From chicken parmesan to Neapolitan pizza, bring the flavor of Italy to your kitchen with these classic Italian recipes.
Italian food is widely known around the world and is much more than pasta.
While we all love popular Italian recipes like lasagna or spaghetti, it’s time to dig a little deeper
.
Cooking 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, crush your super-thin chicken breasts and make sure they’re all a uniform size
.
The breading station will have three trays: one with flour, one with eggs and cream, and the third for breadcrumbs.
After frying the chicken breast, start creating the layers on your baking sheet.
Start with marinara sauce,
then chicken, plus marinara sauce, and finish with a healthy amount of mozzarella cheese
.
2. Italian meatballs
Everyone needs to have a recipe for Italian meatballs. These meatballs are juicy and tasty. They are the perfect complement to so many meals!
The trick to getting that rich, complex flavor is to use 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
panada.
A panada is when you get a thick paste by soaking bread crumbs in milk. This is the key to preventing your meatballs from drying out.
3. Italian
Hot
Chocolate Traditional Italian recipes cover much more than just pasta and pizza
.
This rich and creamy Italian hot chocolate will make you dream of Italy
.
If you’re used to drinking hot chocolate from a package, get that image out of your mind
.
This hot chocolate recipe is decadent and doesn’t look the slightest bit like that powdered mixture.
Real dark chocolate gives this drink its rich flavor, while whole milk and sugar transform it into a thick, slightly sweet treat.
4. Calzone
I
know it’s an unpopular opinion, but I always choose a crispy calzone that oozes cheese over a slice of pizza
.
I think you will agree after trying this recipe for yourself!
These portable meals are great to go and much better than any fast food restaurant. Make a large batch and freeze to enjoy at any time.
Store-bought pizza dough is reduced on time, but you can make your own
.
Fill your favorite pizza toppings like salsa, pepperoni, mozzarella, and vegetables
.
5
. Caprese Chicken Gooey cheese, sun-dried tomatoes and
slightly sweet balsamic reduction give this Caprese chicken a lot of flavor
.
While this dish looks elegant, you won’t believe how easy it is to put it together
.
Sauté the chicken separately until it is well browned and still juicy
.
Pile with the tasty sun-dried tomatoes and cheese slices. Bake for about 10 minutes.
Don’t forget to finish the plate with a healthy drizzle from your balsamic reduction
.
6. Mushroom risotto with rosemary Risotto
is known as a difficult dish to make. Hop on this delicious rosemary mushroom risotto and discover how simple it can be.
The key to making risotto is to add only hot broth so that the rice cooks evenly. Believe me, you don’t want to rush this meal!
This risotto is seasoned with mustard, giving such a delicious taste
.
Although the star of the show has to be the tasty 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 less than 30 minutes.
While the ingredients are pretty simple, the taste definitely isn’t!
The sauce
consists of Alfredo sauce, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasonings and cheese
.
Top your golden chicken with the rich sauce and continue cooking, allowing your chicken to absorb all those bold flavors
.
It’s great as a standalone food, but you can also serve it with pasta
.
8. Tuscan Seafood Stew
Tuscan seafood stew is also known as cacciucco. There are usually 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 such as garlic, parsley, sage and red wine vinegar
.
Red pepper flakes add the perfect amount of heat to this succulent
stew.
Their stew is poured over homemade croutons to absorb that tasty 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 make a last-minute trip, this recipe is the best option!
Homemade dough is essential to get 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 update!
10. Pizzette
If you’re
thinking pizzette sounds like a little pizza, you’re absolutely right
.
This appetizer is perfect as an aperitif for your luxury party or a quiet place with friends
.
The use of store-bought pizza dough makes this recipe very easy to cook. Top your mini dough circles with fontina cheese, tomatoes and Parmesan cheese.
After baking, finish with basil and a splash of olive oil. Play with the ingredients to find your favorite combination.
11. Arugula Sausage Pizza
Crispy and delicious, this arugula sausage pizza
is about to become a new family favorite
. Arugula
on pizza may sound weird, but listen to me. Fresh, nutty arugula
perfectly balances greasy pork sausage, creating the ultimate combination
.
Add tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese, and you’ll never want simple pepperoni pizza again.
Use homemade or store-bought dough. You can’t go wrong with this tasty slice.
12. Strawberry
Nutella Pizza This strawberry Nutella pizza combines
pizza and dessert, so you’ll never have to choose!
The rich and juicy
nutty flavor of Nutella combines perfectly with sweet and juicy strawberries. For that crunch, add some sliced almonds.
For dessert pizza, you’ll want to thoroughly cook your crust first and make sure it’s slightly chilled before adding your toppings
.
You can play with the ingredients if Nutella and strawberries are not your favorite. Peanut butter, chocolate chips, or bananas are just a few options.
13
. Pasta Fagioli al Forno
Gather your family around the table with Pasta Fagioli al Forno. It means “baked pasta with beans” and is filled with creamy cheese and spicy tomato sauce.
This tasty Italian
recipe is packed with amazing tasty ingredients like tomatoes, basil, red pepper flakes, oregano, and Italian sausages
.
It also has two different types of cheese!
The onion, carrot, celery and garlic are browned and the rest of the ingredients are added. It is then baked with more cheese and enjoyed by all.
14. Italian
tomato sauce
A rich and tasty Italian tomato sauce is the cornerstone of Italian cuisine. This is a recipe you’ll want to pass down from generation to generation.
A great Italian tomato sauce is simple. There aren’t a ton of ingredients, but cooking this low, slow sauce allows all the flavors to become one.
Oregano, basil, and mint make the sauce feel light and fresh, while garlic, onion, and olive oil balance the acidity of tomatoes
.
15
. Bellini
Rank your next brunch with this simple and refreshing recipe from Bellini
.
When I say this recipe is simple, I mean it. The only two ingredients are peaches and prosecco. This creates the perfect bellini that is fresh and bubbly.
Peel the peaches, remove the pit and mix until you get a
soft puree.
You’ll want these to cool, so place your puree in the refrigerator for 30 minutes
.
Add 2 ounces of your puree to a champagne flute, top with cold prosecco and enjoy!
16. Florentine
pasta with cheese
Served as a hot dinner or a cold picnic lunch, this Florentine cheese pasta is perfect for any meal
.
The creamy Parmesan sauce is the star of the show made with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Spinach and peppers keep it fresh and add a little color.
This full meal is ready in less than 30 minutes, making it ideal for those busy nights. You can even serve your pasta along with a tender steak!
17. Italian
stuffed shells are a fun and delicious meal that will satisfy even the most discerning diners
.
Serving pasta in the shape of a shell is a sure way to get the little ones to eat. But it’s also full of rich, creamy cheese, which makes it appetizing enough for adults!
After filling the cooked shells with their mixture of ricotta and Parmesan cheese, they will be topped with the tastiest meat sauce.
The mozzarella cheese is sprinkled on them before putting them in the oven. Get ready for a quiet dinner!
18
. Muffuletta
If you’ve never heard of muffuletta before, it could become your new favorite food. This sandwich is filled with layers of tasty meat and tasty vegetables.
The key to a
classic muffuletta sandwich is the
fresh olive salad.
It is made by combining olives, capers, peppers, parsley, giardiniera and garlic in a food processor
.
The olive salad will spread on each side of your roll
.
Then it will be layered with soppressata, bologna, capicola and provolone. Then you will repeat the layers.
19. Olive
Garden Alfredo Sauce
You will never have to visit Olive Garden again after making this imitator Olive Garden Alfredo sauce. This sauce
is
not complicated at all, and it is very easy to cook
.
The only ingredients are heavy cream, butter, garlic and Parmesan cheese. Less is more with a classic Alfredo sauce.
To get the smoothest sauce, make sure your cream-butter mixture bubbles before adding the cheese in small batches. It will melt better and will not be grouped.
20. Italian Salad
This Italian salad is the perfect accompaniment to your favorite pasta dish. Or prepare this just for a quick and fresh lunch.
Homemade dressing is the key to this salad. And
it’s so easy!
In one 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, tasty marinara and fresh basil
. Traditionally, eggplant is
fried, but this recipe calls for roasted eggplant
.
Not only does this help the dish feel lighter, but it also makes it easier to prepare. That’s a win-win in my book!
It doesn’t take many ingredients to make this dish simple, so you can have it on the table in no time.
22. Caponata
The combination of salty, sweet and sour will make you fall in love with this traditional caponata
.
Browning the onion and celery before adding the olives and capers adds a great depth of
flavor.
Then you will stir the vinegar, giving this dish its slightly sour taste
.
The trick here is to let it sit to allow the flavors to merge. Serve with some crusty bread.
23.
Florentine steak
The Florentine steak is also known as “Bistecca alla Fiorentina”. It is a thick steak, seasoned in a simple way 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 piece of quality meat.
Serve with side dishes like roasted potatoes or a beautiful Italian salad
.
24. Lasagna
A simple but tasty lasagna is the best comfort food. This recipe transforms traditional lasagna into an easy meal that you can even make on busy nights.
Don’t worry about pre-cooking lasagna noodles or making homemade marinara sauce. This lasagna is all about simplicity while maintaining those amazing flavors.
Its layers will be meat sauce, raw lasagna noodles, ricotta, mozzarella and parmesan. Then repeat, bake and enjoy!
25. Cappuccino
All epic dinners end the same way: with great conversation and a hot, sparkling cappuccino
.
A rich cappuccino is not difficult to make. All you need is coffee, water and milk. A cappuccino maker is also handy for doing all the hard work!
Foamy milk is the key to a great cappuccino. It is the perfect drink to start the morning or end the night.
