Browse 32 italian recipes with photos, prep and cook times, full ingredient lists, and step-by-step instructions.
DinnerThis seafood lasagna recipe takes 1 hour and 15 minutes to prepare. An advantage of using oven-ready lasagna noodles is that you don't have to boil an additional pot of water. The time savings are especially helpful on weeknights. I make this seafood lasagna recipe when I am in the mood to eat other baked dishes with melted mozzarella cheese and other cheeses.
DinnerThis white miso pasta sauce takes 20 minutes to prepare and is an easy weeknight meal. The sauce can be made using just a few ingredients and a single pan. White miso provides deep flavor to the sauce. Parmesan cheese and pasta cooking liquid give the sauce body to pair well with long pasta. I recommend serving this dish with long pasta like linguine.
Snacks & AppetizersPizza chips take 15 minutes to make and are made with tortillas and other pizza ingredients, including mozzarella cheese and smaller slices of pepperoni. I make pizza chips when a warm snack needs to happen fast. Other ingredients on pizza chips, including smaller slices of pepperoni, crisp up. I serve marinara sauce on the side.
Snacks & AppetizersChoose ready-to-cook and cleaned calamari rings or whole squid with added weight to compensate for the weight of squid parts such as the cuttlebone that you will discard. Other preparation details for frying calamari rings with marinara sauce include a salted milk marinade and breading with flour and cornmeal.
Side DishesThis 13-minute garlic bread recipe includes a loaf of bread bought from a bakery and an 8-minute garlic butter recipe. Bread slices are broiled for 3 to 5 minutes. The bread is crispy and topped with melted Parmesan and cheddar cheeses. This garlic bread is a fast side dish to serve with pasta dishes.
DinnerPrepare the broth and shredded Parmesan before making this six-serving Parmesan risotto recipe, cook it close to mealtime, and store leftovers to eat at another time. Arborio rice becomes creamy when cooked in hot broth. Butter and shredded Parmesan add creaminess and flavor to risotto.
DinnerThis asparagus risotto recipe makes a filling vegetarian main course appropriate for a family meal or other occasion. Asparagus and Parmesan in this dish with dry white wine pair well with risotto rice that won't become mushy when cooked.
DessertsChocolate cannoli pizzelle sandwiches take 45 minutes of active preparation time, after ricotta and other preparations and making cookies in a pizzelle maker. This recipe is good for making individual desserts without cannoli shells; thin pizzelle cookies stay intact with cold filling that includes chocolate chips (I like the texture contrast).
DinnerBlanching broccoli for 1 to 2 minutes and immediately plunging it into ice water will prevent additional cooking while baking and decrease the amount of liquid released into the sauce. I suggest blanching broccoli in all baked dishes containing broccoli, like this chicken Alfredo bake.
Side DishesI prepare this gluten-free focaccia for dinner. It is golden brown on top and topped with rosemary and sea salt. Olive oil collects in the dimples. The fully cooled focaccia is light and airy with large air pockets inside but oily in the dimples.
DinnerMeal prep takes 15 minutes. Then let a slow cooker work its magic. Ingredients in this Italian beef ragu recipe include cubed beef chuck, crushed tomatoes, and pasta in a tomato sauce seasoned with oregano, basil, and thyme.
DinnerChoose boneless, skinless chicken breasts that can be flattened as cutlets. Leaner cuts of chicken are best for high-heat cooking methods. This Parmesan chicken recipe with a mayonnaise-based breadcrumb crust adds crunch to the outside and juiciness to the inside of the chicken. This recipe takes 30 minutes or less to make.
DinnerWrapping soft dough around garlic and parsley butter and two types of cheese makes spiral rolls. Baking in a 9-by-13-inch pan allows the cheese filling to mix with and make the dough's exterior crispy. Twelve portions of Cheesy Garlic Bread Rolls, savory cheese rolls with a garlic and parsley filling, are made from bread-machine dough.
DinnerChoose potato gnocchi products available in your local market, both shelf-stable and fresh or frozen gnocchi. Fresh gnocchi pieces offer the best texture. This Olive Garden chicken gnocchi soup recipe features diced chicken and carrots, spinach, and tender gnocchi in a creamy broth seasoned with herbs.
DinnerChoose peeled and deveined large or jumbo raw shrimp. Raw shrimp heat quickly and turn pink in this dish. The shrimp add a mild seafood flavor to Tuscan linguine with shrimp. Sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and lemon zest complement the creamy pasta dish.
DinnerFor a family dinner, this eggplant parmigiana recipe features sliced roasted eggplant without breading layered with chunky tomato sauce and mozzarella and Parmigiano Reggiano cheeses and fresh basil. To prepare this dish without deep-frying, bake it. It will be golden brown and bubbly on the edges.
DinnerOne skillet and other kitchen items are all you need to make this French onion pasta dish for quick weeknight dinners. Caramelized yellow onions, beef broth, thyme, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce add flavor to the pasta sauce. Evaporated milk and Gruyere cheese add richness to orecchiette pasta without heavy cream.
DinnerBaking breaded slices of eggplant on a slotted rack lets steam rise around and lower through the slices of eggplant, helping the breading brown. Consider trying this Baked Eggplant Stack recipe, which contains eggplant slices and layers of ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, Parmesan cheese, and marinara sauce.
DinnerRoasting the eggplant slices reduces their water content and makes them tender and slightly crisp, suitable substitutes for pasta. In addition to eggplant slices roasted separately, this eggplant lasagna recipe features other ingredients, such as shredded mozzarella cheese and ricotta cheese, in a marinara and beef sauce.
DinnerCook this shrimp scampi recipe for a quick weeknight meal. Jumbo shrimp are sautéed in butter with chopped garlic, red pepper flakes, dry white wine, lemon juice, and parsley. Shrimp scampi takes only 20 minutes to prepare and has a gentle heat and rich butter flavor.
DinnerDinner can be prepared in 20 minutes, with only 6 minutes of cook time under pressure. Follow this cheddar risotto recipe in an Instant Pot using arborio rice, dry white wine, chicken broth, sharp cheddar cheese, and fresh sage for a risotto with a chewy texture.
Side DishesSaute Arborio rice in olive oil and butter to precook the rice starches. Gradually adding hot broth to the rice mixture makes Mushroom Risotto. Precooking Crimini mushrooms before adding them to the risotto can help reduce sogginess.
LunchChilling breaded rice balls before frying helps prevent the coating from sticking. Frying at 350 degrees Fahrenheit browns and crisps the coating. Traditional Italian arancini include Arborio rice and are stuffed with prosciutto and mozzarella.
LunchPrep vegetables, herbs, chickpeas, and vinaigrette ahead of time. Assemble before serving or chill the complete salad for 1-2 hours. This Tuscan artichoke and tomato salad with no lettuce features marinated artichoke hearts and cherry tomatoes mixed with capers and chickpeas.