30 Ultimate Italian Recipes
Florentine Lasagna [1]
This traditional lasagna features bubbly cheese, sizzling sausage, rich tomato sauce — and a package of spinach for extra color and nutrition.
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.
Mama Carolla's Bruschetta [9]
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 [13]
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 [17]
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 [18]
Classic Lasagna [21]
With its rich meaty sauce and creamy cheese layers, this lasagna is always a favorite main dish.
Classic Lasagna [22]
Italian Wedding Soup with Escarole [25]
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 [29]
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 [30]
The Original Toasted Ravioli [33]
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 [37]
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 [41]
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 [45]
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 [49]
Mix fennel, garlic and oregano for a pork shoulder rub. Sweet potatoes cook alongside the entree in a slow cooker.
Smoky Calzones [53]
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 [54]
Italian Basil, Tomato, and Pasta Salad [57]
This layered make-ahead pasta salad highlights the flavors of olives and green beans as well as basil and tomato.
Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore [61]
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 [65]
Thin, crispy shells encase a sweet, creamy center with a hint of rum and sprinkle of chocolate chips.
Cream-Filled Cannoli [66]
Chicken Veneto [69]
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 [70]
Hot-Off-the-Grill Pizza [73]
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 [77]
Use premade dough to create this Italian flatbread. Sprinkle the bread with either rosemary and onion or Parmesan and pine nuts.
Easy Herb Focaccia [78]
It's Italian Sausage Soup [81]
This rich, spicy soup gets its name from zesty browned Italian sausage. Orzo pasta and vegetables round out the ingredients.
Double Chocolate Biscotti [85]
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 [89]
This slow-cooker creation goes together quickly with purchased spaghetti sauce, a jar of sliced mushrooms, and chopped cabbage and onion.
Easy Italian Chicken [90]
Bartolino's Meatballs [93]
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 [95]
Spinach Pizza Bread [98]
A loaf of frozen bread dough speeds prep time of this savory bread. Serve the spirals with a marinara sauce dipper.
Spinach Pizza Bread [99]
Italian Rice Salad [102]
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 [103]
Zuppa Inglese [106]
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 [107]
Linguini with Shrimp and Pine Nuts [110]
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 [114]
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 [115]
Easy Cream Cheese Tart [118]
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 [119]
Crostini Appetizers [122]
Toppers for these savory appetizers start with purchased pesto and canned beans for one flavor and your choice of purchased olives for the other. Spread toppers on slices of lightly toasted baguette-style French bread.
Crostini Appetizers [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]