30 Italian dinner recipes for date night and more

This authentic recipe for Italian lasagna alla bolognese is so different from the traditional Italian-American style lasagna (in the best way). Slathered in a creamy bechamel sauce, it's rich, meaty and will melt in your mouth.

This authentic Italian beef braciole recipe is perfect for a Sunday family dinner with tender beef rolled up with breadcrumbs, pine nuts, raisins, and cheese, then simmered all day in a rich red wine tomato sauce.

Transport your tastebuds to the Italian countryside with this easy baked Tuscan chicken recipe. With a luscious cream sauce with the flavors of sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and basil, this chicken dinner delivers in every juicy bite. 

This caprese chicken pasta recipe is not just easy to make, but it is versatile and wholesome. You get a scrumptious romance of chicken, burrata, pasta, and pesto all in one.

This Italian dish is one that you will use for family dinners and entertaining guests alike. Chicken rollatini are tender breaded chicken breast cutlets rolled around a tasty spinach, sausage and feta filling.

Ciambotta or Giambotta recipe is a Southern Italian vegetable stew made with summer vegetables.

In thie recipe, crispy breaded Italian chicken cutlets get topped with a lemony arugula tomato salad and shaved parmigiano reggiano cheese. It's a simple and delicious Italian dinner that will have you coming back for seconds (and thirds).

Layers of mostaccioli pasta, San Marzano tomatoes, melted mozzarella, and parmesan cheese come together in this Italian-inspired baked mostaccioli ready for serving your family and guests a wholesome flavorful meal

Eggplant involtini is the epitome of Italian comfort food. These eggplant rolls are great for date nights or entertaining as they can be assembled ahead of time and baked just before serving.

Gnocchi alla Sorrentina is a cheesy, bubbly, and delicious Italian comfort food made with pillowy soft potato gnocchi simmered in a homemade tomato sauce with fresh basil and lots of gooey melted mozzarella cheese.

This Italian baked zucchini is just as cheesy and delicious as lasagna but with added nutrients! You'll love this healthy zucchini bake on days when you're craving a comforting meal that's not quite as heavy as regular pasta dishes.

This Italian garbanzo bean soup is healthy, protein-rich, high in fiber, and ready in 30 minutes. It's a budget-friendly recipe using pantry ingredients that's full of savory flavor.

Comforting, savory, filling, and bursting with fresh vegetables, this Italian lentil soup is your new healthy comfort food go-to.

Italian sausage and peppers recipe is a super-flavourful comfort food.

This Mushroom aglio olio recipe is a flavorful Italian pasta dish with sautéed mushrooms and garlic in olive oil, tossed with spaghetti, and dished with parmesan shavings as garnish. The earthy umami of the mushrooms combines beautifully well with the rich garlic-infused oil, creating a simple yet satisfying experience.

This Stracciatella soup (Italian egg drop soup) recipe is made with a rich (chicken) broth, nutritious vegetables, and a flavorful mixture of Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, eggs, and fresh parsley.

Pasta alla checca is an impressive, yet super-easy pasta recipe. It’s a beautiful combination of pasta shells in a no-cook sauce made with fresh tomatoes, basil, extra-virgin olive oil, creamy ricotta and sharp pecorino cheese. It has clean, simple flavors that anyone can master with great ingredients and a little bit of time.

Pasta alla Norma is classic Sicilian comfort food, where pasta is tossed in a chunky eggplant and tomato sauce. It's a great date night dish, as well as meatless night option!

Pasta napolitana is a simple and light pasta dish from Italy. This popular meat-free Italian dish is made with a handful of basic ingredients but is very flavorful and delicious. It's ready in just 30 minutes..

This spicy pasta recipe is a classic for a reason. A delicious, punchy tomato sauce makes give the "angry pasta" its name.

Pesto alla genovese, the classic Italian sauce, is an ode to fresh summer flavors. Made in less than 30 minutes using basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan, and extra-virgin olive oil, this pesto will make your taste buds sing. The perfume on your hands after you’ve torn all those basil leaves is just an added bonus.

This is a rich and extremely tasty mushroom risotto (or Risotto ai funghi as they say in Italy) with soft sautéed garlic mushrooms, punchy Parmesan and a splash of fresh cream.

Strike the perfect balance of tomato flavor in this risotto al pomodoro with just the right amount of fresh tomatoes and tomato paste. This classic Italian dish is delicious on its own or as a side dish for fish, meat, or vegetables

This one pan sausage gnocchi with creamy tomato sauce and spinach is about to become your new favorite lazy meal. It is so simple, but loaded with flavor.

Spaghetti aglio, olio e peperoncino is the perfect pasta classic. Featuring only chilli, garlic and olive oil as main ingredients, is super simple and quick to prepare, and delightful to eat!

Steak pizzaiola is an amazingly flavorful Neapolitan dish featuring tender steak in a perfectly seasoned tomato sauce. 

A simple, quick, and budget-friendly meal, this Italian egg drop soup is also super satisfying.

Once you made your first homemade gnocchi you will never go back to store bought gnocchi again! This recipe makes light, pillowy gnocchi tossed in a delicious nutty brown butter sauce topped off with crispy sage.

This Tagliatelle ai Funghi is a classic Italian pasta dish made with long, flat ribbons of tagliatelle tossed in a rich mushroom sauce. The earthy flavors of the sautéed mushrooms combined with garlic, butter, cream, and a touch of parmesan make for a delicious pasta dish.

These Tuscan stewed beans are the ultimate rustic Italian comfort food! Made with simple pantry-friendly ingredients like onions, garlic, tomato paste and white beans, but big on gourmet Italian flavor. It's cozy and indulgent yet wholesome, vegan, and gluten-free.