Italian Dinners

Our best traditional Italian recipes for pizza, pasta, lasagna.

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Penne with Vodka Sauce

This indulgent dish is as sinful as it sounds. Cream and Parmesan cheese are added to the tomato vodka sauce and create a heavenly, rich combination.

Get the Recipe: Penne With Vodka Sauce

Chicken Parmigiana

Pound out your chicken to about a half-inch thick so it cooks nice and evenly before you dredge each breast in flour, then in egg and then in breadcrumbs. Bobby uses panko breadcrumbs, because they're a bit lighter and they make the dish quite crispy.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Parmigiana

Artichoke Gratinata

Giada's baked artichokes and breadcrumbs are ready in just 25 minutes.

Get the Recipe: Artichoke Gratinata

Chicken Cacciatore

Cacciatore means "cooked in a hunter's style," so this is a very rustic dish. The bone-in and skin-on chicken parts mean a more rustic and flavorful preparation. The recipe varies in different parts of Italy. In the north of the country, the chicken is made with onions, carrots and celery, while in southern Italy the recipe includes anchovies, olives and sometimes chili peppers.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Cacciatore

Real Meatballs and Spaghetti

Ina adds grated Parmesan cheese to her meatballs to give them lots of flavor. All of the ingredients she uses will hold the meatballs together and give them great flavor. Warm water is the secret ingredient: It keeps the meatballs moist.

Get the Recipe: Real Meatballs and Spaghetti

Basil Pesto

Five ingredients are all you need for this quick sauce. Make a big batch in advance, transfer to an airtight container and drizzle remaining oil over the top before you add the cheese. The sauce will freeze for up to 3 months.

Get the Recipe: Basil Pesto

Fettuccine Alfredo

Tyler uses heavy cream and butter as the base for this pasta sauce. It'll cook down and then thicken to really coat your pasta.

Get the Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo

Baked Shrimp Scampi

Assemble this dish in advance with a crunchy crumb topping, then bake it 10 minutes before you're ready to serve dinner.

Get the Recipe: Baked Shrimp Scampi

Meatball Subs

Homemade tomato sauce and veal meatballs are topped with fresh Parmesan and combine to make one heroically delicious meatball hero.

Get the Recipe: Meatball Subs

Chicken with Cacciatore Sauce

Chicken thighs are topped with stewed tomatoes, fresh veggies and salty kalamata olives in this rustic Italian dish.

Get the Recipe: Chicken With Cacciatore Sauce

Tortellini with Peas and Prosciutto

Salty prosciutto and crisp peas are mixed into a velvety cheese sauce and tossed with hearty meat-filled tortellini.

Get the Recipe: Tortellini with Peas and Prosciutto

Pork Marsala with Spinach

A velvety Marsala wine and mushroom sauce goes perfectly with slices of lean pork loin.

Get the Recipe: Pork Marsala With Spinach

Roasted Cauliflower Risotto

Oven-roasted cauliflower is a hearty addition to decadent risotto with fontina cheese and sliced almonds.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Risotto

Margherita Pizza

Skip delivery and make this easy pizza from scratch. Canned, whole peeled tomatoes plus a bit of olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes and mozzarella are all you need to top homemade dough.

Get the Recipe: Margherita Pizza

Tilapia Milanese

Breaded tilapia packs a punch of flavor when it's first seared in olive oil and then baked. A fresh arugula salad with a light citrus dressing is the perfect side to this simple dish.

Get the Recipe: Tilapia Milanese

Slow-Cooker Ribolitta

Cook this combination of vegetables and pancetta in a slow cooker while you start with a classic antipasti plate.

Get the Recipe: Slow-Cooker Ribollita

Osso Buco

Made with whole veal shanks and fresh vegetables and herbs, Giada's showstopping dish is cooked to perfection in an aromatic red wine sauce. Even better, it's a cinch to make.

Get the Recipe: Osso Buco

Chicken Piccata

Ready in just half an hour, Ina's lemony chicken piccata makes a simple yet elegant meal for two.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Piccata

Shrimp Scampi

Ready to eat in only 25 minutes, Robert Irvine's weeknight-friendly dinner features tender shrimp tossed with tomatoes and pasta in a white wine-butter sauce.

Chicken Scallopine with Sage and Fontina Cheese

Giada's perfect chicken roll-ups are stuffed with fresh sage and creamy fontina cheese and are simmered in an authentic San Marzano tomato sauce.

Get the Recipe: Chicken Scallopine with Sage and Fontina Cheese

Three-Cheese White Pizza

Skip red sauce in favor of ricotta, Parmesan cheese and mozzarella to top homemade dough.

Get the Recipe: Three-Cheese White Pizza

Conghilie with Clams and Mussels

Celebrate Italian seafood with Giada's simple recipe for pasta with clams and mussels. Olive oil, white wine and garlic enhance the flavors of the fish without covering them up.

Get the Recipe: Conchiglie With Clams and Mussels

Shrimp Fra Diavolo

Use canned whole tomatoes as the base for this spicy sauce that gets its kick from red pepper flakes and garlic.

Get the Recipe: Shrimp Fra Diavolo

Classic Red Sauce

Debi Mazar of Extra Virgin believes that "when done right, a red sauce like this can make you feel alive."

Get the Recipe: Classic Red Sauce

"Fake" Sauce

"This sauce originated with farmers who wanted the body and heartiness of a meaty red sauce but couldn't afford the meat," Gabriele Corcos of Extra Virgin says.

Get the Recipe: "Fake" Sauce

Taleggio and Pear Panini

Giada uses Taleggio, a cow's milk cheese from Italy, for this grilled sandwich because it melts well and pairs perfectly with crunchy pears and crisp arugula.

Get the Recipe: Taleggio and Pear Panini

Amatriciana Sauce

Amatriciana is a spicy red sauce that's name is derived from the Italian town of Amatrice. It features guanciale or pancetta in combination with an easy red sauce.

Get the Recipe: Amatriciana Sauce

Mini Meatball Heroes

In order to get those really melt-in-your-mouth meatballs, mix all of the seasonings together before you add the meat. Giada uses a combination of ground beef, pork and veal in her mini sandwiches.

Get the Recipe: Mini Meatball Heroes

Roasted Tomato Penne alla Vodka

Vodka, creamy mascarpone cheese and roasted tomatoes make a rich sauce to serve over penne pasta.

Get the Recipe: Roasted Tomato Penne alla Vodka

Shrimp Fra Diavolo

This quick Italian classic's name, which translates to "Brother Devil," is inspired by the dish's characteristic spiciness.

Get the Recipe: Shrimp Fra Diavolo