipe card please scroll to the bottom)
- boneless pork, or beef round steak
- Italian bread crumbs
- garlic, minced
- freshly ground cracked pepper and salt to taste
- Pecorino Romano cheese grated
- hard-boiled eggs
- Italian parsley chopped
- extra virgin olive oil for frying or another oil
- your favorite Traditional Sunday Sauce
More Recipes We Love
Homemade Tortellini
Homemade Cavatelli Pasta
Mom's Lasagna
Homemade Orecchiette Pasta
Pin for later
Holiday Braciole
This recipe is simple to make and elegant to serve, it really is a showstopper for any dinner party or special occasion!
The meat tastes fantastic with any pasta meal and is certainly a work of art in any Italian food menu.
Our recipe for braciole is mom's and grandmoms from the early 1940s and we have continued in their memory to make this on holidays, and other special family's special events.

Braciole Stuffed Meat Rolls
Yield: 8
Prep time: 25 MinCook time: 2 HourTotal time: 2 H & 25 M
These are meat rolls that have been stuffed with garlic, parsley, breadcrumbs, and boiled eggs, The Italian braciole then get dropped into tomato sauce after frying.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs. bottom round or pork ( meat should be around cut 1/4 inch thick or round steak
- salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 1 cup chopped or sliced thick hard-boiled eggs (usually 3 eggs)
- 1 cup Italian flavored bread crumbs mixed with 1/2 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
- finely chopped fresh garlic cloves (3 or 4 whole cleaned cloves of garlic )
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh flat Italian parsley leaves
- 4 tablespoons extra virgin and/or vegetable oil for frying. mixed together
- more grated cheese is optional for garnish
- Recipe for Traditional Sunday Tomato Sauce
Instructions
- Layout the thinly cut round steaks that are approximately 8 x 8 or larger in size on a cutting board.
- Sprinkle with breadcrumbs mixed with cheese..
- Add the finely chopped boiled egg or slices if you prefer on top.
- Sprinkle the top with salt, pepper, and parsley ( I also add more grated cheese on top.
- Fold the side then roll like a jelly roll.
- Use butcher's thread to hold together to tie the rolls so nothing falls out.
- Fry in heated oil until browned on both sides.
- These are now ready to be added to your favorite Traditional Tomato Sauce.
- These should simmer in the sauce for around 2 hours until very tender.
- Note: the meat whether pork or beef needs to slow cook to be tender.
- Serve with your favorite macaroni, covered with tomato sauce and braciole on the side.
Notes:
Tips
- make the meat sliced thin pound ,it if it's thicker than around 1/4 inch
- season the meat with salt and pepper when it's raw
- these can be baked in the oven instead of fried
- simmer slowly in tomato sauce
- use butchers thread is recommended (or toothpicks in a pinch can be used)
- always fry rolls seam side down
- for those not fond of beef or pork use chicken, turkey, or thin pounded steaks, which can be substituted
- braciole freeze fine in the sauce or fried then placed in freezer containers for up to 6 months
Pin for later
More Recipes We Love
Italian Meatballs
Italian Homemade Sausage Patties
This is an Affiliate link and I do make a small commission see Disclosure Policy here
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2009. It was edited and re-published in 2021.
MAMMA MIA I CAN'T TAKE IT...MY MOUTH HAS BEEN WATERING SO MUCH....IT'S RUN DRY!!!
ReplyDeleteSTOP, YOU'RE KILLING ME!!! LOL....
BROTHER JOHN
delicious no doubt and fairly healthy too with protein and more, well rounded dish in flavours and visual. thanks for sharing xxx Rico|Recipes
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness that is one mouth watering meat roll..delicious!!!
ReplyDeleteOh. Yum. Salivate.
ReplyDeleteThey look so tender and juicy. Slow cooking in homemade tomato sauce makes all the difference, I bet.
ReplyDeleteI though it would be hard to make but i actually did it. So tender and delicious!
ReplyDeleteBraciole has been on my try list for a while but I think I've been intimidated so maybe this will inspire me.
ReplyDeleteThese look so delicious! Would be amazing for a special occasion dinner. The sauce looks fantastic!
ReplyDeleteThis looks so finger-licking good; I can only imagine the flavors. Am saving to add this to my Christmas menu!
ReplyDeleteSuper delicious comfort food at its best
ReplyDeleteSaving this for an upcoming weekend event. Can't wait to try this
ReplyDeleteI have wanted to make these for so long! This recipe convinced me to take the leap. They were delicious and easy too, even though there seems to be a lot of steps, it's quick. I used pork, because I think pork is much better than beef. I made your sauce too. OMG, it was to die for!
ReplyDeleteBraciole looks amazing! Will be a perfect dinner, serve with some pasta and salad.
ReplyDeleteI had this before but never made it, the step by step pictures are super helpful, thank you for explaining! Saving for later :)
ReplyDeleteLooks like the kind of dinner I need to make for my family! Perfect for a weekend special!
ReplyDeleteThey look so delicious, tender and juicy. Looove slow cooked meals and nothing like a big bowl of these meatballs in this season.
ReplyDeleteThese look so delicious, tender and juicy. Looove slow cooked meals and a big bowl of these meatballs would be just perfect in this season.
ReplyDelete