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17 easy Italian recipes that will have you and your family dreaming of Rome

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By Leah Ingram

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Even if you’re never traveled to Italy, it is possible to cook recipes at home that taste just like what you might enjoy on an Italian adventure. In fact, these 17 easy Italian recipes — all perfect for busy weeknights — will have you and your family dreaming of Rome. Mangia!

A close-up of a plate of linguine pasta tossed with tomatoes, garlic, green herbs, and capers.
Pasta Puttanesca. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Sourdough Pizza Dough

Sliced gourmet pizza with arugula and balsamic glaze on a wooden board.
Sourdough Pizza Dough. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

If you’ve never tried working with Sourdough Pizza Dough, make trying this recipe a priority. We love pizza in our house. However, once we started working with sourdough pizza dough, we never looked back.
Get the Recipe: Sourdough Pizza Dough

Easy Pasta Puttanesca

A pan full of spaghetti and tomatoes on a tablecloth.
Easy Pasta Puttanesca. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Pasta Puttanesca is a quick and simple Italian meal that’s perfect for busy nights. With bold flavors that come together in no time, it’s a great choice when you want a hearty, satisfying meal without a lot of effort.
Get the Recipe: Easy Pasta Puttanesca

Goat Cheese Pizza Sauce

A hand holding a slice of freshly baked pizza with cheese stretching between the slice and the rest of the pizza.
Goat Cheese Pizza Sauce. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Add goat cheese to your pizza sauce for a surprising, yet perfect, twist. It may sound unusual, but the combination of creamy goat cheese and tomato sauce will bring out a new layer of flavor that’s sure to impress.
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Pizza Sauce

Fast No Rise Pizza Dough

A ladle pours tomato sauce onto an uncooked pizza dough placed on a round black pan.
Fast No Rise Pizza Dough. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

If you need a quick pizza dough, this Fast, No Rise Pizza Dough is the way to go. Mix, shape, add your favorite toppings and bake. In no time, you’ll have a hot, homemade pizza.
Get the Recipe: Fast No Rise Pizza Dough

Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls

A person pulling apart a gooey, cheese-filled arancini with more of the fried rice balls and sauce in the background.
Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Arancini are crispy fried risotto balls filled with cheese. Since Trader Joe’s no longer sells them, we created this copycat recipe that’s perfect as an appetizer or a filling side dish.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls

Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo Fettuccine

A close-up of fettuccine Alfredo topped with grilled chicken pieces, garnished with parsley. Breadstick visible in the background.
Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo Fettuccine. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is a fast and easy dinner. Topped with seasoned chicken and tossed in a rich Alfredo sauce, it’s just like the restaurant version but made at home.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo Fettuccine

Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine

A hand holding a fork twirls spaghetti with shrimp in a white bowl, with a glass of white wine in the background on a wooden table.
Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

This classic Italian dish is both quick and impressive. Whether you’re cooking for yourself or hosting guests, Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine is a great way to turn simple ingredients into a showstopper.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine

Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot

A close-up of creamy macaroni and cheese garnished with parsley.
Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot is a hearty, one-dish meal that cooks in under 30 minutes. It’s a comforting and flavorful option when you need dinner on the table fast.
Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot

30-Minute Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta

Creamy Chicken And Corn Pasta closeup partial of finished dish cropped horizontal.
30-Minute Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta combines bowtie pasta, seasoned chicken and bacon for a simple, comforting meal that’s full of flavor. It’s that simple to make and so delicious to eat.
Get the Recipe: 30-Minute Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta

Easy Shrimp Scampi

A blue bowl filled with shrimp and rice, topped with green herbs, with a metal spoon in the bowl.
Easy Shrimp Scampi. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Shrimp Scampi is a quick and easy dinner that’s sure to impress. With minimal prep, you’ll have a restaurant-quality dish ready in no time to serve your family or a dinner for one.
Get the Recipe: Easy Shrimp Scampi

Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

A white bowl filled with tri-color rotini pasta, cherry tomatoes, cucumber chunks, and feta cheese on a red-and-white checkered tablecloth.
Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Cold Pasta Salad is the perfect way to enjoy leftover pasta you might have from another Italian meal. Rather than reheat and top with sauce, serve cold with salad dressing, cheese and your favorite veggies.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing

Basic Risotto

A person scooping risotto from a red-rimmed bowl on a wooden table with a white napkin and scattered herbs.
Basic Risotto. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Risotto is a classic northern Italian dish made with rice, garlic, onions and cheese. It’s hearty enough to enjoy on its own, or you can pair it with veggies or protein for a full meal.
Get the Recipe: Basic Risotto

Easy Tomato Focaccia

Freshly baked focaccia with cherry tomatoes and herbs in a rectangular baking dish.
Easy Tomato Focaccia. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

I love focaccia and pizza, so turning my focaccia into a puffy, pizza-like creation was a dream. This Easy Tomato Focaccia Bread is a delicious, gourmet take on the cafeteria pizza I loved as a kid and hearty enough to be your whole meal.
Get the Recipe: Easy Tomato Focaccia

Crock Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo with Tortellini

Close-up of tortellini pasta cooking in a creamy yellow sauce with pieces of chicken, stirred by a wooden spoon.
Crock Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo with Tortellini. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Crock Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo with Tortellini is an easy, one-pot meal that tastes just like the restaurant version. The chicken and tortellini are cooked in a delicious Alfredo sauce.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Copycat Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo with Tortellini

Risotto Shrimp Scampi

A bowl of creamy risotto with shrimp, topped with green herbs, and a spoon resting on the side.
Risotto Shrimp Scampi. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Risotto Shrimp Scampi brings together two Italian favorites in one tasty dish. It’s a great pick for entertaining, and with just a few simple ingredients, it cooks up quickly — especially if you have the risotto prepped in advance.
Get the Recipe: Risotto Shrimp Scampi

Goat Cheese Focaccia with Dates

A close-up of freshly baked focaccia topped with rosemary, caramelized onions, and cheese.
Goat Cheese Focaccia with Dates. Photo credit: Bagels and Lasagna.

Focaccia Bread with Goat Cheese and Dates is a great dish to bring to a brunch or potluck. It’s a step up from the usual cheese platters or veggie dips and is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Focaccia with Dates

Best Way to Reheat Lasagna

A slice of freshly baked lasagna with melted cheese on a white plate.
Best Way to Reheat Lasagna. Photo credit: Adobe Photos.

If you love leftover lasagna but struggle with reheating, these tips will help you perfect that next-day slice for a warm, comforting dinner. Pro tip: try reheating it in the air fryer. Chef’s kiss perfect!
Get the Recipe: Best Way to Reheat Lasagna

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