Whether you’re heading to Italy, just got back or have only visited in your dreams, you’ll swear you’re there when you taste one of these nine perfect pasta dishes. They’re sure to become some of your favorite meals to make.
![A close-up of a plate of shrimp risotto garnished with herbs. A fork is partially visible on the right side of the image.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shrimp-scampi-cropped-closely-1024x543.jpeg)
Basic Risotto
![A person scooping risotto from a red-rimmed bowl on a wooden table with a white napkin and scattered herbs.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/bowl-of-risotto-with-hand-eating-parsley-flakes.jpeg)
Risotto is a northern Italian staple of rice, garlic, onions and cheese that provides a hearty base for a variety of dishes. You can eat it as a side dish or pair it with any of the other recipes we’ve shared here.
Get the Recipe: Basic Risotto
Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot
![A close-up of creamy macaroni and cheese garnished with parsley.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/One-Pot-Sausage-And-Red-Pepper-Pasta-closeup-vertical-cropped-horizontal.jpeg)
This sausage and pepper pasta dish is a hearty, one-dish dinner that allows you to get supper on the table in under 30 minutes. The Italian sausage and creamy sauce taste right from the boot.
Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage and Pepper Pasta in One Pot
Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine
![Close-up of linguine pasta with shrimp and parsley.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/shrimp-scampi-super-close-up-1024x766.jpg)
This classic Italian dish is quick and impressive. It works as an easy meal at home or an impressive dish to serve to guests. You can use leftovers to make a shrimp scampi pizza.
Get the Recipe: Shrimp Scampi Over Linguine
30-Minute Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta
![Creamy Chicken And Corn Pasta closeup partial of finished dish cropped horizontal.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Creamy-Chicken-And-Corn-Pasta-closeup-partial-of-finished-dish-cropped-horizontal.jpeg)
This Creamy Chicken Corn and Pasta recipe is so easy to make and so delicious to eat. Bowtie pasta complements the seasoned chicken chunks. It’s fast, easy and authentically Italian.
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.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/shrimp-scampi-with-risotto-super-close-up.jpeg)
Shrimp scampi comes together with minimal prep time. I]t lets you serve up a meal that many will think came from a restaurant or you had shipped in directly from Italy.
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.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/very-close-up-of-pasta-salad-in-white-bowl.jpg)
We created this easy cold pasta salad recipe years ago when we were looking for a hearty, satisfying meal when it was hot out. The simplest way to satisfy that pasta craving was creating a cold pasta salad.
Get the Recipe: Easy Cold Pasta Salad with Italian Dressing
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.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/close-up-cheese-pull-arancini.jpg)
Arancini are cheese-filled fried risotto balls. They make great appetizers or as a hearty side for a meat or poultry dish. If you’ve already made risotto on another night, this is a great way to use those leftovers.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Trader Joe’s Arancini Rice Balls
Easy Pasta Puttanesca
![A pan full of spaghetti and tomatoes on a tablecloth.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Pasta-Puttanesca-Recipe-in-pan.jpeg)
Pasta Puttanesca is a classic Italian quick sauce that may be the fastest pasta dish you didn’t know you needed to make for your dinner. From stove to table in under 30 minutes and 100% authentically Italian.
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.](https://fooddrinklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/goat-cheese-pizza-sauce-cheesy-pull.jpeg)
Add a pop of unexpected but delicious flavor to your
Get the Recipe: Goat Cheese Pizza Sauce