Homemade braised lamb shanks with sauce and herbs.
Food & Drink

50 delicious Italian recipes

Written by:
Nicole Caldwell
September 14, 2021
Brent Hofacker // Shutterstock

50 delicious Italian recipes

It's no secret that Italian food is wildly popular鈥攂etween decadent pizzas, pastas, and hearty soups, what's not to like? You might not know, though, exactly how well-liked these dishes are. In TasteAtlas' 2024-25 Awards, was rated as the second-best cuisine in the world. Additionally, the global Italian food market is valued at approximately $25.5 billion as of 2025 and is expected to reach nearly $41 billion by 2032. 

While often associated with a night out at an expensive restaurant, Italian cuisine can be prepared cheaply and easily in your own kitchen, a boon for Italophiles who want to save money amid rising. In fact, you can further embrace the spirit of Italian cooking by following the principle of cucina povera, or "poor cuisine," which focuses on creating delicious meals using simple, affordable ingredients. 

Whether you prefer old-school Italian food or a modern blend of global flavors, you can really make a restaurant-quality meal at home. From lasagnas and polenta to homemade meatballs and long-simmering gravy, Italian food capitalizes on some classic ingredients: garlic, onion, and garden-fresh herbs.

Of course, there's much more to it than that, which is why 麻豆原创 has compiled a list of our favorite Italian recipes from for you to try. Keep reading to see what's for dinner tonight.

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Bucatini Cacio e Pepe (Roman Sheep Herder's Pasta)

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Total: 25 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

Torta di Mele (Italian Apple Cake)

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Italian Shrimp and Scallop Risotto

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Additional: 2 mins
- Total: 57 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 16
-

Italian Baked Meatballs

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 30 1-ounce meatballs
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Traditional Spaghetti all'Amatriciana

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

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Hearty Minestrone Soup (Instant Pot庐)

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Additional: 5 mins
- Total: 1 hr 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 18
-

Lasagne Alla Bolognese Saporite

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs 48 mins
- Additional: 3 mins
- Total: 3 hrs 21 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 19
-

Lemony Pork Piccata

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 pork chops
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

World's Best Lasagna

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs 30 mins
- Additional: 15 mins
- Total: 3 hrs 15 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 20
-

Chicken Parmesan

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Additional: 15 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

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Gourmet Mushroom Risotto

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Spaghetti Sauce with Ground Beef

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 10 mins
- Total: 1 hr 25 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Brasato al Barolo - Braised Chuck Roast in Red Wine

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs 46 mins
- Additional: 12 hrs
- Total: 15 hrs 16 mins
- Servings: 5
- Yield: 1 2-pound roast
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

How to Make Perfect Polenta

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Additional: 5 mins
- Total: 55 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Ciabatta Bread

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 55 mins
- Servings: 24
- Yield: 2 loaves
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

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Manicotti

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 1 hr 15 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Italian Wedding Soup I

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Eggplant Parmesan II

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 8 to 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Homemade Four Cheese Ravioli

- Prep: 45 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 2 hrs
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 20 ravioli
- Number of ingredients: 19
-

Italian-Style Tuna Salad

- Prep: 20 mins
- Total: 20 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

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Chef John's Italian Meatballs

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Additional: 1 hr 20 mins
- Total: 2 hrs 15 mins
- Servings: 30
- Yield: 30 meatballs
- Number of ingredients: 14
-

Super-Delicious Zuppa Toscana

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Total: 1 hr 25 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Pasta Salad

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Additional: 13 hrs 20 mins
- Total: 13 hrs 55 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

Shrimp Scampi with Pasta

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 14
-

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 22 mins
- Total: 32 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

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Balsamic Bruschetta

- Prep: 15 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Chicken Marsala

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Pesto Pasta

- Prep: 5 mins
- Additional: 10 mins
- Total: 15 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 7
-

Homemade Lasagna

- Prep: 1 hr
- Cook: 45 mins
- Total: 1 hr 45 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 8 servings
- Number of ingredients: 18
-

Lemon Chicken Piccata

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

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Easy Lasagna II

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Additional: 10 mins
- Total: 1 hr 25 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

The Best Parmesan Chicken Bake

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Italian Spaghetti Sauce with Meatballs

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs
- Total: 2 hrs 20 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 17
-

Slow Cooker Italian Beef for Sandwiches

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 12 hrs
- Total: 12 hrs 15 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

Italian Sausage Soup

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Total: 50 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

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Homemade Sweet Italian Sausage (Mild or Hot)

- Prep: 20 mins
- Additional: 12 hrs
- Total: 12 hrs 20 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 3 1-pound portions
- Number of ingredients: 14
-

Italian Sausage, Peppers, and Onions

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 25 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Florentine Stuffed Chicken

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 40 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 6
-

Tender Italian Baked Chicken

- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 30 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 5
-

Slow Cooker Lasagna

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 4 hrs 20 mins
- Total: 4 hrs 40 mins
- Servings: 10
- Yield: 10 servings
- Number of ingredients: 11
-

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Italian Breaded Pork Chops

- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Total: 1 hr
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 8
-

World's Best Pasta Sauce!

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 1 hr 30 mins
- Total: 1 hr 45 mins
- Servings: 16
- Yield: 16 servings
- Number of ingredients: 14
-

Meatball Sandwich

- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Total: 40 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 13
-

Easy Pizza Sauce I

- Servings: 8
- Yield: 1 large pizza
- Number of ingredients: 9
-

Garlic Butter Sauce I

- Servings: 1
- Yield: 1 serving
- Number of ingredients: 4
-

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Easy Italian Chicken II

- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Additional: 1 hr
- Total: 2 hrs 5 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 2
-

Roasted Chicken with Risotto and Caramelized Onions

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 4
- Yield: 4 servings
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

Spinach Lasagna III

- Prep: 35 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Additional: 15 mins
- Total: 1 hr 50 mins
- Servings: 12
- Yield: 12 servings
- Number of ingredients: 16
-

Rosemary Braised Lamb Shanks

- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs
- Total: 2 hrs 30 mins
- Servings: 6
- Yield: 6 servings
- Number of ingredients: 12
-

Best Marinara Sauce Yet

- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 30 mins
- Total: 45 mins
- Servings: 8
- Yield: 4 cups
- Number of ingredients: 10
-

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