58 Classic Italian Dinner Recipes That Are 100% Nonna-Approved

Cacio e pepe is as fun to say as it is to eat. A popular pasta dish from Rome, the name literally translates to cheese and pepper. We thought that pasta shouldn’t have all the fun, so why not chicken-fy it?

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These grilled shrimp piccata skewers are the perfect combination of juicy, charred shrimp, bright lemon zest, briny capers, and white wine butter sauce that will make your friends beg you for the recipe.

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This easy and delicious ragu is perfect for date night. Whatever you do, don't skimp on the Parm! Looking for more cozy winter recipes? Be sure to add this cacio e Pepe to your list.

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Grandma pizza has a thin, crispy crust topped first with cheese, then dolloped with a garlicky tomato sauce. It's not the usual way of assembling pizza, but the cheese melting right into the crust really makes some magic happen.

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One of Olive Garden’s most iconic dishes has to be their meatballs. Sauced in bright marinara and perched atop a glossy mound of spaghetti, they transform into a showstopping entrée that still manages to deliver those down-home comfort food vibes.

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Chicken piccata is one of Italy's classic dishes and refers to the process of dredging the meat in flour, browning it in a skillet, and cooking it in a simple sauce of lemon juice, butter, and capers. Italians most often prepare this with veal, but we love it with chicken just the same.

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This dish has all the eggplant Parm flavors you love—including sliced rounds of tender eggplant, tangy marinara sauce, and plenty of cheese. Instead of breading each slice of eggplant, though, you'll top the entire skillet with panko bread crumbs, making it easy enough for a weeknight dinner.

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Don't let the deep hues of caramelized mozzarella fool you—this is indeed a white pizza pie with absolutely no sauce. White pizzas can be boring without the acidity of tomatoes, but we've made a pie that takes advantage of the flavors from three different cheeses to make a dreamy pizza.

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There’s an art to a great meatball. It should be nicely round, packed with flavor, and tender throughout. Making them from scratch is really easy and definitely beats anything you’d buy at the store. If you want a more hands-off approach, try baked meatballs!

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These might sound fancy but they're actually an easy pasta dinner anyone can pull off. If you love gnocchi as much as we do, you'll likely love these too. The only real difference? Gnocchi is made with potato and gnudi is made with ricotta, which makes them even more tender, light, and plump.

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Think of burrata salad as Caprese salad's fancy cousin. Peak-summer tomatoes are topped with this luscious cheese (think: a shell of mozzarella filled with a soft, creamy filling) and garnished with a shower of peppery basil leaves and savory chives. 😍

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If you can't get enough of Rome's famous spaghetti carbonara, then we have a sneaking suspicion you'll love this extra-cheesy pizza version. Keep it simple with a side of peppery arugula dressed with olive oil and lemon juice to cut the richness of the pie!

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There are hundreds (maybe thousands) of chicken Parm recipes in the world, but this one is our favorite. Crispy, well-seasoned chicken, a flavorful tomato sauce with a kiss of sweetness, and, of course, tons of melty cheese. It's easy, simple, and classic.

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Literally translated to “off the bone,” osso buco is a traditional northern Italian stew that celebrates the impossible tenderness of crosscut veal shank. It’s true, this recipe does take a bit of time, but we promise it’s worth it.

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Chicken marsala is a classic Italian American dish that's creamy, quick, and irresistible. It's the perfect weeknight dinner, and we don't even feel guilty making it three nights in a row.

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Panzanella—an Italian salad made with dried bread cubes—is one of the most delicious versions of salad. Perhaps this is why we love making panzanella as often as possible—with asparagus in spring, with tomatoes and zucchini in summer, and even with peaches and burrata too.

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This pasta dish with Roman origins is a sure win, calling for just 5 ingredients and done in 20 minutes. It’s basically a pantry dive—spaghetti, bacon, garlic, eggs, and Parmesan are all ingredients that are easy to have on hand and make this the ultimate comfort food.

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For this summery dish, you'll start by crisping up chicken cutlets that are wrapped in prosciutto. Next, you'll finish them off in a tangy vinegar sauce, then top the whole thing with mozzarella and tomatoes for a fresh and fast crowd-pleaser.

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Based on the traditional lasagna alla Bolognese from the Emilia-Romagna province in Italy, we grabbed what we loved most about the timeless, classic recipe and simplified it to make it weeknight-friendly.

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Cacio e pepe literally translates to “cheese and pepper." These two ingredients are usually thought of as small components to a dish, but in this pasta recipe, they take center stage. The fruity bite of freshly ground pepper adds complexity and is earthy, sweet, and spicy all at once.

Get the Cacio e Pepe recipe.