When it comes to comfort food, few cuisines can compare to the rich, flavorful dishes that hail from Italy. In this post, we’ve gathered 19 authentic Italian comfort dishes that are so delicious, you’ll be tempted to cancel your dinner reservations and stay in for the night.
Chicken Gnocchi Soup
This slow cooker recipe takes a favorite Italian restaurant soup and brings it home. The soft gnocchi and chicken in a creamy broth show why Italian soups are loved across the world.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Gnocchi Soup
Tortellini Pasta Salad
Fresh mozzarella, cherry tomatoes and pesto mix with cheese-filled pasta in this Italian classic. The cold pasta makes it great for taking to parties and shows off the best of Italian ingredients.
Get the Recipe: Tortellini Pasta Salad
Chicken Riggies
Hot peppers and a rich tomato cream sauce coat this Italian-American pasta dish from Utica, NY. The mix of spice with rigatoni pasta brings Italian cooking right to your table.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Riggies
Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli
This classic Italian soup puts pasta and beans in a rich tomato broth. The mix of beef and vegetables makes this hearty soup a go-to Italian comfort food.
Get the Recipe: Slow Cooker Pasta E Fagioli
Instant Pot Gnocchi with Sauce
Ground beef and Italian potato dumplings come together in a one-pot meal. The creamy tomato sauce coating each piece of gnocchi shows why this dish is a Italian pasta favorite.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Gnocchi with Sauce
Baked Manicotti
Cheese-stuffed pasta tubes bake under beef and sauce in this Italian classic. The mix of cheeses and sauce represents what makes Italian food so popular.
Get the Recipe: Baked Manicotti
Utica Greens
This Italian-American dish pairs escarole with hot peppers for a bold take on greens. The garlic and heat make this recipe a true Italian favorite from upstate New York.
Get the Recipe: Utica Greens
Zuppa Toscana
This Instant Pot version of the classic Tuscan soup brings Italian comfort food to your bowl. The mix of potatoes and sausage shows why Italian soups are loved worldwide.
Get the Recipe: Zuppa Toscana
Italian Mushroom Stew
Mushrooms cook down with Italian spices for a rich topping for crusty bread. The deep flavors show off the simple magic of Italian cooking.
Get the Recipe: Italian Mushroom Stew
Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
The slow cooker makes this creamy chicken pasta extra simple to put together. The cheese and herbs bring Italian restaurant flavors right to your kitchen.
Get the Recipe: Olive Garden Chicken Pasta
Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
This one-pot take on a classic Italian dinner cooks the pasta right with the sauce. The meatballs and sauce show why this is one of Italy’s most famous exports.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes
Fresh mozzarella pairs with small tomatoes in this Italian summer classic. The simple ingredients show why Italian food is loved for its pure flavors.
Get the Recipe: Caprese Salad with Cherry Tomatoes
Sausage and Tortellini Soup
Italian sausage and cheese-filled pasta make this soup extra filling. The rich tomato broth proves why Italian soups are comfort food favorites.
Get the Recipe: Sausage and Tortellini Soup
Air Fryer Italian Sausages
These air-fried sausages and vegetables need just basic prep. The classic Italian combo works great in rolls for an easy dinner.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Italian Sausages
Chicken Parm Casserole
This quick version of the Italian classic still brings all the cheese and crispy coating. The casserole style makes this Italian favorite even easier to cook.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Parm Casserole
Sausage & Red Pepper Pasta
Italian sausage and peppers mix with pasta in a creamy sauce. This one-pot meal shows how Italian cooking can be both simple and rich.
Get the Recipe: Sausage & Red Pepper Pasta
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
The air fryer makes this Italian restaurant favorite crispy outside and juicy inside. The melted cheese and sauce prove why this is such a popular Italian dish.
Get the Recipe: Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan
Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo with Sausage
Sausage adds extra flavor to this creamy Italian pasta dish. The one-pot cooking method brings Italian restaurant food right to your table.
Get the Recipe: Instant Pot Fettuccine Alfredo with Sausage
Crock Pot Baked Ziti
The slow cooker melds pasta, sauce, and Italian sausage into pure comfort. This hands-off method makes Italian pasta even easier to love.
Get the Recipe: Crock Pot Baked Ziti