Easy Italian recipes you definitely need to know how to make, from crusty focaccia to the best meatballs you’ll ever taste!

Learn how to make these 16 Italian recipes and you’ll be set for life! Italian food has always been a favorite in the US, and it’s had an indelible impact on our food tastes, especially if you grew up in the Northeast, like I did. Italian food runs in our veins, and there’s nothing more comforting to me than a slice of focaccia or a plate of sausage and peppers.
Italian pantry essentials
When you have these essentials in the cupboard, a good meal is never very far away. Hopefully you’ve got garlic, basil, lemons, and a chunk of real Parm in the kitchen, too.
- extra virgin olive oil
- pasta
- anchovies
- balsamic vinegar
- olives
- pine nuts
- red pepper flakes
- arborio rice
- dried or canned beans
- polenta
- canned tomatoes and tomato paste
a hearty soup
Soup is an integral part of the healthy Mediterranean diet, and the Italians are masters at making soups that are satisfying enough to make a meal. If you’re cooking on a budget, this classic Italian soup recipe will be your best friend.
- Tuscan White Bean Soup (with Sausage Meatballs)
- Italian Sausage and Bean Soup
- Italian Minestrone Soup
- Lemony Tuscan Artichoke Soup
focaccia bread
Focaccia was the first bread I learned to make and it remains one of my favorites. It’s used for snacking, sandwiches, even breakfast in Italy. Different toppings like herbs or veggies give this basic Italian bread recipe many personalities.
- Sage Focaccia Bread
- Rosemary and Olive No Knead Focaccia Bread
- Easy Focaccia Bread Recipe
- Cherry Tomato Focaccia
- Rosemary Focaccia Bread with Dipping Oil
- Meyer Lemon Focaccia Bread
polenta
Polenta has come to symbolize the hearty, comforting nature of Northern Italian cuisine, much like pasta or pizza represents other parts of Italy.
pesto
Pesto is in a class by itself, it might be Italy’s greatest culinary gift to the world. My mouth waters just thinking about it. I suggest starting with the original pesto alla Genovese, and then adjusting it to your taste. I love mine spicy!
- Basil Pesto Recipe
- Lemony Artichoke Pesto Recipe
- Spicy Basil Pesto
- Chive and Parsley Pesto
- How to Keep Pesto Green!
Bolognese sauce
At some point in your cooking career you’ll graduate from spaghetti and meat sauce to pasta Bolognese, and you’ll never look back.
caprese salad
Caprese is less of a recipe and more of a state of mind. It’s knowing that the freshest, best ingredients need nothing more than a chop and a toss. When fabulous full sized tomatoes are out of season, I make this classic Italian tomato salad recipe with cherry tomatoes.
- Heirloom Tomato Caprese Salad
- Cherry Tomato Caprese Salad
- Burrata Caprese Salad
- Caprese Skillet Chicken
fresh pasta
When you’re ready to advance to next level Italian food, fresh pasta is waiting for you. This recipe requires no special pasta machine ~ just a rolling pin and a floured surface.
citrus cake
One of the often forgotten aspects of Italian cuisine is all that wonderful citrus. Oranges and lemons feature in so many different recipes but citrus cakes are some of my favorites.
- Sicilian Orange Cake
- Lemon Olive Oil Cake
- Meyer Lemon Cake
- Gluten Free Tangerine Cake
- Lemon Yogurt Breakfast Cake (Ciambella)
carbonara
Carbonara is a classic Italian pasta dish that originated in Rome. It is a simple yet flavorful dish made with a few key ingredients: pasta, eggs, pancetta or guanciale (Italian cured pork jowl), Parmesan cheese, and black pepper.
- Mushroom Carbonara with Gruyere and Hazelnuts
- Jamie Oliverโs Easy Sausage Carbonara
- Brussels Sprout Carbonara
- Breakfast Carbonara Pasta
pizza dough
I can’t think of a recipe you could master that would have a greater impact on your culinary life than pizza dough. It’s a game changer in so many ways, and my recipe couldn’t be easier!
meatballs
If you’re going to make meatballs, I highly recommend you start with the best. These take a little bit of time, but they are transcendent. My meatballs al forno is an authentic Italian recipe from Mozza restaurant in Los Angeles.
- Meatballs al forno
- Spaghetti and Meatball Soup
- Cheesy Chicken Parmesan Meatballs (low carb and keto friendly)
risotto
Risotto is magical and something everybody needs to learn how to make. Once you do, I suggest you try my Instant Pot risotto. I’ll go out on a limb and swear it’s just as good as the best risotto I’ve ever eaten, but it takes a fraction of the time.
- Saffron Risotto with Roasted Asparagus
- Instant Pot Wild Mushroom Risotto
- Butternut Squash Risotto
- Italian Wedding Risotto
- Instant Pot Cheddar Risotto with Fresh Sage
- Tomato and Parmesan Risotto
homemade cheese
In Italian households making homemade cheeses from scratch allows for the freshest possible product, using simple ingredients like milk, cream, and lemon juice or vinegar.
- Homemade Mascarpone
- How to Make Homemade Ricotta Cheese
- Ricotta Plum Cake
- Almond Ricotta Cake
- peach prosciutto & ricotta crostini
- Maple and Mascarpone Fruit Tart
Frittata
Frittatas are nutritious, budget friendly versatile meals that everybody loves ~ Thank you Italy!
beans
Beans, beans and more beans. They’re one of the biggest reasons the Mediterranean diet is so healthy. They’re cheap, versatile, and satisfying, not to mention delicious.
- Brothy Beans with Garlic Toast
- Puttanesca Style Beans and Toast
- Chicken Thighs with White Beans and Greens
- Tuna and White Bean Salad
tiramisu
This Italian dessert recipe towers over all others for its unique mouthfeel, its multi-levels of flavor, and the cool way it makes something so rich seem so light and airy. Thank you, Italy!
A gorgeous and concise group of recipes to save. My friends are Italian but I’d happily serve them some of these delightful dishes.
Thanks so much Lorna!
I love your new format
Thanks Nancy!
These recipes all look fantastic and they will be tried soon! Iโd planned on pizza this week anyway so that will be the first! I also have say every recipe of yours Iโve made weโve been very pleased. Itโs so nice to have a blog you can go to and know whatever you try will be delicious! I have a question: where did you get those glasses for the tiramisu? Theyโd be perfect for the individual trifles I make, also. Thanks for being a favorite girl-to! ????deb
Hi Deb, and thanks for the kind words ๐ The glasses, I believe, came from Cost Plus/World Market. I think I just saw them there the other day.