30 Italian recipes that will never go out of style

Courtney M. Wolf September 16, 2021

30 Italian Recipes That Will Never Go Out of Style

Italian cuisine — and Italian-American cuisine in particular — is the height of comfort food. From baked lasagna oozing with cheese to hearty pasta dishes loaded with alfredo sauce to meatballs cooked to a delicate golden brown, Italians know what they’re doing when it comes to food. Beyond some of the dishes that are better known in the United States, there’s also risotto, polenta, tramezzini and more. Below, we’ve included some of our most beloved Italian dishes to help bring the comfort of nonna’s cooking straight to your dinner table.




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Pasta With Fennel and Sausage





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Cheese and Spinach Manicotti





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Chicken Piccata With Rice





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Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Shrimp and Vegetable Tramezzini

If you have Italian relatives you want to impress, make them tramezzini. Despite being hard to find in the U.S., the little sandwiches are easy to make and oh-so-scrumptious. Here, they’re prepared with shrimp, thinly sliced carrots and zucchini delicately placed between two slices of bread slathered with Italian mayonnaise.

For the Shrimp and Vegetable Tramezzi recipe, click here.




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Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Classic Meatballs

Meatballs are featured in different cuisines around the world, but the preparation technique and ingredients vary depending on where you look. In Italy, the iconic dish is typically made by mixing ground beef with breadcrumbs, minced onion, eggs and seasoning.

For the Classic Meatballs recipe, click here.




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Classic Lasagna

Some liberties have been taken with lasagna since its inception. You can make it taco-style with cheddar cheese and ground beef or Florentine-style with spinach and chicken. Sometimes, though, the classics are king. This no-frills recipe sticks to the tried-and-true ingredients like red sauce, ricotta and mozzarella.

For the Classic Lasagna recipe, click here.




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Arugula and Pancetta Pizza





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Traditional Bolognese Ragu

Whether you know it as meat sauce or ragu, making traditional bolognese can be a challenge. According to L’Accademia Italiana della Cucina in Italy, this recipe for traditional bolognese ragu is the right way to make the sauce. Wondering what pasta shape you should add to your bolognese? Don’t stray far from tagliatelle or other wide, long noodles—the only shape allowed, according to some purists.

For the Bolognese Ragu recipe, click here.




Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.


Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

White Wine Clam Sauce Over Linguine





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Griddle-Seared Chicken With Caprese-Style Tomatoes





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Ravioli With Cream, Bay Leaf and Sage





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Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Homemade Calzones

Most pizza shops offer calzones, but if you want to make them at home, you can. Once you make the dough, fill your calzones with anything you want. Opt for the classic combo of mozzarella cheese with red sauce and pepperoni or follow along with this recipe, which includes ricotta cheese, a blend of dark greens and a whole lotta garlic.

For the Homemade Calzones recipe, click here.




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Panzanella With Grilled Shrimp

In the U.S., Italian cuisine is most often associated with pasta dishes, pizza and meatballs. But in reality, it’s much more than that. Delicious salads are also a staple of the Mediterranean country. Panzanella, a chopped salad that originated in Italy, is made by tossing day-old bread with tomatoes, cucumber and oil and vinegar.

For the Panzanella With Grilled Shrimp recipe, click here.




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Spaghetti all’Amatriciana

Revered by some as one of the most famous pasta dishes in Rome, Spaghetti all’Amatriciana is set apart from the rest by guanciale (cured pork jowl). If the ingredient isn’t available near you, thinly sliced bacon will do the trick.

For the Spaghetti all’Amatriciana recipe, click here.




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Pasta With Tomatoes and Basil





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Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Muffuletta

Although the muffuletta sandwich is closely associated with New Orleans, it originated among Italian immigrants. With ingredients like mortadella, Italian salami and provolone cheese, a muffuletta sandwich is Italian in nature, no matter where it originated.

For the Muffuletta recipe, click here.




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Fennel and Garlic Taralli





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Butterfly Pasta

Farfalle — commonly called butterfly or bowtie pasta by kids — is best served in a red sauce seasoned with garlic and oregano. Pump up the dish with some protein by serving it with marinated chicken or cooked shrimp.

For the Butterfly Pasta recipe, click here.




Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.


Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Tuscan Chicken Pasta

Looking for a way to use up leftover chicken? Add it to pasta. This recipe will show you the glory of garlic. Slide the top off the head to expose the cloves and rub them with a little olive oil. Wrap the garlic in aluminum foil and bake for about an hour. When done, the cloves will squeeze right out and form a garlicky paste.

For the Tuscan Chicken Pasta recipe, click here.




Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.


Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Polenta

Once you get the technique down, it’s easy to customize Polenta. Amplify its creaminess by adding butter, stirring in freshly grated Parmesan, or adding sauteed garlic and mushrooms. Enjoy it as is or chill it and deep fry it once it hardens.

For the Polenta recipe, click here.




Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.


Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.

Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan





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Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article.


31/31 SLIDES

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