Don’t let intimidation hold you back; these meals are simpler to make than you might believe. I learned to cook these easy Italian meals with my Nonna when I was a child. If I could do it as a kid, so can you!
You don’t have to go to an Italian restaurant to enjoy a classic Italian recipe. With the traditional recipes on this website, you can enjoy these easy meals
from the comfort of your home. Most of these dishes use simple ingredients from tomato paste to tomato juice you probably have these simple ingredients already in your pantry. Whether you want to prepare an authentic Italian pasta dish, pasta puttanesca, or a pasta bake you’ll find it here.
Here are my favorite Italian meals to cook:
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Orecchiette con Pomodoro e Pecorino
This Italian dish originates from Puglia, Italy, where you can find local women making and selling fresh orecchiette on the streets. Making orecchiette at home is a wonderful way to enjoy truly fresh pasta. Whether you’re preparing it as a main dish or a side dish, it’s perfect for any special occasion.
Feel free to explore different variations of this authentic Italian pasta dish. Try various sauces and experiment by substituting Pecorino cheese with Parmesan cheese or Mozzarella cheese. Some chefs even incorporate ricotta cheese into the pasta dough to make the orecchiette more tender.
I used oregano as a garnish, but fresh basil can add a delightful twist, and any fresh herbs can enhance the flavor and presentation of your dish.
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Spicy Vodka Sauce
This is one quick and easy Italian meal to cook in under 30 minutes. While your pasta is cooking this sauce can be made. It is a perfect fast and easy weeknight meal. You can also consider adding protein or vegetables to make a balanced meal the family will love. Add this sauce to any authentic pasta dish to bring it to life.
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Lobster Ravioli “Mezzaluna Style”
Create a restaurant-quality Italian meal that’s surprisingly easy to make. This rich and luxurious dish is sure to impress your guests and family, showcasing your culinary talent. Featuring chunky lobster tail meat coated with salmon mousse and basil-infused pasta, this dish will leave your guests eager for another dinner party. Paired with a rich lobster sauce and a lemon vinaigrette, your palate will truly dance with joy. This is one of my favorite Italian food
recipes
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Eggplant Parmesan
This is one of my easiest Italian meals to cook. Many variations of this recipe exist, but most involve layering sliced eggplant in a casserole dish with sauce and cheese before baking. This particular recipe creates individual servings layered for an impressive presentation. The combination of the crunchy texture of the eggplant with the creaminess of the sauce and cheese will leave your family and friends requesting this dish again and again. This recipe should be in every Italian cooking repertoire.
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Cacio ‘e’ Pepe
Cacio e Pepe is not just one of my easy Italian recipes, but it also embodies the brilliance of culinary tradition. Translating to “Cheese and Pepper,” this dish has a rich history, dating back centuries to the time of Roman shepherds and peasants. They crafted basic pasta from semolina and eggs—or, when necessary, just semolina and water. By adding cheese and pepper, they created a dish that has stood the test of time and remains a beloved classic. The ingredients used in Cacio e Pepe were carefully selected for their durability. Hard cheeses, flour, and peppercorns have a long shelf life, making this recipe a practical choice that doesn’t compromise on flavor. Embrace the simplicity and deliciousness of Cacio e Pepe, and experience a taste of Italian history in your own kitchen!
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Pasta Carbonara
This Italian meal should be a staple in every Italian chef’s repertoire. The recipe originated during WWII when American soldiers in Italy requested spaghetti to be added to their rations of eggs and bacon. Over time, cheese was incorporated, and bacon was replaced with pancetta or guanciale. This is one of my family’s favorite Italian dishes.
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Helpful Tip: When adding the eggs and cheese to your pasta, use very little or no heat. The heat from the pasta and the pasta water is sufficient to transform the eggs and cheese into a delicious, creamy sauce that coats the pasta. Excessive heat can lead to scrambled eggs.
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Homemade Pappardelle
Every Italian chef needs to possess basic pasta-making skills. I was fortunate to learn these skills as a child with my nonna. These are the most cherished memories of my childhood cooking with her. Pappardelle is my favorite due to its simplicity. Simply, roll it, fold it, and cut it. It also creates a large surface for your favorite sauce to cling to while traveling to your palette. It is the perfect addition to any Italian meal to cook.
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Marinara Sauce, add this recipe to your Italian meal
Marinara sauce is a staple ingredient in many Italian meals to cook. Recently, there has been a shift in how tomato sauce is prepared. The traditional thick red gravy has largely been replaced with quicker, easier marinara-style sauces. Unfortunately, the beloved “Sunday gravy,” which requires hours of simmering, is becoming less common due to the rising popularity of these quick recipes.
Marinara sauce is incredibly versatile, allowing you to combine tomatoes with various simple ingredients. Feel free to experiment with different types of tomatoes, fresh vegetables, and fresh herbs. Think of the pan as your artist’s palette—cooking is indeed an art! Try the basic recipe linked below, and enjoy the creative process.
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Bruschetta
Bruschetta is a quick and simple appetizer or side dish that enhances any Italian meal. There are countless variations of this classic Italian treat. It originated centuries ago when Italian peasants sought to avoid wasting stale bread
. They would toast the Italian bread
and top it with fresh tomatoes, olive oil
, and fresh vegetables, creating an economical meal. Feel free to explore your own variations using different vegetables from your refrigerator. Not only is this an easy recipe it is one of the best Italian recipes
I have in my cookbook.
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Braciole, My “go to” Italian meal to cook
Braciole is one of my favorite Italian dishes to prepare for special occasions. When you assemble the beef rolls, they simmer in the sauce, transforming into a succulent and juicy masterpiece of Italian cuisine. The combination of flavors—from the fresh parsley, beef, or veal to the spices, and Italian sausages in the filling—creates an unforgettable experience for your palate. Though this recipe may appear complex, it becomes an achievable endeavor with just some basic cooking skills.
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Roasted Pomodoro Sauce
Braciole is one of my favorite Italian dishes to prepare for special occasions. When you assemble the beef rolls, they simmer in the sauce, transforming into a succulent and juicy masterpiece of , Italian cuisine. The combination of flavors—from the fresh parsley, beef or veal to the spices in the filling—creates an unforgettable experience for your palate. Though this recipe may appear complex, it becomes an achievable endeavor with just some basic cooking skills.
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The Roman Diet of Italian meals
Italian meals to cook is a myth of the Roman diet is that they ate less meat due to animal rights. However, it had more to do with the economy. They mainly consumed cereals, grains, fish, fowl, and pork due to the cost of the food. Beef, for example, was more valuable for transportation and farming.
My ancestors are from Pescara, a small fishing town in the Abruzzo region. We mostly ate fish in our Italian meals for obvious reasons, but no beef. My Nonna used to tell me that cows produced milk for all the delicious dairy products we enjoy. If you eat the cow, there would be no more cheese. We definitely love cheese.
Oxen were used to plow the fields to grow all the grains and vegetables we loved. If you ate the ox, Papa would have to pull the plow, and if you know my Grandpa, he isn’t pulling any plows.
Pork was consumed frequently because it had little value for anything but food. We included almost every type of beans in our diet – garbanzo, cannellini, borlotti, etc. We used beans to make delicious soups and sauces because they were not only inexpensive but also very hearty and filling.
For these reasons, most of my recipes have very little beef. As you may know, pasta is made from two simple ingredients: flour and eggs. I hope you enjoy preparing these recipes as much as I enjoy sharing them.
