30 Ultimate Italian Recipes
Florentine Lasagna [1]
Frozen spinach amps up the nutrition in this Italian-American comfort-food staple. To cut down on calories and fat, use turkey sausage.
Fresh Tomato Marinara Sauce [5]
This easy classic marinara gets its robust flavor from dry red wine and snipped fresh basil.
Chicken and Sweet Pepper Linguine Alfredo [9]
Summer squash, zucchini and sweet red pepper add color and crunch to this dish; light Alfredo sauce lowers the fat and calories compared to many traditional Italian recipes.
Stuffed Italian Meatballs [13]
Spiced Italian sausage encases melty mozzarella cheese for meatballs perfect dipped in marinara sauce, stuffed into a calzone or plopped on top of spaghetti.
Mama Carolla's Bruschetta [17]
Top warm, crispy baguette slices with a slice of fresh tomato, basil and garlic for this classic Italian appetizer. Garnish with a basil leaf and smoked mozzarella.
Irresistible Tiramisu [21]
This elegant coffee dessert is a favorite Italian treat. Layer espresso-soaked ladyfingers between creamy mascarpone-vanilla filling. Air-dry soft ladyfingers before using in tiramisu.
Pizza Margherita [25]
Margherita pizza celebrates the perfect union of ripe tomatoes, fresh basil and soft mozzarella cheese. This type of crispy-crust pizza originated in Naples, Italy.
Pizza Margherita [26]
Classic Lasagna [29]
With its rich meaty sauce and creamy cheese layers, this lasagna is always a favorite main dish.
Classic Lasagna [30]
Italian Wedding Soup with Escarole [33]
The marriage of plump meatballs and hearty greens makes this soup a standout. Miniature pasta pieces and carrots dot the savory chicken broth base.
Pepperoni Pizza Pull [37]
This warm and cheesy pull-apart bread takes just a few minutes to make. Keep the ingredients on hand, and you'll always have a quick appetizer, snack or supper bread.
Pepperoni Pizza Pull [38]
Sausage and Mushroom Tomato Sauce [41]
Sausage and mushrooms make this sauce extra-filling, while the pimiento-stuffed green olives give it some bite.
The Original Toasted Ravioli [45]
This fried ravioli recipe comes from Charlie Gitto's on the Hill in St. Louis. For a quick dinner, substitute frozen ravioli for fresh and serve topped with purchased marinara sauce.
Italian Beef Sandwiches [49]
Italian seasonings flavor boneless beef sirloin or beef rump roast in your slow cooker. Top sandwiches with Italian cheeses, assorted peppers or sliced pepperoncini.
Creamy Artichoke Lasagna [53]
Ricotta, Parmesan and mozzarella form the cheesy base for this lasagna. Artichokes, basil and pine nuts add crowd-pleasing, nontraditional ingredients.
Italian Pork with Sweet Potatoes [57]
Mix fennel, garlic and oregano for a pork shoulder rub. Sweet potatoes cook alongside the entree in a slow cooker.
Smoky Calzones [61]
Frozen pizza dough speeds prep time on these calzones. Personalize the filling by substituting different cheeses or adding vegetables, such as green peppers, onions and mushrooms.
Smoky Calzones [62]
Creamy Marinara Sauce [65]
Whipping cream makes this simple pasta sauce rich and smooth.
Italian Basil, Tomato, and Pasta Salad [69]
This layered make-ahead pasta salad highlights the flavors of olives and green beans as well as basil and tomato.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore [73]
Slow-cooking creates tender, flavorful chicken with a creamy tomato sauce perfect for serving on a bed of pasta. Sprinkle with fresh basil, parsley and thyme just before serving.
Cream-Filled Cannoli [77]
Thin, crispy shells encase a sweet, creamy center with a hint of rum and sprinkle of chocolate chips.
Cream-Filled Cannoli [78]
Chicken Veneto [81]
Artichokes, white wine and pistachios add flavor and texture to a simple sauce spooned over sauteed chicken. This classic Italian recipe takes only 30 minutes from start to finish.
Chicken Veneto [82]
It's Italian Sausage Soup [85]
This rich, spicy soup gets its name from zesty browned Italian sausage. Orzo pasta and vegetables round out the ingredients.
Double Chocolate Biscotti [89]
Cocoa powder and chocolate chips blend in these crunchy, twice-baked Italian cookies. They're perfect for dipping into a cup of coffee or a glass of sweet wine.
Easy Italian Chicken [93]
This slow-cooker creation goes together quickly with purchased spaghetti sauce, a jar of sliced mushrooms, and chopped cabbage and onion.
Easy Italian Chicken [94]
Blue-Ribbon Italian Sauce and Meatballs [97]
This traditional spaghetti recipe comes from a Kansas City, Missouri, reader who learned it from her Italian relatives. The secret: Starch from a potato thickens the sauce.
Bartolino's Meatballs [101]
Serve these meatballs with marinara sauce over pasta or in a hoagie bun. Both the meatballs and the sauce recipe are from Bartolino's restaurant in St. Louis.
Bartolino's Meatballs [102]
Marinara Sauce [103]
Spinach Pizza Bread [106]
A loaf of frozen bread dough speeds prep time of this savory bread. Serve the spirals with a marinara sauce dipper.
Spinach Pizza Bread [107]
Italian Rice Salad [110]
Mix homemade garlic vinaigrette with basmati rice, artichoke hearts and fresh peppers for this make-ahead salad. "Delicious!" writes one of our website reviewers. "Will definitely be making this on a regular basis."
Italian Rice Salad [111]
Zuppa Inglese [114]
For this standout dessert, layer custard with orange-flavor syrup, pound cake and fresh raspberries. Top it with whipped cream and chocolate curls.
Zuppa Inglese [115]
Linguini with Shrimp and Pine Nuts [118]
Dry sherry flavors the broth, and crushed red pepper adds a tiny bite to this pasta dish from Bartolino's in St. Louis.
Salsiccia Bread [122]
Salsiccia is Italian for sausage, and it's a tasty part of the filling in this recipe from St. Louis' Di Gregorio Imported Foods, which also sells the salsiccia. The mixture makes a spiraling swirl down the middle of the bread.
Salsiccia Bread [123]
Free printable cookbooks [126]
Enjoy more of our favorite recipes in any of our free printable cookbooks.
Top 10 Slow-Cooker Recipes Cookbook [127]
10 Favorite Casseroles Cookbook [128]
Best of the Midwest Recipe Contest Winners Cookbook [129]
7 Fresh Chicken Recipes Cookbook [130]