Handy Chef
When you’re coming up with Italian dinner ideas, your mind might automatically jump to the classics—a gooey lasagna, a plate of spaghetti and meatballs, or the traditional pizza night.
But there’s plenty of decadent and delicious Italian dinner recipes that don’t feature tomato sauce or a whole lot of carbs. (And plenty of creative Italian dinner ideas that take the carb-and-tomatoes combo to the next level!)
Get inspired to bring a little bella Napoli (or Rome or Sicily) home with you—even on the busiest weeknights.
Mushroom and Burrata Orzotto
GREG DUPREE
Teeny-tiny orzo pasta gives you the same creamy vibe as a classic risotto, without all the work. Adding a dollop of gooey burrata on top adds to the lushness of this quick-and-easy meal.
Fast Italian Fish Stew
For a fast and fresh Italian dinner idea (with no pasta in sight), try this flavorful stew bursting with cherry tomatoes and topped off with halibut.
Shellfish Spaghetti
Victor Protasio
There’s a secret behind the sauce of this tasty pasta dish. Use store bought marinara as a base, and mix in the cooking liquid from the clams, mussels, and shrimp to add potent flavor.
One-Pot Italian Sausage Gnocchi Soup
Make dish duty super easy with this hearty one-pot soup that features spinach, turkey sausage, tomatoes, and pillowy gnocchi. (Bonus: You can get this soup on the table in under 30 minutes.)
Cacio E Pepe
Consider this a grownup take on mac-and-cheese, with Pecorino and Parmesan cheese and pepper in lieu of the classic cheddar.
Risotto With Pistachio Pesto
A generous helping of a spinach, basil, and pistachio pesto gives this risotto a punch of flavor and a pretty bright green color. And pro tip: Cooking the risotto in the oven first, then finishing it off on the stove helps cut back on stirring time and make risotto easier for a weeknight.
Black-Eyed Pea Ribollita
If you’re the kind of person who loves dipping bread or crackers into soup, this one’s for you! Black-eyed peas and greens simmer in a parmesan tomato broth, then get covered in croutons and gooey cheese for a perfect finish.
Cheesy Sausage Pasta Bake with Brussels Sprouts
This flavorful pasta bake is perfect comfort food. Sausage and roasted Brussels sprouts get mixed in with rigatoni, and covered with Gruyere and Parmesan.
Spinach Alfredo French Bread Pizza
Greg DuPree
It takes just 10 minutes to put together this easy French bread pizza. It’s a perfect Italian dinner idea for the busiest weeknights.
Antipasto Salad
Make dinner easy on the hottest nights with this hearty salad. Prosciutto, melon, olives, mini burrata, and pistachios are mixed in with other salad veggies for a 15-minute meal that’s simple and satisfying.
Caprese Mac and Cheese
Fred Hardy
Mix up the standard mac and cheese by adding olives and tomato slices—and swapping out the traditional cheddar for mozarella and a mix of Italian cheeses.
Tortellini and Veggies en Brodo
Greg DuPree
You cook the tortellini right in the broth for extra flavor (and fewer dishes!). An array of veggies—peas, asparagus, and arugula—balance out the cheese-filled pasta.
Spring Pasta Salad
The first produce of spring is center stage for this pasta salad dish, including mint, radishes, and sugar snap peas.
Pesto Skillet Lasagna
Fred Hardy,
Lasagna doesn’t have to be an intense labor of love. This skillet version cooks up in under an hour—and only dirties up a single pan. Use refrigerated or homemade pesto for the best flavor.
Honey-Drizzled Soppressata Pizza
You get a ton of bold flavor in every bite, with a drizzle of honey balancing out the spicy soppressata, peppery arugula, and a generous dash of red pepper flakes.
Real Simple Roasted Eggplant and Olive Pasta Salad
The Italian triumvirate of veggies—tomatoes, eggplant, and olives—are mixed with pasta and a touch of feta cheese for a dinner-worthy pasta salad. (Note: it’s also a great dish to bring to a summer potluck, as it can handle a bit of time out on the buffet table.)
Spaghetti Squash Parmesan
Spaghetti squash stands in for pasta in this healthier, plant-based take on the classic parmesan.
Italian Baked Eggs With Tomato Sauce
Also known as “eggs in purgatory,” this dish calls for a sausage-filled sauce to gently the cook eggs. The mozzarella toast on the side is perfect for dipping.
Eggplant Parmesan Rollatini
If pasta isn’t your thing, you don’t have to miss out on something gooey and delightful. Thin slices of eggplant are rolled around a cheesy mixture, then slathered with marinara and even more cheese for a guest-worthy dinner.
Roasted Veggie Calzones
Fred Hardy
You can thank beautiful Naples for inventing this go-anywhere version of pizza. If you don’t love the array of veggies we suggest, swap in your favorites. And go ahead and make up a big batch: You can save any leftovers in the freezer to quickly bake when you need dinner fast.
Zucchini Frittata With Parmesan
Frittatas are easy, any-time-of-day meals. You can serve this egg-and-veggie combo for brunch, lunch, or dinner.
No-Bake Summer Veggie Lasagna
Don’t miss this light, summery version of lasagna, featuring sautéed cherry tomatoes and zucchini alongside creamy ricotta. (And bonus: You barely have to turn on the stove to make this dish.)
Artichoke-Chard Pasta and Cheese
Greg DuPree
Think artichoke-spinach dip, but as a dinner! Provolone cheese and cream cheese make it gooey, and panko bread crumbs on top give it a little extra crunch.
Grilled Pizza With Chicken and Peach
Chicken and peach may not be traditional pizza toppings, but they work beautifully on this summery pie. (Don’t sleep on the honey or hot honey drizzle, which totally makes this pizza.)
Baked Chicken Parmesan
Try our version of this Italian favorite which requires only 15 minutes of hands-on time to get on your table.
Lemony Pasta With Sardines and Bread Crumbs
Keep a tin of good sardines in your pantry, and you’ll be ready to break out this dish any time you’re in a pinch. Most of the ingredients are pantry staples—and lemon and parsley are likely already in your fridge right now.
Walnut Mushroom Bolognese
If you love Bolognese but you’re trying to eat a more plant-based diet, we have the perfect Italian dinner idea for you. Here, hearty mushrooms and walnuts take the place of the traditional ground beef and pork in the sauce.
Slow-Cooker Deep Dish Pizza
Victor Protasio
You can take the pizza place off speed dial. This super-simple slow cooker pizza is a hands-off delight.
Baked Cod With Tomatoes, Olives, and Capers
Cod is a nice, mild fish, and topping it with capers, tomatoes, and olives helps punch up the flavor.
Slow-Cooker Puttanesca With Roasted Broccolini
If you want that “cooked all day” flavor, you don’t have to wait until the weekend. Break out the slow cooker to let this rich puttanesca sauce simmer all day, then finish it off by cooking pasta and roasting broccolini when you get home.
Italian Penicillin Pastina
Igor Barilo/Getty Images
If you’re feeling under the weather, nothing’s simpler and more cozy than this quick-and-easy comfort food dish featuring teeny pastina stars cooked in broth and finished off with egg and cheese.
Spicy Rigatoni Alla Vodka
Vodka sauce is a time-honored Italian classic. But you can add in a little crushed red pepper to kick up the flavor in our super-simple version.
Whole-Grain Minestrone With Parmesan Crisps
The parmesan crisps will definitely be gobbled up first, but the hearty and healthy minestrone soup will likely be a heavy-rotation mealtime favorite.
Wild Mushroom and Tomato Polenta
Top creamy polenta with tomatoes and wild mushrooms for a bowl of comforty goodness.
Sausage and Fontina Spaghetti Pie
Victor Protasio
Try an over-the-top take on the standard spaghetti and meatballs—that doesn’t take much more effort than the standard fare. (Mixing eggs into the vodka sauce helps the pie hold its shape.)
Pasta With Shrimp and Spicy Butter
Greg DuPree
This Italian pasta dish is infused with a unique ingredient to give it its heat—Korean gochujang. Ruffly mafalde noodles make it look extra fancy, but fettuccine works just as well.
Instant Pot Risotto With Peas and Crispy Salami
Greg DuPree
Break out the Instant Pot for this fast and easy risotto recipe. You cook the whole thing in the pot—so cleanup is a breeze, too.
Mini Squash Calzones
Calzones are a nice alternative to traditional pizza. Here, it’s filled with butternut squash, an array of cheeses, and Swiss chard for a perfect fall or winter meal.
Pork Ditalini Stew
This Italian stew couldn’t be easier. Most of the ingredients get tossed in and cooked all day, then you drop in the pasta and the spinach into the slow cooker in the final minutes before serving.
Tortellini With Squash, Egg, and Bread Crumbs
If zucchini or other squash isn’t a family favorite, swap in a different veggie for this simple, yet sophisticated dish. Try asparagus, broccoli, or wilted spinach.
Clam Pizza
Fred Hardy
Think linguine with clam sauce—but make it pizza! Don’t forget the sprinkle of lemon zest, which adds a bit of freshness to a very rich and creamy pie.
Stovetop Bacon Lasagna
Bacon is divine in pretty much everything. Here, it adds a smoky note to an easy lasagna that only requires a quick few minutes under the broiler to melt the cheese.
Homemade Sicilian Pizza with Shaved Delicata, Salami, and Pecorino
CHRISTOPHER TESTANI
This Sicilian flatbread is the perfect indulgence for a weeknight dinner. The puffy pizza dough is topped with luscious marinara, sweet delicata squash, meaty salami, and sharp pecorino Romano cheese. With only 45 minutes of prep time, this Italian pie is full of flavor and will delight your crew.
Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia
Greg DuPree
Focaccia is an Italian staple. The bread, baked in a flat sheet pan, is left to rise at room temperature after you roll it out and before you pop it into the oven. It’ll take about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to get soft and puffy and, once it is, you’ll bake it for about a half hour until it’s even puffier and golden. The final brush of olive oil infused with garlic and rosemary is what really makes this focaccia a crowd pleaser.
Italian Sausage Burgers
Greg DuPree
Try this weeknight Italian dinner recipe that you can cook up in just 15 minutes. This Italian sausage burger is bursting with flavor. The sausage is removed from the casings to turn into patties that you’ll sear up and brown in a grill pan. Top it with red onion, peppers, and melted provolone for a perfect and juicy combination.
Supreme Pizza
Using store-bought whole-wheat pizza dough cuts this recipe down to just 30 minutes—less time than it would take to get a supreme pie delivered! Cremini mushrooms, red bell pepper, red onions, and a sprinkling of melted Parmesan at the end of baking elevate this pizza to gourmet level.
Pasta With Peppers and Mozzarella
A play on a traditional Caprese pasta, this dish uses sauteed red peppers in place of tomatoes and arugula instead of basil. The sweet, smoky flavor of the peppers and slight bitterness of the arugula melds perfectly with the creaminess of the fresh mozzarella. The best part? It comes together in less than 20 minutes.
Spaghetti With Roasted Tomatoes and Herbs
This spaghetti recipe isn’t the same-old, same-old. It incorporates homemade pasta sauce that tastes like it’s been simmering all day—except that it’s super easy to make. Oven-roasted cherry tomatoes tossed in olive oil and minced garlic get mixed into the pasta and herbs for a delicious dish. Serve it sprinkled with shaved cheese and add a protein of your choice.
Penne With Bacon and Black Olives
Penne pasta is an Italian staple. But why stop short at penne in marinara sauce? Get creative with some bacon bits and black olives to add a bit of crunch and salty flavor to this dish. Just a little bit goes a long way.
Homemade Gnocchi
Greg DuPree
If you’re in a pasta rut, this homemade gnocchi is just the thing to bust you out of it. The dough comes together with the flesh of roasted potatoes, eggs, and flour in a simple process that is also rewarding. Top it with the Basil Pesto recipe at the end or your favorite sauce and serve with warmed crusty bread and a glass of bold cabernet.
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