24 of Our Favorite and Most Delicious Classic Italian Recipes

Serve up one of these Italian recipes for dinner tonight.

Calling all spaghetti lovers and pizza purists! You’re going to fall for our delicious classic Italian recipes. These traditional dishes are our favorite authentic Italian foods—ones you’ll want to share, pass down, and save in your recipe box. We have classic pasta dishes like fettuccine Alfredo and pizza and hearty meat-based Italian recipes like chicken Parmesan and authentic Italian meatballs. Start with minestrone and end with a classic Italian dessert (tiramisu, anyone?) for the ultimate Mediterranean meal.

How to Make Spaghetti That’s Cooked to Al Dente Perfection

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Fresh Tomato Pizza with Oregano and Mozzarella

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Craving a slice? For the most classic Italian recipe, stick with our traditional margherita-style pizza topped with tomatoes, oregano, garlic, mozzarella, and olive oil. If you’re in the mood for a modern update, garnish with peppery baby arugula leaves and salty prosciutto.

Pizza Dough

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Chicken-Sausage Meatballs with Zucchini

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This classic Italian recipe hides a little secret: shredded squash. It lends the meatballs a tender and moist texture. (It also sneaks in some bonus vitamins—handy if you have some picky eaters at your table.) Pair with your favorite pasta and go-to sauce, or even jarred marinara, and you’ll have the ultimate Italian meal.

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Homemade Pasta

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Now is the time to officially retire boxed noodles from your dinner routine. Our DIY pasta base takes only three ingredients. Once you master creating this classic Italian recipe from scratch, mix things up by incorporating herbs, spinach, or roasted red peppers into the dough.

10 Restaurant-Caliber Italian Pasta Recipes

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Roasted Tomato Garlic Pizza Sauce

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Roast fresh tomatoes and garlic, and combine that aromatic mix with red wine, basil, and oregano. Then savor this homemade marinara layered into classic Italian recipes like lasagna, atop pizza crust, in soups, or with pasta.

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Fettuccine alla Carbonara

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Part carbonara and part Alfredo, this quick classic Italian recipe is a true crowd-pleaser. Start the cream sauce with both bacon and prosciutto. (Hey, two types of pork are better than one.) Finish with plenty of Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley, then toss with fettuccine noodles for a family-friendly feast.

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Baked Eggplant Parmesan

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We have a solution if you’re seeking a vegetarian twist on chicken Parmesan. Use a jar of homemade sauce (or purchased, we won’t tell) to top the panko-breaded eggplant slices that star in this sheet-pan supper. Then, serve the marinara- and cheese-topped eggplant Parmesan on a mound of spaghetti for authentic Italian comfort food.

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Striped Bass in Tomato Broth

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Take five! An extra 5 minutes, that is; this classic Italian recipe delivers a fish dinner in a quicker-than-30-minute meal. White wine, tomatoes, shallots, and thyme make a light and coastal-flavored broth to poach bass, mahi mahi, or cod. Serve with a basket of warm bread on the side for a restaurant-quality dinner.

Bread

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Fettuccine Alfredo

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No need to go out. With this Italian recipe, you can make restaurant-quality fettuccine Alfredo at home. Serve this classic pasta dish meatless or with chicken or shrimp—we have every variation to choose from.

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Chicken with Marsala Risotto

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After just one bite, chances are, you’ll be convinced to add this authentic Italian recipe to your chicken dinner repertoire. Make this silky risotto with Marsala wine, cremini mushrooms, and fresh spinach. The creamy, next-level rice forms the perfect base for chicken breast seasoned with rosemary, thyme, and garlic.

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Affogato Trifles

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Instead of enjoying coffee with dessert, try it on dessert! Affogato—ice cream or gelato topped with espresso—is a classic and cool way to end any Italian feast. Our variation on this classic Italian recipe gets a crispy upgrade with crushed biscotti.

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Steaks with Roasted Garlic

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Heat up the grill to roast the garlic and sear the steaks while keeping your kitchen cool. Rosemary, garlic, and basil make this meat meal taste distinctly Mediterranean. Serve the hearty authentic Italian recipe with a fresh Caprese salad and warm loaf of bread (plus olive oil and balsamic for dipping, of course).

19 Slow Cooker Italian Recipes for Low-Key Weeknight Dinners

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Chicken Parmigiana

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Crispy on the outside and savory and cheesy … this is one of our most-requested Italian comfort food meals. To push the classic Italian recipe into the must-make territory, the breaded chicken, cheese, and tomato dish comes together in less than an hour. Serve the chicken Parmesan over spaghetti for a delicious and easy pasta dinner.

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Bresaola-Gorgonzola Panini

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The 60-second Red Onion Relish topping in this authentic Italian recipe elevates the cheesy panini from “yum” to “Wait, is Giada De Laurentiis your sous chef?!” Bresaola, similar to a beefy take on prosciutto, lends an extra salty and savory kick to these pressed sandwiches. Because this recipe takes about 30 minutes, it’s ideal for weeknight family dinners.

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Chocolate Cannoli

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Chocolate-lovers, rejoice! You can whip up a batch of these creamy and crunchy cocoa cannolis in one hour. These classic Italian cookies are sure to satisfy any chocolate craving.

19 Dump Cake Recipes for When You Need an Easy-to-Make Dessert

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Potato Gnocchi

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Round up the family for a fun kitchen adventure: buttery Parmesan gnocchi. There’s always a store-bought option, but it’s tough to top freshly classic Italian recipes. A pillowy potato swap for fettuccine Alfredo? Don’t mind if we do. (Or try our Cauliflower Gnocchi if you’re counting carbs.)

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Panzanella

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Breathe new life into day-old bread with this low-fuss salad. Use bread cubes (whole wheat for a fiber boost), red onion, and fresh tomatoes to make this toss-together dish equal parts filling and good for you. The vibrant panzanella will be a welcome addition to any classic Italian recipe lineup.

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Vanilla Panna Cotta

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This Vanilla Panna Cotta, similar to a thick and rich pudding, is the perfect blank dessert canvas for fresh berries, cinnamon-sugar apples, or grilled peaches. Garnish the luscious classic Italian dessert with whatever fruit is in season.

For a twist on cake and ice cream or cookies and cream, serve this with slices of pound cake or pizzelle cookies on the side.

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Simple Stromboli

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If you like pizza by the slice, you’ll love it by the spiral. This authentic Italian recipe for stromboli starts with pizza dough (feel free to DIY or start with dough from your local parlor or the supermarket refrigerator section). Stack on your favorite meat, veggie, and cheese toppings, tuck and roll, and brush with a beaten egg to score a showy sheen on top as the stromboli bakes through.

Antipasto Pinwheels

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Ravioli Lasagna with Baby Kale and Italian Sausage

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This semi-homemade casserole is the best lasagna recipe for when you’re crunched for time (or not in the mood to stress about stacking layers). Store-bought refrigerated ravioli combines the cheese and the noodles into one ready-to-sauce classic Italian pasta dish. Add our easy homemade marinara, a package of kale, cooked chicken sausage, and some extra cheese, if you please.

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Stuffed Manicotti

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Allow your creativity to shine in this baked pasta casserole. Choose a cheesy ricotta or spinach-pancetta filling, then coat the stuffed manicotti (or shells) with meat sauce or creamy Parmesan sauce. Cover with plenty of shredded mozzarella and bake the authentic Italian recipe until bubbly and golden brown.

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No-Knead Skillet Focaccia

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Here’s a DIY version of focaccia that will convince you that, yes, you can make homemade bread! Serve the classic Italian carb alongside grilled steaks, homemade Italian lasagna, or any of your favorite entrées. Save any extra slices to dunk into shakshuka or poached eggs for breakfast the next day.

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Triple-Chocolate Tiramisu

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We love tiramisu! With three times the chocolate, our version of this Italian recipe makes this classic dessert better than ever.

For an alcohol-free substitute for the chocolate liqueur, simply add an equal amount (⅓ cup) of extra espresso or coffee.

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Basil Pesto

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It’s time to get saucy. Make this peppy basil pesto to toss with pasta or spread on slices of crusty bread. You can even trade this simple classic Italian recipe for classic tomato sauce on any of your favorite pizzas.

These Basil Recipes—Including Salads, Skillet Dinners, and More—Taste Like Summer

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Scallop, Mushroom, and Fennel Campanelle

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This Italian seafood recipe is loaded with garlic, fennel, and white wine for delicate flavor. Serve sautéed scallops over bowls of the kale and mushroom pasta, and give each bowl a squeeze of fresh lemon juice before digging in.

Warm and Cozy Comfort Food Recipes

• Best Meat Loaf
• Chicken Stew with Cornmeal Dumplings
• Beef Stroganoff
• Old-Fashioned Chicken Noodle Soup
• Sunday Oven Pot Roast