Italian food is widely known around the world and is a lot more than just pasta. While we all love the popular Italian recipes like lasagna or spaghetti, it’s time to dig a little deeper. Cooking up these traditional Italian dishes will make it feel like your Italian nonna is in the kitchen with you! Find something everyone will love with these 25 easy Italian recipes.
1. Chicken Parmesan
With a classic Italian recipe like chicken parmesan, your whole family is sure to fall in love. For a traditional chicken parmesan, pound out your chicken breasts super thin and make sure they’re all an even size. The breading station will have three trays — one with flour, another with eggs and cream, and the third for breadcrumbs. After frying your chicken breast, start creating the layers in your baking pan. Start with marinara sauce, then chicken, more marinara sauce, and finish it with a healthy amount of mozzarella cheese.
2. Italian Meatballs
Everyone needs to have a go-to recipe for Italian meatballs. These meatballs are juicy and flavorful. They’re the perfect addition to so many meals! The trick to getting that rich and complex flavor is using three different types of meat. Yes, three — ground beef, ground pork, and Italian sausage. I have one more trick for you, and it’s called a panada. A panada is when you get a thick paste from soaking bread crumbs in milk. This is the key to keep your meatballs from drying out.
3. Italian Hot Chocolate
Traditional Italian recipes cover a lot more than just pasta and pizza. This rich and creamy Italian hot chocolate will have you dreaming of Italy. If you’re used to drinking hot chocolate from a packet, get that image out of your mind. This hot chocolate recipe is decadent and doesn’t resemble that powder mix in the slightest. Real dark chocolate gives this drink its rich flavor while whole milk and sugar transform it into a thick and slightly sweet treat.
4. Calzone
I know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I always choose a crispy calzone oozing with cheese over a slice of pizza. I think you’ll agree after trying this recipe for yourself! These portable meals are great for taking on the go and much better than any fast-food restaurant. Make a big batch and freeze to enjoy any time. Store-bought pizza dough cuts way down on time, but you can make your own. Stuff with your favorite pizza toppings like sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella, and veggies.
5. Caprese Chicken
Gooey cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and a slightly sweet balsamic reduction give so much flavor to this Caprese chicken. While this dish looks fancy, you won’t believe how easy it is to put together. Saute the chicken separately until it’s nicely browned and still juicy. Pile it high with the flavorful sun-dried tomatoes and cheese slices. Bake for about 10 minutes. Don’t forget to finish the dish off with a healthy drizzle of your balsamic reduction.
6. Rosemary Mushroom Risotto
Risotto is known as a difficult dish to make. Take on this mouth-watering rosemary mushroom risotto and discover how simple it can be. The key to making risotto is to only add warm broth so the rice cooks evenly. Believe me, you don’t want to rush this meal! This risotto is seasoned with mustard, giving such a delectable tang. Although the star of the show has to be the savory and aromatic rosemary. Get ready to impress your guests!
7. Tuscan Chicken
This one-pan Tuscan chicken is perfect for those busy nights. It’s creamy, delicious, and ready in under 30 minutes. While the ingredients are fairly simple, the flavor is definitely not! The sauce is made up of Alfredo sauce, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and cheese. Coat your browned chicken with the rich sauce and continue cooking, allowing your chicken to soak up all those bold flavors. It’s great as a stand-alone meal, but you can also serve it with pasta.
8. Tuscan Seafood Stew
Tuscan seafood stew is also known as cacciucco. There are typically five different types of seafood in it, one for each ‘c’ in its name. The choice of seafood is up to you! This dish is well seasoned with ingredients like garlic, parsley, sage, and red wine vinegar. Red pepper flakes add the perfect amount of heat to this succulent stew. Your stew is poured on top of homemade croutons to sop up that flavorful broth.
9. Neapolitan Pizza
Naples, Italy is the birthplace of Neapolitan pizza, and it’s where you’ll find the real deal. Since we can’t go on a last-minute trip, this recipe is the next best thing! Homemade dough is instrumental in getting that authentic crust. Don’t be intimidated, because it’s super easy. Neapolitan pizza is all about simplicity. The sauce is just canned tomatoes, and you’ll top it with fresh mozzarella and basil. Pizza night just got an upgrade!
10. Pizzette
If you’re thinking pizzette sounds like it’s a little pizza, you’re absolutely right. This finger food is perfect as an appetizer for your fancy party or a quiet hangout with friends. Using store-bought pizza dough makes this recipe a cinch to cook up. Top your mini-dough circles with fontina cheese, tomatoes, and parmesan cheese. After baking, finish them off with basil and a drizzle of olive oil. Play around with toppings to find your favorite combination.
11. Sausage Arugula Pizza
Crispy and mouthwatering, this sausage arugula pizza is about to become a new family favorite. Arugula on pizza might sound weird, but just hear me out. The fresh and nutty arugula perfectly balances out the greasy pork sausage, creating the ultimate combination. Add in the tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, and you’ll never want plain pepperoni pizza again. Use homemade dough or store-bought. You can’t go wrong with this savory slice.
12. Strawberry Nutella Pizza
This strawberry Nutella pizza combines pizza and dessert, so you’ll never have to choose! The rich and nutty flavor of the Nutella pairs perfectly with the sweet and juicy strawberries. For that crunch, add some sliced almonds. For dessert pizza, you’ll want to completely cook your crust first and make sure it’s slightly cool before adding your toppings. You can play around with toppings if Nutella and strawberries aren’t your favorite. Peanut butter, chocolate chips, or bananas are just a few options.
13. Pasta Fagioli al Forno
Get your family around the dinner table with Pasta Fagioli al Forno. It means “baked pasta with beans” and is full of creamy cheese and tangy tomato sauce. This tasty Italian recipe is packed with amazing flavorful ingredients like tomatoes, basil, red pepper flakes, oregano, and Italian sausage. It also has two different kinds of cheese! Onion, carrot, celery, and garlic get browned and the rest of the ingredients are added in. It’s then baked with more cheese and enjoyed by all.
14. Italian Tomato Sauce
A rich and flavorful Italian tomato sauce is the cornerstone of Italian cooking. This is a recipe you’ll want to pass down through the generations. A great Italian tomato sauce is simple. There aren’t a ton of ingredients, but cooking this sauce low and slow allows all the flavors to become one. The oregano, basil, and mint make the sauce feel light and fresh while the garlic, onion, and olive oil balance out the acidity in the tomatoes.
15. Bellini
Class up your next brunch with this simple and refreshing bellini recipe. When I say this recipe is simple, I mean it. The only two ingredients are peaches and prosecco. This creates the perfect bellini that’s fresh and bubbly. Peel the peaches, remove the pit, and blend until you get a smooth puree. You’ll want these chilled, so place your puree in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Add 2 ounces of your puree to a champagne flute, top with chilled prosecco, and enjoy!
16. Cheesy Florentine Pasta
Served as a hot dinner or a cold picnic lunch, this cheesy florentine pasta is perfect for any meal. The creamy parmesan sauce is the star of the show made with mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Spinach and bell peppers keep it fresh and add a bit of color. This whole meal is ready in under 30 minutes, making it great for those busy nights. You can even serve your pasta alongside a tender steak!
17. Stuffed Shells
Italian stuffed shells are a fun and delicious meal that will satisfy even the pickiest of eaters. Serving shell-shaped pasta is a sure way to get the little ones to eat. But it’s also full of rich, creamy cheese making it appetizing enough for adults, too! After stuffing cooked shells with your ricotta and parmesan cheese mixture, they’ll get topped with the tastiest meat sauce. Mozzarella cheese is sprinkled over them before putting them in the oven. Get ready for a quiet dinner time!
18. Muffuletta
If you’ve never heard of muffuletta before, it might become your new favorite meal. This sandwich is piled high with layers of tasty meat and flavorful veggies. The key to a classic muffuletta sandwich is the fresh olive salad. It’s made by combining olives, capers, peppers, parsley, giardiniera, and garlic in a food processor. The olive salad will get spread on each side of your roll. Then it will get layered with soppressata, mortadella, capicola, and provolone. Then you’ll repeat the layers.
19. Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
You’ll never need to visit Olive Garden again after making this copycat Olive Garden Alfredo sauce. This sauce isn’t complicated at all, and it’s a breeze to cook up. The only ingredients are heavy cream, butter, garlic, and parmesan cheese. Less is more with a classic Alfredo sauce. For the smoothest sauce, ensure your cream and butter mixture is bubbling before adding the cheese in small batches. It will melt the best and not clump.
20. Italian Salad
This Italian salad is the perfect accompaniment to your favorite pasta dish. Or whip this up on its own for a quick and fresh lunch. Homemade dressing is the key to this salad. And it’s so easy! In a processor, combine parsley, basil, oregano, garlic, red wine vinegar, olive oil, salt, pepper, and honey. That’s it! Some amazing vegetable options are romaine lettuce, carrot, tomato, olives, bell pepper, and feta cheese.
21. Pasta Alla Norma
Pasta alla norma is a Sicilian dish full of eggplant, flavorful marinara, and fresh basil. Traditionally, the eggplant is fried, but this recipe calls for roasted eggplant. This not only helps the dish feel lighter but also makes it easier to prepare. That’s a win-win in my book! Not many ingredients are needed to make this simple dish, so you can have it on the dinner table in no time.
22. Caponata
The combination of savory, sweet, and sour will have you falling in love with this traditional caponata. Browning the onion and celery before adding the olives and capers add a great depth of flavor. Then you’ll stir in the vinegar, giving this dish its slightly sour taste. The trick here is letting it sit to allow the flavors to meld together. Serve it with some crusty bread.
23. Florentine Steak
Florentine steak is also known as “Bistecca alla Fiorentina.” It’s a thick steak, seasoned simply and designed to be shared with others. A thick porterhouse steak is best for this recipe. The only seasoning is olive oil, salt, and pepper, so you’ll want a quality piece of meat. Serve with sides like roasted potatoes or a beautiful Italian salad.
24. Lasagna
A simple yet flavorful lasagna is the ultimate comfort food. This recipe transforms traditional lasagna into an easy meal you can even make on busy nights. Don’t worry about pre-cooking the lasagna noodles or making homemade marinara sauce. This lasagna is all about simplicity while keeping those amazing flavors. Your layers will be meat sauce, uncooked lasagna noodles, ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan. Then repeat, bake, and enjoy!
25. Cappuccino
All epic dinner parties wind down the same way — with great conversation and a hot, foamy cappuccino. A rich cappuccino isn’t difficult to make. All you need is coffee, water, and milk. A cappuccino maker is also helpful for doing all the hard work! Foamy milk is the key to a great cappuccino. It’s the perfect drink to start or your morning or end your evening. Click on a star to rate it!
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