32 Authentic Italian Recipes
Italian recipes are one of the most popular recipes along with French cuisine. We visit an Italian restaurant once a month but its expensive so I thought why not bring Italian cuisine at my home.
Italian Vegetable Stew
For people who love vegetable stew, this is an ideal recipe. This is comfort food at its best. It is perfect for busy weeknights. It can be made even 2 days in advance.
You need a soup pot, cutting board and cheese grater. You can use pancetta or bacon, but if you want the budget-friendly version, then go for bacon.
The recipe requires 25 minutes of prep time and 40 minutes of cooking time. The ingredients needed are onion, carrot, zucchini, pancetta, and squash.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 2-3 days. It freezes well for 2 months.
Italian Sausage Stuffed Zucchini
This is one of my favorite Italian recipes. You can make it a day in advance. The recipe requires 20 minutes of prep time and an hour of cooking time.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. With a combination of garlic, tomatoes, eggs, Italian sausage, and black pepper, you can make this wonderful dish.
It is loved by people among all age groups. My family loves this dish so I have included it in our dinner menu.
Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken
After making this dish, you will forget if takeout exists. It is so amazing. This is a quick dinner recipe. I am a big fan of one-pan recipes as it means less cleanup.
You need a big skillet. In just half an hour, including 15 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes of cooking time, you can make this wonderful dish.
With a combination of boneless chicken breast, Parmesan cheese, garlic, heavy cream, and spinach, you can make this dish. It is best served with mashed potatoes.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for four days. It freezes well for 6 months.
Homemade Ciabatta
It is one of the best Italian recipes. You need a stand mixer, parchment paper, and a baking sheet for this recipe.
It requires 50 minutes to make, including 30 minutes of cooking time and 25 minutes for resting. To make the recipe, you need to preheat the oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit.
With a combination of bread flour, yeast, and salt, you can make this Italian bread. It is best served with soup.
Tiramisu
This is one of my favorite Italian desserts. It is no-bake and tastes awesome. The best thing it can be a great make-ahead dessert.
You can use espresso; the other option is to use a strong coffee. You need a 9×13 casserole dish, an instant-read thermometer and an espresso machine.
The recipe requires 25 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes of cooking time. To make this, you need eggs, heavy whipping cream, espresso, cocoa powder, and sugar.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, and it will be good for 4 days. It freezes well for 3 months.
Spaghetti Amatriciana
It is a restaurant-quality dish. The recipe is perfect for busy weeknights. You can make it with pantry staples.
It is so good that I had to include it in our dinner rotation menu. You need a 12-inch skillet. The recipe requires 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time.
To make this lovely recipe, you need pepper flakes, pancetta, garlic, spaghetti pasta, and tomatoes and within 45 minutes you will be ready to serve the dish.
Lamb Ragu
This is one of the best Italian comfort food. You can make it in an oven or in an instant pot. The recipe works well for holidays too.
You need a Dutch oven. The recipe requires 20 minutes of prep time and 3 hours of cooking time. To make the recipe, preheat the oven to 325°F.
With a combination of lamb shoulder, onion, tomato, rosemary, black pepper, and heavy cream you can make this wonderful dish.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 4-5 days. It freezes well for 3 months.
Bellini
The drink is quite popular in Italy. You can use fresh or frozen peaches. It is pretty simple to make, and within 20 minutes it is ready.
To make it, you need peaches and Prosecco. After making the cocktail, put it in the refrigerator to chill and then serve it.
You don’t have to wait for holidays or parties to make, it’s refreshing so you can make it anytime of the day, all year round.
Parmesan Chicken Bake
The recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners. You need a casserole dish. This Italian cuisine takes around an hour to make. You need to preheat the oven to 375°F.
Preheat the oven to 375°F. With a combination of chicken breast, pepper, Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, and garlic you can make this recipe.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 6 days. I love leftovers even more. It doesn’t freeze well.
Italian Sandwich Cookies
It is one of the most loved Italian desserts. You need a cookie press and parchment paper. It takes almost 2 hours to make.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. With a mix of chocolate chips, vanilla extract, butter, all-purpose flour, and raspberry jam you can make this wonderful cookie.
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and it will be good for a week.
Pasta Alla Gricia
I tried this at an Italian restaurant, and I was blown away. After a couple of failed attempts, I managed to get it right.
Since then, I have made it umpteen times as everyone loves it. In just 20 minutes, you will be ready to serve it.
You need a skillet pan to make it. To make this delicious pasta, you need spaghetti, guanciale, and pepper. Guanciale is the star of the recipe. You can replace it with bacon or pancetta.
Veal Marsala
It is one of the most delicious Italian recipes. The recipe requires 15 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time.
The ingredients include veal cutlets, shallot, marsala, black pepper, unsalted butter and mushrooms.
I make this recipe quite often as it’s been requested by my friends and family all the time and I happily oblige every time.
Muffuletta Sandwich
This Italian sandwich is pretty easy and simple to make. I made it for breakfast and everyone loved it and since then I made it umpteen times and have also included it in our breakfast rotation menu.
I make it on game days and movie nights too and all my friends and relatives love it. You can make it for potlucks too.
With a combination of Italian bread, olives, oregano, parsley, and mozzarella, you can make this delicious sandwich.
Mushroom Risotto
It is one of the best Italian cuisines. The recipe is packed with flavor. It is comfort food at its best. You need a heavy bottom saucepan.
The recipe requires 15 minutes of prep time and 40 minutes of cooking time. The ingredients required to make this are butter, mushrooms, arborio rice, parmesan cheese, and leek. It is best served with a meat dish.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 2-3 days.
Garlic Butter Shrimp Scampi
I usually make it as an appetizer for a game day or movie night, but you can also make it for weeknight dinners.
This is a restaurant-quality dish. The recipe takes only 10 minutes to prepare. It is a quick recipe and requires 10 minutes of prep time and 5 minutes of cooking time.
With a mix of shrimp, prawns, butter, pepper, parsley, white wine and garlic, you can make this lovely dish. For white wine, you can go for Pinot Grigio or Sav Blanc. I love to serve it over a bed of zucchini noodles for dinner.
Fettucine Alfredo
I tried this at my friend’s get-together party and was blown away. I asked her the recipe and she happily shared it with me. Since then, I have made it so many times and every time my family loved it.
It is comfort food at its best. It is one of the quickest recipes. The recipe requires 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time.
You need measuring cups and spoons. To make this, you need fettuccine pasta, parmesan cheese, parsley, butter, and pepper.
Simple Italian Mac And Cheese
It is a flavor-packed comfort food. This is one of the most popular Italian recipes. You can use shredded chicken or ground beef.
If you want the vegetarian version, then add broccoli or spinach. You can use the pasta of your choice; I prefer penne pasta. The recipe requires 20 minutes of prep time.
This delicious recipe can be prepared with a combination of all-purpose flour, parmesan cheese, unsalted butter, penne pasta, mozzarella cheese and Italian seasoning.
You can use mozzarella cheese or Asiago cheese. Keep the leftovers in a sealed container and it freezes well for 3 months.
Sausage Arugula Pizza
Pizza is always a hit in my family so the more variety of pizza I make, the happier my family gets. This is one of the most amazing pizzas.
The recipe requires 25 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes of cooking time. You need to preheat the oven to 415°F.
With a mix of pizza dough, mozzarella cheese, arugula, thyme, and sausage, you can make this wonderful pizza.
Pan-Fried Asparagus
It is a perfect side dish. It works great for holidays too. This healthy recipe takes close to half an hour to make. You need a skillet.
With a combination of butter, black pepper, asparagus, and garlic you can make this wonderful dish. You can also add protein like bacon or chicken to make it more interesting.
Vanilla Sprinkle Cookies
These not only look cute but taste awesome too. I tried this at an Italian bakery and I was blown away. You need parchment paper, stand mixer and a baking tray.
It takes around 40 minutes to make the cookies, including 20 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
The ingredients required are all-purpose flour, sugar, vanilla, baking soda, canola oil, and sprinkles. Keep the leftovers in an airtight container and it will be good for 2-3 days.
Pasta Pomodoro Sauce
I am a big fan of this sauce recipe and it makes a dish taste a lot better. It is affordable so I make it quite frequently.
Though fresh tomatoes are the best but you can go for canned ones too. The sauce takes around an hour to prepare.
It has a mild flavor but you can make it spicy too. You need a Dutch oven. The recipe requires 15 minutes of prep time and 45 minutes of cooking time.
With a mix of tomatoes, onion, Italian pasta, oregano, Kosher salt, extra virgin olive oil and pepper you can make this delicious recipe.
Lemon Chicken Piccata
It is one of the top-rated chicken recipe. You need a skillet pan to make the recipe. It is comfort food at its best. You need a stainless steel skillet.
It takes around 45 minutes to make the recipe, including 20 minutes of prep time and 25 minutes of cooking time. The ingredients required are chicken breast, all-purpose flour, lemon juice, parsley, and butter.
You can serve it with rice or pasta. You can use chicken thigh instead of chicken breasts but you will have to cook longer.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for 2-3 days. It freezes well for 3 months.
Italian Salad
You can enjoy this salad for lunch or for dinner. It is a perfect side dish as well. I like it even more as it’s highly versatile.
It will keep you full for a long time. This healthy Italian salad takes only 20 minutes to make.
With a mix of spring greens, Dijon mustard, tomatoes, oregano, croutons and Parmesan cheese you can make this wonderful salad. You can make it vegan or gluten-free too.
Tomato Basil Bruschetta
This is a perfect appetizer for game days or movie nights. For best results, use ripe tomatoes. You need a baking sheet. It can be a great make ahead recipe and can be made up to 2 days in advance.
The recipe requires 30 minutes of prep time and 10 minutes of cooking time. To make the recipe you need to preheat the oven to 450°F.
With a mix of tomatoes, onion, basil, baguette, and vinegar you can make this recipe in only 40 minutes.
Rosemary Focaccia Bread
The bread is chewy and is one of the best bread recipes. You need a 9×13 baking dish, a stand mixer and an instant-read thermometer.
The recipe requires an hour of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time. You need to preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
With a combination of all-purpose flour, honey, rosemary, yeast, and salt, you can make this wonderful bread.
It is highly customizable, so you can add garlic, dried herbs, or Parmesan cheese.
Classic Italian Meatballs
You can make this recipe on a stovetop or in an oven. Soft breadcrumbs are what make these meatballs stand out. Panko breadcrumbs won’t give the desired result. You need a cookie scoop, an electric mixer and a baking sheet.
The combination of ground pork and ground beef brings the best out of this recipe. Ensure you use equal parts of both. You can make meatballs even up to 2 days in advance and keep it in the fridge.
You can use Parmesan cheese but to get the best outcome, use pecorino cheese. Use grated garlic so that it mixed smoothly with other ingredients. You can use basil but I prefer parsley for this recipe.
Ensure the meatballs are firm and not loose; otherwise it will lose its shape. Preheat the oven to 425°F. The recipe requires 20 minutes of prep time and 15 minutes of cooking time.
The ingredients include breadcrumbs, ground beef, ground pork, garlic and milk. I love it with spaghetti and green salad as a side. It freezes weel for up to 2 months.
Homemade Potato Gnocchi
The right consistency is the key to make the best gnocchi. If the gnocchi turns golden, then you are good to go. This is a restaurant-quality dish.
You need a large pot and a peeler. It requires an hour of prep time and 35 minutes of cooking time.
To make the recipe, you need russet potatoes, all-purpose flour, butter, egg, and sage leaves. It is one of the easiest and yummiest Italian dishes.
Tuscan Tortellini Soup
The recipe is pretty easy to make. It’s a one pot recipe and that means less cleanup. Since everyone in our family loves it , I have added it in our dinner rotation menu. You can even make it in advance. You can make it in a pot, or a Dutch oven will also work.
With a mix of onion, pepper, vegetable broth, heavy cream, and roasted tomatoes you can make this delicious soup. Top it up with parmesan cheese and basil.
It can be served as a complete meal. I love it with crusty bread. You can enjoy it with salad too. Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for a couple of days.
Easy Florentine Steak
It is also known as Bistecca alla Fiorentina. The recipe is great for weeknight dinners and parties. The dish originated from Florence, Italy.
For best flavor ensure its well seasoned. This lovely recipe takes close to half an hour to make. It’s also known for its thick cut. You need a grill.
This porterhouse steak is quite different from T bone, its bigger. Choose the porterhouse steak that has a uniform size. Ensure the quality is top-notch, and for that, marbling is an important factor.
For best results, cook it in high heat. If you are not a big fan of rare steak, then lower the heat and cook longer.
The recipe requires 10 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time. To make this, you need beef, salt, pepper, and olive oil.
For doneness, check it with an instant red meat thermometer. I love to seved it with roasted potatoes.
Easy Zuppa Toscana
I am a big fan of one-pot recipes, and this is one of those dishes. It is so good that I have to include it in our dinner rotation menu. This restaurant-quality dish is budget-friendly too. It is gluten-free. You need a Dutch oven.
It is flavorful and hearty. You can make it mild or spicy; it’s up to you. If you want it spicy, then add hot Italian sauce.
Bacon is one of the most important ingredients; it’s crunchy and tastes awesome. You can choose mild Italian sausage but I prefer hot Italian sausage.
Turkey broth or chicken broth; you can use any. The recipe takes around 30 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes of cooking time.
With a combination of chopped bacon, russet potatoes, whipping cream, kale leaves, and Italian sausage, you can make this wonderful recipe. It is best served with crusty bread. You can make it keto-friendly or Whole30.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge, and it will be good for 4 days. Freezing is not recommended.
Baked Parmesan Zucchini
It is one of the most loved appetizers. You can serve it as a side dish too. It is loved among people of all age group. You need a baking sheet, aluminum foil and a cooling rack. Ensure the zucchini is completely dry as it will make it crispy.
We love zucchini bread and this is another great zucchini recipe. The best thing is it’s healthy and baked, and you don’t even have to peel it. You can make it an air fryer too.
It is one of the easiest recipes to make and takes only half an hour. The recipe requires 15 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time.
You need to preheat the oven to 350°F. The ingredients required to make the recipe are zucchini, oregano, pepper, parmesan, and parsley. It is best served with marinara sauce.
Keep the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and it will be good for up to 2 days. It doesn’t freeze well.
Italian Meatballs
It is one of the most popular Italian recipes. These meatballs are juicy and taste awesome. It is a quick and easy dinner recipe. You need a cookie scoop. This can be made even in advance.
You can make it with pantry staples. The recipe requires 15 minutes of prep time and 20 minutes of cooking time. An equal mix of ground beef and ground pork makes the best meatballs. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
The ingredients include Italian breadcrumbs, Italian cheese, onion, milk and ground beef. Milk adds moisture to meatballs. You can use oat milk or almond milk. For doneness, check if the internal temperature of the meatballs is 165°F.
It is best served over a bed of spaghetti noodles. The meatballs freeze well for 3 months. You can make these in an air fryer too.