Everyone Loves Italian: 24 Recipes That Will Make Your Family Cheer

By Jenn Segal

From comforting classics like spaghetti and meatballs and cheesy baked ziti to sweet treats like tiramisu, Italian recipes have a way of turning an ordinary meal into a celebration. Whether you’re craving a cozy family dinner or planning a special feast, these 24 Italian recipes are sure to make your family cheer—buon appetito!

Baked Ziti

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

Tender meatballs, veggies, and pasta in a rich and flavorful broth, Italian wedding soup is a meal unto itself.
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.
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.
Zuppa Toscana Recipe

This hearty, comforting Zuppa Toscana is loaded with Italian sausage, tender potatoes, and fresh spinach, all simmered in a rich, creamy broth. Perfect for cozy nights in!
Pasta Bolognese

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 Bread Recipe

Learn to make focaccia, the simple Italian flatbread with its signature dimpled surface and rich olive oil flavor—it’s easier than you think!
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—eggplant parmesan is a labor of love worth every delicious bite.
Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Short on time but big on hunger? Spaghetti aglio e olio is the perfect Italian pasta dish—full of flavor and ready in minutes!
Italian Meatloaf

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

Penne alla vodka is a quick, easy Italian classic with a rich, creamy tomato sauce that comes together in a flash—a perfect weeknight dinner everyone will love!
Classic Lasagna

Comforting yet refined—my favorite lasagna recipe layers oven-ready noodles with rich meat sauce, veggies, and plenty of cheese.
Cacio e Pepe

Cacio e pepe is a deceptively simple dish packed with flavor. Featuring pasta, Pecorino Romano cheese, and black pepper, this version uses a foolproof technique to ensure a creamy, clump-free sauce every time!
Tiramisu

Make a restaurant-quality tiramisu at home with layers of espresso-soaked ladyfingers and a rich mascarpone filling—it’s the ultimate pick-me-up dessert!
Panna Cotta

This panna cotta is simple yet sophisticated, with a creamy vanilla base and luscious salted caramel topping. Elegant enough for a dinner party, yet easy enough to whip up any time!
Double Chocolate Biscotti

These crisp double chocolate biscotti are tailor-made for dunking into coffee, warm milk, or hot chocolate.