27 Easy Italian Recipes That Taste Like a Restaurant's

Your kitchen will smell so good!

By
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves
Robin Shreeves is a food and beverage writer.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Published May 08, 2025
Robin Shreeves
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

There's a reason Italian food is so popular in America: It's just flat-out delicious. Whether a recipe is exactly like one you'd find an Italian Nonna making in Italy or an Italian-American dish created by immigrants, the combinations of flavors the Italians have perfected over centuries appeal to all.

These easy restaurant-inspired Italian recipes range from irresistible tomato, cheese, and pasta casseroles and flavorful soups to everyone's favorite spaghetti and meatballs. Add a few of these recipes to your rotation and transform your dining room into an Italian trattoria.

  • Baked Ziti

    Oval baking dish filled with a cheesy pasta bake

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Bakes

    Baked ziti has many of the attributes you love about lasagna but with less fuss. Choose your favorite—ground pork, beef, or veal—for this version that's bursting with mozzarella, ricotta, and Parmesan. Use store-bought or homemade pasta sauce.

  • Easy Italian Wedding Soup

    Overhead view of a two white bowls of Italian wedding soup topped with Parmesan cheese

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

    "For this simplified version, I’m just using onions and garlic, but celery and carrots are common in other versions of Italian wedding soup. To make prep even easier, use store-bought mirepoix." —Stephanie A. Ganz, 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

    "Roasting all of the vegetables together in an olive oil, vinegar, honey, and tomato paste mixture results in the same rich flavor profile. The recipe becomes really hands-off once you put the sheet pan in the oven, and your kitchen will start to smell like a Sicilian villa." —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers

  • Pasta Puttanesca

    Pasta Puttanesca

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    This quick puttanesca uses pantry staples: canned tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, canned anchovies, and jarred olives and capers. Garlic, onion, and oregano season the sauce that's traditionally served with spaghetti.

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  • Chicken Scarpariello

    Chicken scarpariello in a red Dutch oven

    Simply Recipes / Coco Morante

    "Chicken scarpariello is an Italian American dish served in many restaurants on the East Coast. It’s a hearty braised combination of chicken and sausages with peppers, onions, and often potatoes, all cooked together in a slightly tangy, vinegar-spiked sauce." —Coco Morante, Recipe Developer

  • Italian Meatballs

    Baked Meatballs in Tomato Sauce served in a bowl

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Meatballs don't have to be the partner to pasta or a hot sandwich filling—they can be a dish all of their own. Made with ground beef and pork, ricotta, Parmesan, fresh bread soaked in warm milk, and the rest of the usual meatball ingredient suspects, these tuck nicely into homemade or store-bought sauce to finish cooking.

  • Ravioli Gnudi (Spinach and Ricotta Dumplings)

    Angled view of a plate of ravioli gnudi over marinara sauce with a spoon

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    "While Paula likes to serve the gnudi with olive oil and Parmesan cheese, she says serving it with your favorite marinara is also a delicious and perfectly lovely option! About 1/4 cup per 3 or 4 gnudi is a good place to start." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Italian Beans and Greens

    Bowl of Italian beans and greens next to a pot with more, a wooden board with lemon wedges, and a block of parmesan

    Simply Recipes / Laurel Randolph

    "Something about the combination of classic ingredients like good quality olive oil, punchy garlic, bitter escarole, tender cannellini beans, and plenty of Parmesan makes this pure Italian comfort food. And the savory, garlicky broth is perfect for mopping up with bread. " —Julie & Amy Luxemberg, Recipe Developers

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  • Classic Bolognese Sauce

    Pasta with bolognese sauce on a white plate.

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    A good Bolognese sauce is a thing of great beauty. Simmer slowly for 2 hours with onions, carrots, celery, clove, cinnamon, tomatoes, milk, and meat such as beef or pork. Serve it over fresh pasta or your favorite cooked dried pasta.

  • Chicken Vesuvio

    Chicken Vesuvio in a Cast Iron Skillet

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "Chicken Vesuvio is an Italian-American restaurant classic that just happens to be a one-pan meal you can easily make at home. Who could say no to crispy chicken thighs, potato wedges, and peas drizzled in a lemony garlic white wine sauce?" —Liz Tarpy, Recipe Developer

  • Pasta e Ceci

    Overhead view of a green bowl of Pasta e Ceci and a spoon topped with parmesan cheese next to a bowl of parmesan, another bowl of pasta and a glass of carbonated beverage

    Simply Recipes / Photo by Jen Causey / Food Styling by Jennifer Wendorf / Prop Styling by Phoebe Hauser

    "Chickpeas not only add a pop of texture and protein but also act as a thickener. The tomato-rich broth is imparted with the salty, savory flavor of Parmesan and earthy rosemary. Trust me: Every spoonful tastes like a big, warm Italian hug." —Sheela Prakash, Recipe Developer

  • Risi e Bisi

    Risi e Bisi Italian Rice and Peas

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Risi e bisi is Italian for rice and peas. This Venetian, risotto-like dish also has ham, either in the form of diced prosciutto or other dry ham, and gets finished with plenty of Parmesan cheese and parsley.

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  • 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

    Adding mushrooms keeps these beef and pork meatballs from drying out. Cremini mushrooms are in both the meatballs and the sauce. Spoon over pasta and make everyone happy!

  • Chicken Romano

    Chicken Romano on a platter, one piece of chicken on a plate with a side salad of mixed greens, two glasses of ice water with lemon

    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. She would start with plain breadcrumbs and season them with Pecorino and dried herbs." —Theodora Kaloudis, Recipe Developer

  • Eggplant Parmesan

    Baked eggplant parmesan in a casserole dish.

    Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

    When you need to serve a crowd, go for the classic. As opposed to frying on the stovetop, these eggplant rounds are roasted in the oven before assembling the casserole, which makes far less of a mess. Don't skip salting the eggplant first to drain its moisture, or you'll end up with a soggy mess.

  • Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (Pasta With Garlic and Oil)

    Spaghetti Aglio e Olio (Pasta With Garlic and Oil) Topped with Herbs and Parmesan

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

    "Aglio e olio translates literally to garlic and olive oil, the essential ingredients in the recipe. It’s a dish with apparent roots in Naples, Italy, but can be found on dinner plates all over the country. It’s uncommonly tasty and satisfying, thanks to the pronounced but well-balanced flavors of garlic and chiles." —Katie Morford, Recipe Developer

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  • Classic Minestrone Soup

    minestrone soup in bowl

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    Italians have as many recipes for minestrone as they have individual families—it's that customizable. This version has the trio of carrots, celery, and onion of course, and also fennel, potatoes, cabbage, zucchini, and tomato plus white beans. Pasta is optional but recommended.

  • Chicken Marsala

    chicken marsala in a cast iron skillet

    Simply Recipes / Sara Haas

    "The chicken is cooked in a hot skillet with a bit of oil or butter and then served with a pan sauce made with Marsala wine. Today, most chicken Marsala is served with pasta, but risotto, mashed potatoes, or roasted potatoes are also excellent accompaniments." —Sara Haas, Recipe Developer

  • Potato Gnocchi From Scratch

    Potato Gnocchi

    Simply Recipes / Sally Vargas

    Gnocchi is easy to make and needs no special equipment. Bake potatoes, then mash them and work in flour, egg yolks, and salt. Roll into long cylinders and cut into 1-inch pieces. Then cook or freeze to serve with any sauce—I particularly love gnocchi with butternut squash Parmesan sauce.

  • Tuscan Ribollita Soup

    easy Tuscan ribolitta soup in a dutch oven at a table setting with a plate of bread and a kitchen towel

    Simply Recipes / Shilpa Iyer

    "My recipe is called “easy” to highlight ease—it comes together in just over 30 minutes and is super versatile. It serves as a loose guide that allows you to use what you have in your pantry." —Devan Grimsrud, Recipe Developer

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  • Osso Buco

    osco busco in a dutch oven with a serving spoon

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    This Italian dish of braised veal shanks gets the flavor for its rich sauce from the marrow of the shank bone. Brown the shanks in fat rendered from pancetta and then sauté carrots, celery, and onion in the fat of both. Then add wine and simmer it all for 1 to 1 1/2 hours. It's not difficult, but it does take time. Serve with gremolata.

  • Italian Butter Chicken (Petti Di Pollo al Burro)

    Italian butter chicken (petti di pollo al burro) in a skillet at a table with a plate of lemon slices, a glass of water, and a table napkin

    Simply Recipes / Hannah Zimmerman

    "The best way to serve petti di pollo is over pasta with some lemon slices and chopped parsley. I recommend using a long noodle like spaghetti, fettuccine, or pappardelle. The parsley is optional, but I love the touch of freshness it adds to this dish." —Hannah Zimmerman, Recipe Developer

  • Easy Tuscan Bean Soup

    Tuscan Bean Soup

    Simply Recipes / Sheryl Julian

    In Italy, simmering pots of soup are plentiful in homes throughout the country. This version makes use of canned beans to make a little less work of it all, but it's still a robust Italian-inspired soup with plenty of vegetables that begs for a topping of Parmesan cheese.

  • Chicken Piccata

    Chicken Piccata

    Simply Recipes / Michelle Becker

    While this may not be a traditional dish from Italy, it's inspired by its flavors and served in many Italian restaurants. It's so easy and quick to put together that you'll serve it often. Cook flour-dredged thin chicken breasts in olive oil, white wine, and chicken stoc; squeeze in some lemon; and throw on handfuls of beautiful, briny capers. In about 30 minutes, you'll have all the yumminess!

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  • Linguine With Clam Sauce

    linguine and clams on a blue plate

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    This red-sauced version of the classic Italian American linguine dish uses both fresh and canned clams. It gets a punch of flavor from some fennel and a little dash of anise liqueur. Serve with crusty Italian bread to sop up all the yummy sauce.

  • Pasta e Fagioli

    pasta fagioli soup in bowl

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

    This traditional peasant soup is full of beans and pasta plus vegetables and tomatoes. Made with chicken stock, leftovers get thicker after refrigeration because the pasta absorbs the stock, but it's still delicious either way.

  • The Best Homemade Lasagna

    Side view of a piece of lasagna on a plate.

    Simply Recipes / Cambrea Bakes

    Easy in the eye of the beholder, right? Some may find building this lasagna from scratch easier than buying a sub-par store-bought version that's so very disappointing. Taking the time to make this ooey, gooey, scrumptious lasagna does not disappoint, especially if you freeze half of it (it freezes really well) and have a second lasagna dinner with no work at all!

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