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.
Chicken and Sweet Pepper Linguine Alfredo [5]
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 [9]
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 [13]
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 [17]
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 [21]
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 [22]
Classic Lasagna [25]
With its rich meaty sauce and creamy cheese layers, this lasagna is always a favorite main dish.
Classic Lasagna [26]
Italian Wedding Soup with Escarole [29]
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 [33]
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 [34]
The Original Toasted Ravioli [37]
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 [41]
Italian seasonings flavor boneless beef sirloin or beef rump roast in your slow cooker. Top sandwiches with Italian cheeses, assorted peppers or sliced pepperoncini.
Blue-Ribbon Italian Sauce and Meatballs [45]
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.
Creamy Artichoke Lasagna [49]
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 [53]
Mix fennel, garlic and oregano for a pork shoulder rub. Sweet potatoes cook alongside the entree in a slow cooker.
Smoky Calzones [57]
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 [58]
Italian Basil, Tomato, and Pasta Salad [61]
This layered make-ahead pasta salad highlights the flavors of olives and green beans as well as basil and tomato.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore [65]
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 [69]
Thin, crispy shells encase a sweet, creamy center with a hint of rum and sprinkle of chocolate chips.
Cream-Filled Cannoli [70]
Chicken Veneto [73]
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 [74]
Hot-Off-the-Grill Pizza [77]
Make garlic and basil pizza dough, or use prepared dough to save time. Top this easy grilled pizza with sweet red peppers and thinly sliced Italian meats.
Easy Herb Focaccia [81]
Use premade dough to create this Italian flatbread. Sprinkle the bread with either rosemary and onion or Parmesan and pine nuts.
Easy Herb Focaccia [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]
Bartolino's Meatballs [97]
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.
Marinara Sauce [99]
Spinach Pizza Bread [102]
A loaf of frozen bread dough speeds prep time of this savory bread. Serve the spirals with a marinara sauce dipper.
Spinach Pizza Bread [103]
Italian Rice Salad [106]
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 [107]
Zuppa Inglese [110]
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 [111]
Linguini with Shrimp and Pine Nuts [114]
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 [118]
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 [119]
Easy Cream Cheese Tart [122]
Refrigerated piecrust gives you a head start on this smooth, rich Italian-inspired dessert. Serve with your choice of fruit preserves, sweetened whipped cream or fresh fruit slices.
Easy Cream Cheese Tart [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]