Italian Dinner Recipes

We present the best traditional Italian recipes for pizza, pasta, and lasagna.

Chicken breasts with cheese

Pound the chicken breasts to about 1.5 cm thick to ensure even frying. Then coat each breast in flour, dip in egg, and then in breadcrumbs. Bobby uses panko breadcrumbs—they're lower in calories and create a crispy crust.

Recipe: Chicken breasts with cheese

Artichoke gratin

Giada's baked artichokes with bread crumbs take just 25 minutes to prepare.

Recipe: Artichoke gratin

Hunter's-style chicken in sauce with vegetables

Cacciatore means "prepared hunter's style"—in other words, it's a simple dish. Chicken with bone and skin adds flavor and an extra rustic touch. The recipe varies across Italy. In the north, the chicken is cooked with onions, carrots, and celery, while in southern Italy, anchovies, olives, and sometimes chili peppers are added.

Recipe: Hunter's-style chicken in sauce with vegetables

Real spaghetti meatballs

For a rich flavor, Aina adds grated Parmesan to the meatballs. All the ingredients in the recipe help the meatballs retain their shape and flavor. The secret ingredient is warm water, which adds juiciness to the meat.

Recipe: Real spaghetti meatballs

Classic pesto sauce

This quick sauce requires just five ingredients. Make a large batch at a time, transfer to an airtight container, and drizzle with the remaining oil before adding the cheese. The sauce will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Recipe: Classic pesto sauce

Fettuccine Alfredo - Basic Recipe

Tyler uses heavy cream and butter for the base of his pasta sauce. The reduced sauce will thicken and coat the pasta thoroughly.

Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo - Basic Recipe

Shrimp baked in garlic sauce

Assemble the dish with the crispy topping ahead of time and bake it for 10 minutes before serving dinner.

Recipe: Shrimp baked in garlic sauce

Meatball Sandwiches

This delicious sandwich combines homemade tomato sauce and veal meatballs with fresh Parmesan cheese.

Recipe: Meatball Sandwiches

Chicken thighs with hunter's sauce

In this Italian dish, chicken thighs are served with stewed tomatoes, fresh vegetables, and brined Kalamata olives.

Recipe: Chicken thighs with hunter's sauce

Tortellini with green peas in a creamy sauce

Salty prosciutto and crispy peas are tossed into a velvety cheese sauce, then paired with hearty meat-filled tortellini.

Recipe: Tortellini with green peas in a creamy sauce

Baked pork with mushroom sauce and spinach

Velvety Marsala wine and mushroom sauce pair perfectly with slices of lean pork tenderloin.

Recipe: Baked pork with mushroom sauce and spinach

We recommend

Baked Cauliflower Risotto

Oven-roasted cauliflower is a hearty complement to a delicious risotto with fontina cheese and slivered almonds.

Recipe: Baked Cauliflower Risotto

Crispy Margherita Pizza

Instead of restaurant delivery, make this simple pizza. Canned whole peeled tomatoes, a little olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, and mozzarella are all you need for the topping on homemade dough.

Recipe: Crispy Margherita Pizza

Milanese fried fish

Breaded tilapia, fried in olive oil and then baked, has a vibrant flavor. A fresh arugula salad with a light citrus dressing is the perfect side dish for this simple meal.

Recipe: Milanese fried fish

Thick Italian soup "Ribollita"

Simmer this vegetable and pancetta dish in the slow cooker while you prepare a classic antipasti.

Recipe: Thick Italian soup "Ribollita"

Ossobuco – veal shank in white wine

Giada's impressive dish of whole veal shanks, fresh vegetables, and herbs is cooked in a flavorful red wine sauce. Best of all, the recipe is incredibly simple.

Recipe: Ossobuco – veal shank in white wine

Chicken Piccata

Aina's lemon chicken takes just half an hour to prepare. It's a simple yet elegant dinner for two.

Recipe: Chicken Piccata

Fried shrimp with wine and pasta

Robert Irvine's lunch takes just 25 minutes to prepare and is perfect for a workday. Tender shrimp, tomatoes, and pasta are tossed in a white wine and butter sauce.

Recipe: Fried shrimp with wine and pasta

Chicken Scalopini with Sage and Fontina Cheese

Giada's chicken rolls are stuffed with fresh sage and creamy fontina cheese, then simmered in an authentic San Marzano tomato sauce.

Recipe: Chicken Scalopini with Sage and Fontina Cheese

White pizza "Three cheeses"

For homemade pizza toppings, replace the red sauce with ricotta, Parmesan, and mozzarella cheese.

Recipe: White pizza "Three cheeses"

Pasta with clams and mussels

Enjoy Italian-style seafood with Giada's pasta. Olive oil, white wine, and garlic enhance the flavor of the clams and mussels without overpowering them.

Recipe: Pasta with clams and mussels

Bucatini pasta with shrimp and Fra Diavolo sauce

Use whole canned tomatoes as the base for the hot sauce. Red pepper flakes and garlic add heat.

Recipe: Bucatini pasta with shrimp and Fra Diavolo sauce

Marinara sauce - classic

Debi Mazar (cooking show Extra Virgin) assures that "this sauce, when made correctly, makes you feel alive."

Recipe: Marinara sauce - classic

Meat sauce substitute

"This sauce was created by farmers who wanted the richness and texture of a meaty red sauce but couldn't afford meat," says Gabriel Corcos.

Recipe: Meat sauce substitute

Ciabatta panini with pear and cheese

Giada uses taleggio, an Italian cow's milk cheese, for this sandwich. It melts beautifully and pairs perfectly with the crisp pear and arugula.

Recipe: Ciabatta panini with pear and cheese

Amatriciana sauce

Amatriciana is a spicy red sauce named after the Italian town of Amatrice. Its simple tomato base is paired with pancetta or guanciale.

Recipe: Amatriciana sauce

Meatball and cheese sandwiches

To make the meatballs melt in your mouth, mix the spices before adding the meat. For these mini sandwiches, Giada uses a combination of ground beef, pork, and veal.

Recipe: Meatball and cheese sandwiches

Penne alla vodka pasta with baked tomatoes

Vodka, creamy mascarpone cheese, and roasted tomatoes combine in a rich sauce for penne pasta.

Recipe: Penne alla vodka pasta with baked tomatoes

Shrimp "Fra Diavolo"

The name translates as "Brother Devil" and refers to the distinctive spicy flavor of this classic Italian dish.

Recipe: Shrimp "Fra Diavolo"



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