20 Italian Dinner Recipes That Make You Feel Like You're Back in Nonna's Kitchen

Is there a better feeling?

By
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora Kaloudis
Theodora's passion for cooking began early on as a young girl, working in the kitchen at her father's Greek diner in Brooklyn, NY. Her recipes have appeared on Delish, Spruce Eats, Today.com, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Dinnerly, Simply Recipes, and in various cookbooks.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published January 27, 2026
Theodora Kaloudis
Platter of Spaghetti and Meatballs With a Piece of Toasted Bread and Topped With Fresh Basil Leaves, and in the Surroundings, a Burgundy Table Napkin, a Bowl of Parmesan, Bite Size Bread Pieces Scattered on the Table, and a Plate With More Spaghetti and Meatballs

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Get ready to be transported to the warm embrace of Nonna's kitchen with these classic Italian dinners. From comforting pastas and bubbling bakes to rustic soups and stews, we've pulled together a collection of recipes that celebrate simple ingredients, hearty portions, and timeless flavors. Even if you didn't have the distinct privilege of growing up with a Nonna of your own, there's one out there somewhere cheering you on.

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  • The Best Homemade Lasagna

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Julia Gartland / Food Styling by Barrett Washburne

    "This classic lasagna recipe is made with an easy meat sauce as the base. Layer the sauce with noodles and cheese, then bake until bubbly! This is great for feeding a big family and freezes well, too." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Easy Italian Wedding Soup

    Overhead view of a white bowl of Italian wedding soup with spoon and topped with Parmesan cheese

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Rachel Vanni / Food Styling by Tiffany Schleigh

    "Italian wedding soup combines tiny meatballs, hearty greens, and itty-bitty pasta to produce a filling, whole-meal soup, garnished with a flurry of parmesan cheese and a drizzle of good olive oil. Since it’s usually a labor of love, I don't make it often. But by introducing a clever shortcut I learned from one of my editors, I was able to make this comforting soup a weeknight-friendly recipe." —Stephanie A Ganz, Recipe Developer

  • Risi e Bisi (Italian Rice and Peas)

    Elise Bauer

    "Risi e bisi simply means rice and peas, and the dish is traditionally made with the fresh new peas of spring. If fresh peas are not available, you can easily make it with frozen peas (avoid canned)." —Hank Shaw, Recipe Developer

  • Chicken Romano

    Chicken Romano on a platter, garnished with flat-leafed parsley and lemon wedges, bowl with mixed salad greens on the side

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek 

    "Chicken Romano is a variation of a breaded chicken cutlet. The secret ingredient is Pecorino Romano, which is added to the breading—this is how Grandma Hope made her cutlets." —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

    Continue to 5 of 20 below

  • Eggplant Parmesan

    Baked eggplant parmesan in a casserole dish.
    Ciara Kehoe

    "Eggplant Parmesan is one of those great Italian comfort foods—a layered casserole much like lasagna but with slices of globe eggplant taking the place of pasta." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Classic Minestrone Soup

    minestrone soup in bowl

    Elise Bauer

    "There is no set recipe for minestrone, since it is usually made out of whatever vegetables are in season. It can be vegetarian, contain meat, or contain a meat-based soup base (such as chicken stock)." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Easy Tuscan Ribollita Soup

    easy tuscan ribolitta soup at a table setting with another bowl, utensils on a table napkin, and a dutch oven

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "Ribollita is an Italian soup from the central region of Tuscany. It translates to 'reboiled'. Ribollita’s history is commonly associated with the less well-off as it traditionally utilizes leftovers to make a new meal; the bread used to add heft and thicken the soup is often leftover or stale." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

  • Baked Ziti

    Casserole dish of cheesy baked ziti

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Bakes

    "Do you like lasagna, but not the fuss? Make baked ziti instead! It's a lot like a classic lasagna casserole, but easier to make and without lots of layers or broken noodles." —Elise Bauer, Founder

    Continue to 9 of 20 below

  • Chicken Pomodoro

    chicken pomodoro in a cast iron skillet at a table setting with a bowl of rigatoni, bowl of basil, stack of plates, and a table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "For a chunkier, heartier sauce, simply use your spoon to mash the cooked tomatoes. For a more homogenous sauce, use a potato masher instead. And if you prefer smooth sauces, you can transfer the cooked sauce to a blender (crack the lid!) and blend before returning to the pan." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Platter of Spaghetti and Meatballs With a Piece of Toasted Bread and Topped With Fresh Basil Leaves, and in the Surroundings, a Burgundy Table Napkin, a Bowl of Parmesan, Bite Size Bread Pieces Scattered on the Table, and a Plate With More Spaghetti and Meatballs

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Spaghetti and meatballs is such a comfort food classic. The meatballs are made from ground beef and Italian sausage and served with a sauce made with mushrooms, onions, basil, and Parmesan." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Pasta e Fagioli

    Elise Bauer

    "Pasta fagioli, aka pasta fazool (which is Neapolitan dialect for the standard Italian word for 'beans'), is a peasant dish, a simple soup of pasta and beans and veggies." —Hank Shaw, Recipe Developer

  • Caponata Pasta

    caponata pasta in a bowl (close up) next to a glass of wine, utensils on the table, and a small bowl of basil, all at a rustic table setting

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "It may have been food for the poor, but the flavor of caponata is rich. To me, it’s a delicate balance of all the best elements of Italian cuisine. I love the appetizer version, served cold or at room temperature and typically spread on bread or crackers, but sometimes I just need more." —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers

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  • Chicken Cacciatore (Hunter Style Chicken)

    Elise Bauer

    "Chicken cacciatore is an Italian dish of chicken braised in a tomato-based sauce and often includes wild mushrooms. It is frequently referred to as 'hunter style' as the word cacciatore means 'hunter' in Italian." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Spaghetti all'Assassina (Assassin's Spaghetti)

    Bowlful of assassin's spaghetti at a table setting with more in a bowl, a glass of water, utensils, and light blue kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Mihaela Kozaric Sebrek

    "From the very Italian backstory (a man is distracted by an alluring woman so he burns his pasta) to the unique cooking method, I had to try it for myself. Over two years later, I think I’ve perfected it." —Laurel Randolph, Associate Editorial Director

  • Pastina en Brodo (Italian Penicillin Soup)

    A bowl of pastina in brodo with a spoon and a piece of crusty bread

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "This comforting Italian soup always takes me back to winter days spent in the kitchen with my zia (my aunt). Requiring only a handful of simple ingredients to make, it’s a classic example of cucina povera—a traditional Italian cooking style based on resourcefulness." —Candace Nagy, Recipe Developer

  • Cheese Stuffed Manicotti

    Manicotti Removed From Casserole Dish Filled With Manicotti Using a Wooden Spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "Surprisingly, this baked pasta dish is both light and luscious without the dense and ultra-cheesy texture that one usually associates with lasagna and other baked pastas. Ricotta, parsley, and mozzarella—with a touch of lemon to brighten it—create a filling that is sensual and creamy." —Sally Vargas, Recipe Developer

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  • Shell Pasta with Sausage and Greens

    Elise Bauer

    "This simple recipe of pasta, sausage, Parmesan cheese and rabe or kale is very easy to prepare and delicious. We all agreed that it is a keeper!" —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Classic Bolognese Sauce

    Pasta with bolognese sauce on a white plate.
    Sally Vargas

    "Bolognese sauce is a classic Italian sauce for pasta made with ground meat such as beef or pork. It's slow cooked with a soffritto of onions, carrots, and celery, tomatoes, and milk to give it a creamy texture." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Mushroom Sugo

    Mushroom Sugo
    Elise Bauer

    "The sauce is so good I just want to eat it straight with a spoon! (And I will if it's anywhere in reaching distance). It shines over polenta, ravioli, or a short pasta like penne or fusilli." —Elise Bauer, Founder

  • Italian Pot Roast

    Elise Bauer

    "It's a simple and delicious recipe, much like our standard pot roast but with a soffritto base, the addition of tomatoes, and a whole bottle of wine." —Elise Bauer, Founder

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