37 Italian Dinner Ideas

These Italian dinner ideas will have your family praising your amazing cooking skills! These are all pretty easy recipes to prepare, and who doesn't love traditional Italian dishes?

I just got back from Sicily and Rome, sailing on the Costa Smeralda ship, a gorgeous new Italian cruise ship. The Italian food was wonderful on the ship, as well as in Sicily and Rome, where I stayed for an extra couple of days. I think I could eat Italian cuisine every night!

There's no need to go to an Italian restaurant with all these easy Italian recipes at hand. You can do this!

Starting with an Italian appetizer is always fun. In fact, we often eat appetizers as our main course for a quick meal! My best bruschetta recipe, bruschetta with mozzarella, or this caponata siciliana all make delicious starters or perfect finger food for a dinner party.

Serve any of these dishes with this wonderful rosemary garlic bread recipe to sop up the wonderful broths or sauces and you'll be set with a taste of Italy.

Don't forget dessert! This easy biscotti recipe or this bakery style Italian Amaretti cookies recipe will pair perfectly with any of these Italian dinner ideas.

Watching your weight? I've got a list of Weight Watchers Italian recipes.

Oven Braised Beef Recipe

After reading about this braised beef recipe, known as brasato al barolo in Italy where it originated, I knew I had to make it for my family! SO delicious!

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Parmesan Risotto Recipe

This parmesan risotto recipe pairs with just about anything. Simmering the rice and adding freshly grated aged parmesan is the key. We loved the flavors and it was super easy to make.

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Delicious Walnut Sauce Recipe for Pasta

This homemade Walnut Sauce recipe for Pasta is simple but scrumptious. It gives a fresh and nutritious spin on standard pasta sauces. It’s not only deliciously satisfying, it’s also a healthy dish.

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Cioppino with Clam and Mussels Recipe

This cioppino with clam and mussels recipe is a delicious fish stew in a tomato broth with aromatic vegetables. You’re going to love it!

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Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce with Fettuccine

This butternut squash pasta sauce is one of my favorite easy recipes. You can have this delicious meal on the table in about 20 minutes!

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Grilled Bruschetta Chicken

This grilled bruschetta chicken is so easy, you can even make it on busy weeknights. Who else loves a meal that can be on the dinner table in under 30 minutes? Simple recipes are the best!

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One Pot Italian Pasta Soup for an Easy Weeknight Supper

You are in for a treat with this One Pot Italian Pasta Soup recipe. I need easy weeknight supper ideas, and I’m betting you do, too.

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Italian Bean Soup

This Italian Bean soup can be made mostly with items you probably already have in your pantry. It’s delicious, easy, and inexpensive to make.

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Italian Seafood Pasta Recipe

This Italian Seafood Pasta is the perfect combination of your favourite seafood mix, a few fresh grape or cherry tomatoes and spices tossed with spaghetti. Quick and easy, Italian never tasted so good!

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Linguine Aglio E Olio Recipe

This simple pasta dish of Classic Aglio e Olio pasta is one of my favorites and a favorite of all garlic lovers!

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Spinach Stuffed Shells

Pasta shells filled with a ricotta cheese mixture, sautéed spinach and Italian sausage baked together with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.

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Authentic (Quick) Italian Tomato Sauce for Pasta

This authentic Italian tomato sauce is so easy to make, it’s ready before the pasta is finished cooking! When you make this easy meal once you’ll never go back to those inauthentic, jar sauces or faux recipes.

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Bucatini all’Amatriciana

Bucatini all’Amatriciana. This classic Italian pasta dish is insanely delicious made with tomato, guanciale and pecorino cheese.

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Traditional Italian Pasta e Fagioli

Traditional pasta e fagioli soup is a creamy and rich one-pot Italian recipe, full of flavour and ready in just 20 minutes!

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Escarole and Beans

Escarole and beans is a classic, comforting and simple Italian dish that can easily be made at home for a hearty vegetarian dish.

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Italian Savory Pie

Italian Savory Pie (Antipasto di torte salate) is a simple and delicious authentic Italian recipe that will impress both family and guests alike.

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Turkey Bolognese

A delicious alternative to ground beef, Turkey Bolognese is made special with the addition of bacon and a dash of sherry towards the end or cooking! This is a rich Italian sauce for pasta.

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Homemade Lasagna Recipe

The best lasagna with cottage cheese, fresh mozzarella, spinach, basil leaves & meat sauce! There are lots of tips included for making this homemade lasagna recipe!

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Sunday Gravy Recipe (Italian Sunday Sauce)

Sunday gravy recipe (Italian Sunday sauce) is a low-simmered rich sauce of juicy tomatoes cooked in the Italian tradition with meat. Worth the wait!

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Chicken Cacciatore Recipe

Classic chicken cacciatore cooked in a rich and hearty sauce of tomatoes. The chicken is braised until it’s fall off the bone tender. An easy family-friendly dinner.

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Best Carbonara Recipe

Quick & easy Spaghetti Carbonara! Perfect for family dinner during the week as it uses pantry ingredients.

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Classic Italian Stuffed Peppers

Classic Italian Stuffed Peppers are a cozy all-in-one dinner. Sweet bell peppers stuffed with a meat, veg, rice mix & topped with melted creamy cheese.

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La Stracciatella Soup (Italian Egg Drop Soup)

Only 4 ingredients and ready in 10 minutes, this Italian Egg Drop Soup is delicious, filling and perfect for quick weeknight dinner.

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Gnocchi Alla Romana (Semolina Gnocchi)

A great alternative to mashed potatoes! Gnocchi Alla Romana (also known as Semolina Gnocchi) is an ideal side dish for roasted or grilled meat -- creamy and cheesy. Delicious!

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Risotto Milanese

This is an easy risotto Milanese recipe – it’s a simple yet flavorful meal. Cooked the traditional stirring method, with chicken stock and saffron to get nice yellow color.

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Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce

Instant Pot Bolognese Sauce cooks in under an hour but has the rich, meaty, slow-cooked flavor of traditional bolognese.

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Crepe Cannelloni with Ricotta and Spinach

Crepe cannelloni with ricotta and spinach filling are a lighter, melt in your mouth alternative to traditional pasta dough cannelloni.

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Penne Pomodoro

This Italian meal of penne pomodoro pasta is made with a delicious, homemade tomato sauce from oven-roasted tomatoes and topped with fresh basil. Dinner in only 20 minutes has never tasted yummier!

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Lemon Asparagus Risotto

This creamy asparagus risotto combines zesty lemon with the iconic, bright green spring stalks. A delightful dish for special nights, but quick enough for weeknights, too!

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Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

Our delicious copycat Olive Garden Chicken Gnocchi Soup recipe allows you to recreate one of your favorite restaurant recipes at home.

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Spicy Chicken Riggies

Chicken Riggies are a delicious homemade comfort food, consisting of chicken cooked with hot peppers in a creamy and spicy tomato sauce served over rigatoni.

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Chicken Saltimbocca an Italian Classic

Chicken Saltimbocca is a restaurant-style dish you can make at home. Prosciutto, spinach, cheese and a light marsala sauce make this dish exceptional.

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Homemade Vegan Ravioli Recipe

VEGAN Ravioli. Homemade. Fresh. Filled with Cashew Tofu Ricotta Cheese. Easy to make. Can be frozen for later. A delicious and hearty meal!

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Best Chicken Parmesan Recipe

This Classic Chicken Parmesan recipe makes the Best Chicken Parmesan. The pan-fried breaded chicken breast is baked with marinara and mozzarella for a crispy dish with melty cheese and a flavorful tomato-based marinara sauce.

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Spaghetti alla Puttanesca

Spaghetti alla Puttanesca is a delicious and aromatic pasta dish, and this easy recipe is ready in 20 minutes! Intensely seasoned, and made with a few simple ingredients. This is one of my favorite pasta recipes!

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Classic Lasagna with Béchamel Sauce

Delicious lasagna recipe layered with béchamel sauce, bolognese meat sauce and pasta. This traditional recipe is made without ricotta.

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Baked Ziti Recipe

A saucy, cheesy Baked Ziti Recipe! With a robustly flavored homemade sauce, this is comfort food at its finest. Recipe includes a how-to video.

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Fettuccine Primavera: Easy Creamy Pasta with Vegetables

Fettuccine Primavera is an easy, creamy pasta dish with parmesan cheese, broccoli and carrots.

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Tips

Whenever you're making Italian food or any other recipe, remember that olive oil does go bad! If you've had a giant opened bottle of olive oil you haven't used in a year, it's more than likely rancid and could ruin all your hard work. Buy fresh olive oil every six months or so.

Don't toss that rind of parmesan! It will give wonderful flavor to soup recipes and stews.

When using salt after cooking a dish, we use Maldon salt. It's a flaky salt just for finishing. I think you'll agree it adds amazing flavor!

FAQ

Which of these classic Italian recipes will you make for Italian night this week?