44 Must-Try Italian Recipes for a Taste of Italy

This recipe introduces a delightful twist to the traditional southern Italian street food, arancini. These crispy, breaded risotto balls are stuffed with a rich filling of mozzarella cheese and enhanced with the fresh, herby flavors of pesto. The combination of creamy mozzarella and vibrant pesto tucked inside the golden, crunchy exterior makes these arancini a perfect appetizer for gatherings or a luxurious snack. The use of an Instant Pot for preparing risotto significantly cuts down the cooking time, making this indulgent dish surprisingly quick and easy to prepare.

This classic Italian pasta dish, Linguine alle Vongole, is a sublime combination of tender linguine and fresh clams, bathed in a light, garlicky white wine sauce. Enhanced with a hint of heat from red pepper flakes and the freshness of parsley, this dish showcases the delicate flavors of the sea. The use of both fresh and canned clams adds depth, while anchovies subtly enrich the sauce. This recipe, perfect for seafood lovers, captures the essence of coastal Italian cuisine and is surprisingly simple to prepare, promising an elegant yet comforting meal.

This recipe is a testament to simplicity and flavor. It brings together the vibrant tastes of fresh tomatoes, basil, and red onion, creating a light and refreshing topping. The base of rustic pane di casa bread, toasted to perfection, provides a delightful crunch, perfectly contrasting with the juicy tomato mixture. Drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and a sprinkle of sea salt, this dish is an ideal appetizer that showcases the fresh ingredients of Italian cuisine.

This recipe offers a unique twist on the classic slider, creating a delightful Italian variation. Using a sheet pan for easy preparation and cleanup, the sliders feature a combination of brioche rolls, black forest ham, and Italian deli meats like salami and pepperoni, along with provolone or mozzarella cheese. The flavors are further enhanced with mayonnaise, Italian dressing, banana peppers, and olive tapenade. Topped with a butter sauce seasoned with Italian herbs, these sliders are a perfect choice for game day or a casual, fun meal.

This recipe is a simple yet delightful Italian bread, perfect for dipping or as an appetizer. The recipe is straightforward, requiring a mix of water, honey, yeast, flour, and salt. The process involves creating a wet, sticky dough that is then baked to achieve a light, airy texture with a golden crust. The recipe emphasizes the importance of not over-flouring to maintain the bread's characteristic large air pockets. This bread is a staple in Italian cuisine, offering a delicious and authentic experience.

This recipe combines the traditional layers of lasagna with tender chicken, creating a delightful fusion of flavors. The dish features a creamy garlic white sauce, blending perfectly with the chicken, ricotta filling, and three types of cheese. The incorporation of spinach and a mix of spices adds a unique twist. This recipe is ideal for those who enjoy a hearty, comforting meal with the added protein punch of chicken, making it a great choice for family dinners or gatherings.

This recipe is a quick and easy dish perfect for busy weeknights. It combines ground beef with onions, diced tomatoes, mixed vegetables, and white rice, creating a hearty and comforting meal. Seasoned with oregano, garlic salt, basil, and pepper, and topped with melted mozzarella cheese, this one-pan meal is both flavorful and satisfying. It's a great option for families looking for a simple yet delicious dinner solution.

This recipe offers a taste of authentic Italian baking. It focuses on achieving the perfect balance of flavors and textures, using almond flour and bitter almond extract for a distinctively rich, almond taste. The cookies are characterized by their soft, chewy texture and the beautiful cracks on their surface. The inclusion of lemon zest adds a hint of citrus freshness. This recipe is a great choice for those who appreciate traditional Italian cookies with a homemade touch.

This recipe offers a delightful blend of almond flour and fresh orange flavor, creating a moist and rich dessert. It's a simple, yet elegant cake, made without regular flour or butter, making it a great option for those with gluten sensitivities. The recipe includes steps for separating egg whites and yolks, incorporating almond flour, and using orange zest and juice for a bright citrus note. Topped with almond slices and powdered sugar, this cake is both visually appealing and delicious.

This recipe captures the essence of Italian home cooking with its simple yet flavorful approach. It involves simmering chicken thighs in a rustic sauce made with onions, bell peppers, mushrooms, and a mix of tomatoes and Italian herbs. The dish is enriched with a splash of wine and finished with a touch of heavy cream, delivering a comforting and aromatic meal. This skillet dish is quick to prepare, making it a great option for a hearty family dinner.

This recipe showcases a traditional Italian sweet treat, perfect for festive occasions like carnival. It features a delicate, crispy dough, transformed into light ribbons or bowties through careful shaping and frying. These delightful morsels are then dusted with icing sugar, creating a simple yet irresistible dessert. The recipe is a testament to Italian culinary traditions, offering a sweet, airy snack that's both nostalgic and festive.

This delightful cookie recipe embodies the sweetness and simplicity of Italian baking. It involves creating tender shortbread cookies filled with jam, a process that combines the flavors of fresh lemon zest with strawberry jam. The unique aspect of these cookies lies in their shape; they are pinched in the center to encase the jam filling, creating a lovely presentation. These cookies are perfect for a light dessert or a sweet accompaniment to a cup of coffee.

This recipe offers an easier approach to the traditional Italian Christmas bread. It simplifies the process by eliminating the need for a mold and extensive kneading. The recipe features a blend of flavors like honey, orange zest, and vanilla, combined with raisins and candied fruits, mixed into a sticky dough. The method includes a series of folds and an overnight rise, resulting in a soft, fluffy Panettone with classic Italian flavors, but with less effort.

This recipe is a flavorful and easy-to-make dish. It features chicken breasts covered with homemade basil pesto, topped with slices of Roma tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Baked to perfection, it offers a harmonious blend of fresh and savory flavors. The recipe is versatile, pairing well with pasta, rice, quinoa, or vegetables, and it's perfect for a wholesome dinner.

This recipe is a wonderful blend of garden-fresh zucchini and creamy ricotta cheese, creating a versatile dish suitable for any meal. Incorporating fresh herbs and a variety of cheeses, it brings a delightful flavor and texture. The recipe highlights the importance of removing moisture from the zucchini to ensure a perfectly cooked frittata. Ideal for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner, this frittata is a testament to simple, wholesome Italian cooking.

This recipe combines tender short ribs in a homemade sauce served over pappardelle pasta. The dish is flavorful and hearty, perfect for satisfying meals and impressing guests or kids. The preparation involves searing beef, sautéing a soffritto of onion, carrots, celery, and garlic, simmering with tomatoes, and then shredding the meat for a rich and satisfying sauce.

This recipe is a delightful Italian-American dish, featuring tender chicken breasts coated in breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese, pan-fried to a golden brown, and then baked with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese. Served with pasta, this recipe offers a perfect blend of crispy chicken and cheesy, tomatoey goodness, making it a delicious and comforting meal for any dinner occasion.

These cookies are a holiday delight, featuring a tender texture and a mild almond flavor. They are coated with sweet icing and decorated with festive red and green sprinkles, making them a visually appealing addition to any holiday cookie platter. Simple to make, these cookies are shaped into balls using a cookie scoop and baked to a soft, melt-in-your-mouth consistency. The recipe reflects the warmth and joy of the holiday season.

This recipe is a decadent dessert that combines moist cake layers with a creamy and luscious frosting. The cake is flavored with vanilla and almond extracts, giving it a rich and aromatic taste. It includes unique ingredients like crushed pineapple and coconut, adding a delightful texture and flavor. The frosting, made with cream cheese, powdered sugar, and extracts, perfectly complements the cake. Topped with chopped pecans and coconut flakes, this cake is as visually appealing as it is delicious.

This recipe offers a delightful dessert combining creamy Italian crema pasticcera with fresh berries, all nestled on a flaky pastry base. The process involves using store-bought puff pastry for convenience, filled with a homemade custard cream made from simple ingredients. The pastries are baked to golden perfection and then filled with smooth, rich custard and topped with a mix of fresh berries. It's an elegant and easy-to-make dessert, perfect for special occasions or as a sweet treat.

This recipe is a delightful Italian dessert, featuring light, airy, and sweet donut holes made from a choux pastry dough. Traditionally enjoyed at carnivals and festivals in Italy, these treats are fried and can be coated with powdered sugar, granulated sugar, or cinnamon sugar. This version uses a simple combination of common ingredients like milk, butter, sugar, and eggs, making it easy to recreate this classic Italian treat at home.

This recipe involves a slow fermentation process where the dough is prepared and then left to rise in the refrigerator overnight. This method enhances the flavor and texture of the focaccia, making it more aromatic and tender. The next day, the dough is typically brought to room temperature, shaped, and baked until golden and crisp.

This recipe is a traditional Sicilian dish typically made with eggplant, tomatoes, celery, olives, and capers, cooked in vinegar and sugar. This combination gives it a distinct sweet and sour flavor. The dish is often served as an appetizer, side dish, or relish and is known for its rich, complex flavors that improve with time, making it an excellent make-ahead dish.

This recipe is a traditional Italian dessert that consists of small, marble-sized balls of fried dough. These dough balls are crispy on the outside and light on the inside. They are drenched in citrus-scented warm honey and often decorated with festive sprinkles, making them a popular treat for special occasions, especially during Christmas. This dessert is not only a delight for the palate but also a symbol of abundance and good luck according to Italian folklore.

This recipe is a comforting and hearty dish, featuring small, juicy meatballs in a flavorful broth, accompanied by spinach and pasta. This easy-to-make soup can be prepared on the stovetop, in a Crock Pot, or with an Instant Pot, making it a versatile option for any meal. The recipe emphasizes the use of fresh ingredients and provides tips for enhancing the soup's flavor, making it a delightful meal for any occasion.

This recipe is an authentic Italian dish from the Molise region. It features honey-drenched, crispy fritters made from a simple dough that is shaped into intricate patterns or rose shapes. These fritters are then fried and coated with honey, creating a sweet and crunchy treat. The recipe reflects traditional Italian Christmas cooking, offering a deliciously authentic taste of Italy's culinary heritage.

This Italian Biscotti recipe is a festive and delicious treat, combining the tartness of cranberries with the crunch of pistachios. The biscotti are super thin, creating a unique texture that is both crispy and chewy. The addition of orange zest adds a hint of citrus flavor, enhancing the overall taste. These biscotti are perfect for holiday gatherings or as a special homemade gift.

This recipe is a guide to creating authentic Italian pastry shells, which can be filled with various delicious fillings like ricotta or mascarpone-based cream. These homemade shells are crispy, and fried, and offer versatility in size. The recipe provides a step-by-step approach, including tips on making the dough and frying the shells, ensuring a delightful homemade version of this classic Italian dessert.

This recipe offers a unique fusion of Italian and Indian flavors, combining gnocchi with a tikka masala spice blend. The dish features blistered tomatoes and garlic, adding a fresh and zesty taste. Fresh mozzarella cheese is melted over the top, creating a creamy texture that complements the spicy and savory elements of the meal. This innovative recipe is perfect for a quick, flavorful, and comforting dinner.

This recipe is moist and has a cake-like texture, featuring a perfect blend of cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and cocoa. The addition of orange zest brings a fresh citrus twist to these cookies, which are shaped by being dropped onto a cookie sheet, making them straightforward to prepare. The final touch of rolling them in icing sugar adds a touch of sweetness and elegance to these delightful cookies.

This recipe is all about creating super soft, tender meatballs in a homemade marinara sauce. It includes unique preparation tips like soaking bread in milk for the meatballs and making a smooth marinara sauce. The dish is a classic comfort food, perfect for a family dinner or any occasion when you crave a hearty, Italian meal.

This recipe is a quick and easy seafood dish featuring mussels in a garlicky tomato sauce with white wine, red pepper flakes, and basil. Perfect as an appetizer with crusty Italian bread or as a main course over pasta, this flavorful dish is a great way to enjoy seafood in a classic Italian style.

This recipe focuses on a classic Italian dish, made with fresh mozzarella, ripe tomatoes, and basil. It embodies simplicity and freshness, with each ingredient shining in its natural flavor. The addition of quality olive oil, a sprinkle of salt, and optional oregano enhance the taste. This salad can be served as an appetizer or main dish, representing the essence of Italian summer cuisine.

These cookies are a classic treat originating from Siena, Tuscany. They offer a chewy but light center with a toasty crust of thinly sliced almonds. Reminiscent of macaroons, these cookies are naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and simple to make. The recipe uses aquafaba instead of egg whites, lending a divine lightness and chewiness to the cookies. They are perfect to enjoy with a fresh espresso or cappuccino, especially during Christmas.

This recipe is a comforting and flavorful dish featuring wide, ribbon-like pasta tossed in a rich tomato-based sauce with Italian sausage. The recipe includes a blend of aromatic spices and herbs, enhancing the depth of flavor. It's a hearty and satisfying meal, perfect for a cozy dinner, and can be prepared in just 30 minutes, making it an excellent choice for a quick yet delicious weeknight meal.

This recipe features a mix of fresh vegetables like lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and onions, along with Italian cheeses, meats like salami or prosciutto, and olives. It's often dressed with a vinaigrette made from olive oil, vinegar, and Italian herbs. This salad is known for its vibrant flavors and diverse textures, making it a popular choice for a hearty and healthy meal.

This recipe for Torta della Nonna is a classic Italian dessert featuring a soft pastry filled with rich and delicate custard cream, topped with pine nuts. The process involves making pastry dough and custard cream, layering them in a tart pan, and baking to achieve a harmonious blend of textures and flavors. This dessert combines vanilla flavor and nutty taste with a hint of lemony aroma, making it a delightful treat for any occasion.

This recipe is a rich and creamy drink, distinct from American-style hot cocoa. It's thickened with cornstarch and made with dark chocolate, cocoa powder, and milk, creating a luxurious, velvety texture. Unlike traditional hot cocoa, this version doesn't require cream. It's a perfect treat for chocolate lovers, enjoyed in small quantities due to its decadence. The recipe provides a step-by-step guide to creating this indulgent Italian classic.

This recipe combines the classic elements of Caprese salad with chicken and a side of smashed potatoes. It involves sautéing chicken, topping it with sun-dried tomatoes and cheese, and then baking it. The dish is garnished with fresh basil and a balsamic reduction. Smashed potatoes serve as a crispy and delicious side, complementing the main dish. This meal is an easy yet sophisticated option for dinner, offering a blend of Italian flavors with a modern twist.

This recipe is an easy and delicious meal, perfect for a cozy dinner. It features chicken breasts seasoned with Italian spices and cooked in a creamy sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. This dish is cooked in the oven and is great for a hassle-free cooking experience. The creamy sauce and the addition of fresh spinach make it a flavorful and comforting meal.

This recipe is a vibrant and hearty dish that blends crisp romaine lettuce with a variety of Italian favorites like salami, mozzarella cheese balls, and artichoke hearts. Topped with a robust Italian dressing, it's perfect as a flavorful starter or a light meal. The salad brings together the zesty, salty, and tangy flavors typical of Italian antipasti in a refreshing and easy-to-assemble way.

This recipe is a delightful Italian dish featuring pasta, chicken, and a creamy sauce with mushrooms, bacon, and Parmesan. It's a rich and comforting meal, perfect for those who enjoy a combination of earthy, smoky, and creamy flavors. The recipe offers a step-by-step guide to creating this flavorful dish, which can be enjoyed as a hearty dinner.

This recipe is a classic Italian dessert, perfect for coffee lovers. It involves layering ladyfingers dipped in espresso with a creamy mixture of mascarpone cheese, egg yolks, and sugar. The dessert is then topped with a dusting of cocoa powder. This no-bake recipe is best prepared ahead of time and served chilled, offering a delightful blend of rich flavors and creamy textures.

This recipe is a quick and convenient way to enjoy the classic flavors of lasagna. It combines lasagna pasta, ground meat, and a rich tomato sauce with cheese, all cooked in one skillet for easy preparation and cleanup. The recipe offers a practical alternative to traditional oven-baked lasagna, making it ideal for a comforting meal on busy nights.