The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (2024)

Everybody’s favorite pizzas and pastas and meatballs and much, much more… We are very excited to present some of the best Italian Recipes from GypsyPlate and all around the internet.

Cheesy, gooey nights, be it just a slice of your favorite pizza, a bowl full of some heart warming soup with all the Italian flavorings, or all those cheesy casseroles of parmesan and meatball. This list has it all.

This will even go deeper into Italian cuisine and introduce you to some authentic flavors likecacciucco, osso buco, caponata and cacciatore. All of these deep rustic flavors will win your heart and make your weekly menu rotations. Go through them all and make that Italian night happen soon… very soon. Buon appetito!!

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (1)

The BEST Italian Recipes

1. Steak Pizzaiola

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (2)

Steak Pizzaiolais an amazingly flavorful Neopolitan dish featuring tender steak in a perfectly seasoned tomato sauce. Try your steak the old school Italian way. It’s absolutely delicious, and every bite you will make a nod or two to heavenly skies.

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2. Chicken Cacciatore

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (3)

Cacciatore is a very rich and rustic Italian dish where chicken is cooked to fall-off-the-bone tender in a very delicious tomato-wine based sauce. It’s loaded with veggies, herbs and olives. Get a nice crusty loaf of bread ready along with your favorite wine.

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3. Cheesy Tortellini Bake

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (4)

ThisTortellini Bakeis an easy, one-skillet, dinner loaded with meat, sauce and melty cheese that the whole family will love!

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4. Clam Linguine (Linguine alle Vongole)

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (5)

Clam Linguine, or Linguine alle Vongole, is an elegant restaurant quality dish. But don’t be intimidated, it’s super easy to make.

It’s a gorgeous, yet light, pasta in a lemony, garlicky wine sauce. This is one of those dishes that is easy enough for any weeknight, yet impressive enough for special occasions.

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5. Pasta alla Norma

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (6)

Pasta alla Norma is a delicious Sicilian pasta dish with eggplant, marinara and basil. If you like eggplant, you are going to absolutely love this Italian recipe. Another great meal for meatless nights.

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6. Ribollita (Tuscan White Bean Soup)

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (7)

Zuppa Ribollitais a soul warming bowl of comfort. This hearty, rustic soup is a classic Tuscan dish that has been cooked in peasants’ kitchens for centuries.

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7. Pasta e Piselli

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (8)

ThisPasta e Pisellirecipe is perfect for those last minute weeknight dinners, when you want something tasty and comforting, without a lot of hassle.

A simple Neapolitan dish ofPasta and Peas, it’s a light one pot meal that you can have on the table in about 25 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Pasta e Piselli

8. Caponata – Sicilian Eggplant Relish

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (9)

This Caponata is a delicious Sicilian eggplant relish that perfectly combines sweet and tangy flavors. It’s great as an appetizer or as a garnish for meats or seafood. You can even mix it with bowl full of pasta for an easy meal. Think about this recipe next time you’re entertaining friends and treat them to caponata loaded crostini.

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9. Antipasto Salad

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (10)

Wow your friends and family with this Antipasto Salad. EASY crowd favorite! Chopped romaine topped with Italian classics like salami, olives and prosciutto along with cherry tomatoes and artichoke hearts in a quick Italian dressing This could be your colorful and delicious appetizer or even a meal with some crusty bread and plenty of wine.

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10. Salmon Pasta

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (11)

ThisSalmon Pastais absolutely divine, loaded with amazing flavors that come from perfectly roasted salmon. It’s creamy salmon pasta, yet not totally drenched in fat and cream, but full of comforting flavors.

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11. Baked Meatballs

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (12)

Juicy, soft and tender Italian baked meatballs in a rustic tomato sauce. You’ll love this easy recipe! Make this your Sunday fun-day night meat. Leftovers can be turned into meatball subs for quick lunches.

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12. Sicilian Pasta

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (13)

Sicilian Pasta –If you’ve been on the lookout for a tasty new pasta recipe, here it is! This Sicilian Pasta is bursting with flavor from mixed olives, capers, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes and some great flavor enhancers!

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13. Italian Wedding Soup

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (14)

This Italian Wedding Soup Recipe is simply the best! Made with acini de pepe, beef and pork meatballs, carrots, celery, greens, and Parmesan cheese. This soup is SO flavorful! Serve with crusty bread and a glass of wine.

Get the Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup

14. Lamb Ragu

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (15)

ThisLamb Raguis an incredibly flavorful and comforting Italian sauce. Tender ground lamb is simmered low and slow in a well seasoned tomato sauce.

It’s made with simple ingredients, and is easy to make. It just requires a bit of patience, because these amazing flavors take time to develop.

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15. Pasta Primavera with Shrimp

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (16)

Pasta Primavera is perfect for a weeknight meal. Al dente pasta full of whatever vegetables you can lay your hands on. Think carrots, bell peppers, peas, cherry tomatoes, asparagus or any other your heart fancies. Finish the dish off with plump shrimps and a good sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

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16. Pasta alla Norcina

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (17)

Pasta alla Norcinais a delightful dish where Italian sausage, mushrooms and al dente pasta are enveloped in a creamy white wine infused sauce.

Originating from the town of Norcia in Umbria, Italy, known for its exquisite sausages, this dish beautifully showcases Italian culinary traditions.

Get the Recipe: Pasta alla Norcina

17. Creamy Tuscan Soup

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (18)

This Creamy Tuscan Soup is the ultimate bowl of cozy. Hearty sausage, sun dried tomatoes and kale (or spinach) in an amazingly flavorful creamy broth… so, so good. And it’s super easy! You can have this bowl on the table in about 30 minutes.

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18. Eggplant Parmesan

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (19)

This eggplant parm is little bit easier, a little bit quicker, and a lot tastier. Here the eggplant is not breaded, so you get to enjoy the eggplant more with this delicious, cheesy Italian recipe.

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19. Creamy Tortellini Soup

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (20)

This super cozy and hearty Creamy Tortellini Soup get great flavors from sausage and sundried tomato pesto. You’ll keep coming back to this one!

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20. Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (21)

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce, everyone’s childhood favorite. It can be a quick weeknight meal, or the sauce can simmer for hours.

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21. Pasta e Fagioli Soup

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (22)

This Italian style soup is loaded with hearty ground beef, fresh vegetables, creamy beans, tender pasta and delicious herbs all in a rich and savory broth. This Pasta e Fagioli is a MUST one pot meal for cozy comfort nights.

Get the Recipe: Pasta e Fagioli

22. Tortellini al Forno

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (23)

ThisTortellini al Fornois a deliciously creamy and cheesy dish inspired by Olive Garden, with some added veggie power from spinach and mushrooms.

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23. Pesto Sauce

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (24)

Pesto! This classic sauce from Genoa is an Italian classic. Blending the freshness of basil, the pungency of garlic, the buttery nuttiness of pine nuts, and of course some nice olive oil, this wonderful sauce will make you fall in love with Italian food all over again!

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24. Pesto Pasta

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (25)

Pesto Pastais a light and fresh Italian dish with a beautiful sauce. It’s great with other add ins like veggies and proteins. Today we’re going with cherry tomatoes and asparagus. Who wants to try this super east Italian recipe tonight?

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25. Shrimp Fra Diavolo

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (26)

Shrimp Fra Diavolo– because spicy is Delicious! Spice up your life, embrace this bowl of succulent plump shrimp, tomatoes and a kick of heat… some pasta doused in that sauce or nice crusty bread.

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26. Spicy Sausage Pasta

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (27)

A bowlful of this Spicy Sausage Pasta is what cozy nights are meant to be. Adding a crusty piece of bread with a glass of red is just an extra bonus.

Make this spicy sausage pasta when your heart craves for something easy, yet tantalizing.

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27. Crockpot Tuscan Chicken

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (28)

This crock pot Tuscan chicken is drenched in a creamy sauce loaded with great Mediterranean flavors like sundried tomatoes and herbs. It’s one easy and delicious make ahead weeknight dinner! Serve it over pasta or warm bread.

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28. Pasta Puttanesca

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (29)

This easyPasta Puttanescarecipe is a quick and light dish, yet boldly flavored with garlic, anchovies, olives and capers. It’s yum!

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29. Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (30)

If you’ve never triedOrecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe, you need to add this easy pasta recipe to your collection. Like, yesterday.

Combining a variety of distinctive flavors, this dish comes together beautifully. No wonder this super regional dish from the southeast corner of Italy has spread so far!

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30. Fettuccine Alfredo

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (31)

Fettuccine Alfredois pure Italian comfort food. Perfectly cooked pasta smothered in a decadent creamy cheese sauce. All in about 20 minutes!

Whip up a batch of this pasta delight, and get ready for rave reviews!

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31. Homemade Marinara

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (32)

Everything tastes a tad bit better if made from scratch in your very own kitchen. This marinara sauce is the basis for so many Italian delights. Good news: it’s very easy, versatile and delicious. Make it in bulk and save some for later! Chicken parm, eggplant parm, meatball bakes and so many others are just step away when you have a bottle of marinara ready in your fridge.

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32. Meatball Minestrone Soup

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (33)

This bowl ofMeatball Minestrone Soupis a huge upgrade over the original Italian soup with the addition of plump chicken meatballs.

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33. Zuppa Toscana (3 methods)

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (34)

This hearty and comforting soup is based on the version made famous by Olive Garden. But I don’t want to call it a copycat… because this home made version is much better!

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34. Penne alla Vodka

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (35)

Here us a classic Italian Recipe..If you’re in the mood for a deliciously comforting pasta night, here it is! Penne alla Vodka is a unique fusion of tomato sauce and rich creaminess.

It’s sooo good. And don’t worry about the vodka, all of the alcohol cooks out, so this one is family friendly too.

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35. Italian Sausage Soup

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (36)

This easyItalian Sausage Soupwith white beans and veggies is a cozy pot perfect for chilly nights, but we love it all year long!

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36. Chicken Pizzaiola

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (37)

Our easyChicken Pizzaiolais the perfect way to satisfy your craving for comforting Italian food. Tender chicken cutlets simmer in an herb and wine infused tomato sauce, along with mushrooms and peppers.

In just about 45 minutes, you’ll have a restaurant quality dinner that the whole family will love.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Pizzaiola

37. Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (38)

Ain’t this the perfect looking shrimp scampi? Buttery… Garlicky… and Lemony. Make a restaurant quality scampi right in your very home. It’s extremely easy and extremely fast. Again you would need some warm crusty bread to sop up all that deliciousness.

Get the Recipe @ damndelicious

38. Chicken Carbonara

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (39)

This creamy chicken carbonara is inspired by a classic Italian pasta dish made with bacon, whisked egg, and hard cheese. It’s creamy, delicious, date-night worthy, and will rock your world.

Get the Recipe @ kitchenswagger

39. Bruschetta

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (40)

This gorgeous dish highlights two Italian summer favorites: fresh basil and vine ripe tomatoes! All that freshness atop some crusty bread and drizzled with balsamic vinaigrette. So simple yet so satisfying.

Get the Recipe @ easyweeknightrecipes

40. Chicken Florentine

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (41)

This delicious chicken Florentine recipe is perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, but fancy enough to serve to guests. Ready in 40 minutes, the chicken is cooked in a creamy spinach sauce for a rich and hearty meal.

Get the Recipe @ easychickenrecipes

41. Crockpot Italian Beef Sandwiches

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (42)

TheseCrock Pot Italian BeefSandwiches are perfect to cook for get togethers or for your unlimited supply for lunches! With just a few simple ingredients tossed into the slow cooker, delicious slow cooked beef sandwiches are easy to make and quick to devour.

Get the Recipe @ spendwithpennies

42. Margherita Pizza

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (43)

Your search for the best homemade Margherita pizza is over here. This classic pizza is topped with a simple fresh pizza sauce made from canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. You’ll want to make this homemade pizza recipe over and over again.

Get the Recipe @ abeautifulplate

43. Stuffed Chicken Marsala

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (44)

This stuffed chicken marsala is a delicious dish featuringmozzarella, parmesan and sun dried tomatoes, smothered in savory marsala mushroom sauce –ready in just 45 minutes! Try making marsala chicken by stuffing it with cheese and sundried tomatoes and the rest is similar to marsala chicken .

Get the Recipe @ lecremedelacrumb

44. Classic Chicken Parmesan

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (45)

Now this list of Italian recipes is incomplete without good old Chicken Parmesan. This Italian classicis as good as it gets! It has a parmesan crust that seals in the juiciest chicken breast, topped with homemade marinara and a generous amount of melted cheese. Perfection.

Get the Recipe @ natashaskitchen

45. Chicken and Mushroom Risotto

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (46)

Soft and creamy chicken and mushroom risotto is a classic Italian favorite, full of flavor. Indulge in a cozy bowl of creamy risotto, sprinkled with parsley, drizzled with olive oil and topped with a generous helping of parmesan… yummm.

Get the Recipe @ mrsfoodiemumma

46. Panzanella

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (47)

Panzanella salad is an Italian classic. It features ripe tomatoes, crisp homemade croutons, fresh cucumber and basil, and mozzarella under a simple, zippy vinaigrette. This one is loaded with textures and refreshing Italian flavors. Are you making this for that Italian night?

Get the Recipe @ cookieandkate

47. Cacciucco (Tuscan fish stew)

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (48)

Cacciucco is a fish stew from Livorno, a port on the coast of Tuscany, and it should contain five types of seafood. This pot is loaded with Italian flavors. Chow down time..

Get the Recipe @ olivemagazine

48. Lasagna

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (49)

Everybody’s favorite… Lasagna! This one is such a classic comfort food that you need to perfect it. Tender sheets of pasta, a cheese filling, and a rich meaty tomato sauce will take you there. Luckily, such great flavors are so easy to create to bring that joy to everyone in your family.

Get the Recipe @ spendwithpennies

49. Osso Buco

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (50)

Fall apart tender veal shanks bathed in a tomato white winesauce, Osso Buco is a traditional Italian dish that’s both hearty and luxurious, owingto the delicate flavor and texture of veal.

It’s traditionally served on yellow saffronRisotto Milanese and topped with a fresh mixture of parsley, lemon and garlic known as Gremolata. Try these new flavors on some special night and wow your loved ones.

Get the Recipe @ recipetineats

So what do you think about this collection of Italian recipes? There are so many others we could keep on adding, as good old Italian food is never ending deliciousness. May be in the future we will make part 2. 🙂

Pin or bookmark this page and look no further for that Italian night. Keep on coming back and cook through all of your Italian favorites. Enjoy.

Check out these other great recipe collections!
Chinese Recipes
Mexican Recipes
Southern Recipes
Japanese Recipes
Puerto Rican Recipes
British Recipes
French Recipes
American Recipes

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (51)

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes

Yield: 2 qts

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

This great collection ofItalian Recipesincludes plenty of easy weeknight dinner ideas, special occasion meals and so much more! For a great start, try this homemade marinara:

Ingredients

  • 2 28 oz cans of whole tomatoes
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 3/4 finely chopped onions
  • 4 finely chopped garlic cloves
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • fresh basil
  • fresh oregano
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • Salt, to taste
  • Sugar, to taste

Instructions

    1. In large, heavy bottomed pan, add olive oil, onion, garlic and half of the herbs. Slowly bring up heat and cook until softened.
    2. While other ingredients are heating up, pour tomatoes into a large bowl and crush them by hand into large chunks.
    3. Add tomatoes, black pepper and red pepper to pan, simmer for 45 minutes, partially covered.
    4. Remove from heat, taste. Does it need a little salt or sugar? Add to your liking. Mix in fresh herbs. Done!

Notes

  1. Let me know which recipes you try, I love hearing from you!

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (52)

Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.

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    The 45+ BEST Italian Recipes (2024)

    FAQs

    What is the number 1 food in Italy? ›

    Besides pasta, pizza is perhaps the most popular and recognized Italian food. Pizza is considered a national symbol representing Italy to the rest of the world, so much so that UNESCO has acknowledged pizza as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

    What is the oldest Italian dish? ›

    Testaroli has been described as "the earliest recorded pasta". It is also a native dish of the southern Liguria and northern Tuscany regions of Italy. Testaroli is prepared from a batter that is cooked on a hot flat surface, after which it may be consumed.

    What are the top five Italian dishes? ›

    5 Of The World's Most Famous Italian Dishes
    • Pizza Napoletana. Italian cooking's very essence can be summed up on how they make pizza. ...
    • Lasagna. Lasagne in Italian, this classic pasta recipe is on everyone's list of comfort food. ...
    • Gelato. ...
    • Spaghetti Carbonara. ...
    • Risotto.
    Dec 15, 2021

    What is a typical dinner in Italy? ›

    Most dinners consist of a salad, the primo (pasta or soup dish) and the secondo (meat or fish dish). The Italians also enjoy cooked vegetables like artichokes, eggplants, mushrooms, spinach and zucchini, which they either buy at the market or grow in their gardens.

    What food do Italians eat the most? ›

    A typical Italian diet consists of three meals in a day. The most common foods in the Italian diet include pasta, cheese, vegetables, olive oil, meats, and wine.

    What is a typical lunch in Italy? ›

    Quick lunches out in Italy include paniniand pizze, but in reality, Italians prefer to sit down and eat a full, cooked meal at lunchtime. Ideally, lunch includes courses; a primo piattoor first course, like pasta, gnocchi, or rice, a protein, and vegetables.

    What is the rarest Italian dish? ›

    Su filindeu—literally “threads of God” in Sardo—is unfathomably intricate. It's made by only three women on Earth, all of whom live on Sardinia. And they make it only for the biannual Feast of San Francesco. It's been this way for the last 200 years.

    What do Italians eat before pasta? ›

    Antipasto. This traditional Italian meal starts with something to nibble on before the main courses commence. These appetizers can include cold and hot dishes like cheese, soppressata, and bread.

    What famous food did Italy invent? ›

    More iconic Italian dishes were created in this era, including pesto, carbonara and the fan-favorite: pizza. Raffaele Esposito is credited with introducing Italians to the Margherita pizza after making it in honor of the Queen of Italy, Margherita di Savoia, in Naples.

    What is the most famous Italian dish in America? ›

    Spaghetti and Meatballs

    This feels like a warm hug in a bowl – and what's not to love about that? In America, one of the most popular Italian meals is spaghetti and meatballs. This dish is usually made with: Ground beef or pork.

    What is Italy most famous pasta dish? ›

    Spaghetti Bolognese

    It is commonly served with parmesan cheese. The dish is one of Italy's most popular exports, and thought to have originated in Imola, a northern Italian city west of Bologna some time around the late 1800s - when the first reference to the dish's ragu sauce was recorded.

    References

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