Everyone Loves Italian: 18 Recipes That Will Make Your Family Cheer

By Jenn Segal

From savory baked ziti to classic spaghetti and meatballs, these Italian recipes are sure to have your family cheering “delizioso!”

Baked Ziti

Whip up my easy, crowd-pleasing baked ziti—it’s perfect for cozy weeknights yet special enough for company, and an absolute superstar at potlucks!
Tiramisu

Make a restaurant-quality tiramisu at home with layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers and a rich mascarpone filling — the ultimate pick-me-up dessert!
Shrimp Scampi with Pasta

Shrimp scampi with pasta — fast, flavorful, and irresistibly garlicky. The perfect weeknight dinner for seafood lovers.
Homemade Caesar Salad Dressing

My family loves this rich and creamy Caesar salad dressing. It’s not overly garlicky or fishy — it’s just right.
Pasta Fagioli

Teeming with vegetables, beans, and pasta, hearty pasta fagioli soup is the perfect cozy meal for a chilly night.
Orecchiette with Sausage and Broccoli

Packed with flavor and easy to make, this orecchiette pasta dish is a longtime favorite—the whole family gobbles it up, broccoli and all!
Cioppino (Fisherman’s Stew)

Cioppino, a hearty Italian-American stew made with a medley of fresh seafood in a rich tomato and wine broth, perfectly captures the taste of the sea.
Turkey, Spinach & Cheese Meatballs

The addition of turkey sausage and cheese makes these meatballs tender and flavorful.
Roasted Green Beans with Garlic, Lemon, Pine Nuts & Parmesan

Roasted green beans are a revelation, especially when tossed with chunks of garlic, lemon, pine nuts, and cheese.
Bolognese Sauce

Simmer your way to a rich and savory Bolognese sauce. Teeming with fresh veggies, succulent meat, and robust flavors, this Italian classic is perfect for cozy family meals.
Focaccia

Learn to make focaccia, the simple Italian flatbread characterized by its dimpled surface and rich olive oil flavor.
Big Italian Salad

This Italian salad pairs nicely with Italian comfort food. You’ll love the homemade dressing!
Linguine with Clams

Linguine with clams in a garlicky white wine sauce makes an easy and elegant Italian pasta dinner.
Spaghetti and Meatballs

This spaghetti and meatball recipe is the ultimate weeknight family dinner — quick, easy, and picky eater-approved!
Spinach Manicotti

Take traditional spinach manicotti up a notch with few smart shortcuts and cooking tricks — all without any extra work for you!
Eggplant Parmesan

Crispy eggplant slices layered with marinara sauce, cheese, and béchamel sauce, baked until bubbly and golden—this eggplant parmesan is a labor of love worth every delicious bite.
Ricotta Cheesecake

With cream cheese, ricotta cheese, and a ground almond crust, this ricotta cheesecake is a hybrid between an American and Italian-style cheesecake.
Italian Meatloaf

Think of this Italian meatloaf as one big giant meatball, packed with familiar flavors but on a grander, more satisfying scale.