Great-Grandma’s Italian Meatballs
My great-grandmother started this easy meatball recipe with our family. We use ground beef and turkey for these meatballs, and the flavor’s so good, you won’t miss the extra calories. —Audrey Colantino, Winchester, Massachusetts
Pasta Fagioli Soup
My husband enjoys my version of this dish so much, he doesn’t order pasta fagioli soup at restaurants anymore. It’s so easy to make, and yet it’s as hearty enough to make a full dinner. —Brenda Thomas, Springfield, Missouri
Pasta Fagioli al Forno
The name of this Italian-inspired dish means “baked pasta with beans.” But my busy family translates it as “super satisfying dinner.” —Cindy Preller, Grayslake, Illinois
Nana’s Italian Roulade
My great aunt from Sicily taught my mother how to stuff and bake a steak in a jellyroll style. It’s unique and really special in our family. —Roseanne McDonald, Days Creek, Oregon
Beefy Eggplant Parmigiana
I developed this recipe one summer when my husband planted eggplant and tomatoes. I was thrilled when this special casserole won high honors at a national beef contest.—Celeste Copper, Baton rouge, Louisiana
Chicken Piccata with Lemon Sauce
Once you’ve tried this tangy, yet delicate chicken piccata, you won’t hesitate to make it for company. Seasoned with parmesan and parsley, the chicken cooks up golden brown, then is drizzled with a light lemon sauce. —Susan Pursell, Fountain Valley, California
Chocolate Almond Pizzelles
If you love fun baking gadgets, you’ll enjoy making these crispy, almond-flavored cookies, which get their unique waffle design from a pizzelle maker. They bake up golden brown in only a few minutes. Feel free to double the chocolate drizzle if you’d like to cover the cookies more generously. —Hannah Riley, Norwalk, Ohio
Lemony Shrimp & Mushroom Linguine
My husband made this for me shortly before we married. I made some slight tweaks to the recipe over the years, and he says it’s even better now. The lemons are a refreshing addition. —Ann Baker, Texarkana, Texas
Best Lasagna
Want to know how to make lasagna for a casual holiday meal? You can’t go wrong with this deliciously rich meat lasagna recipe. My grown sons and daughter-in-law request it for their birthdays, too. —Pam Thompson, Girard, Illinois
Italian Shredded Pork Stew
Need a warm, soothing meal for a blustery night? Throw together this slow-cooked stew loaded with sweet potatoes and kale. And the shredded pork is oh-so-tender! —Robin Jungers, Campbellsport, Wisconsin
Slow-Cooker Short Rib Ragu over Pappardelle
An irresistible sauce gives this beef another dimension of flavor. Nearly any starchy side, such as potatoes or polenta, will work in place of the pasta. Short ribs are my crowd-pleaser weekend meal for all occasions. —Missy Raho, Morristown, New Jersey
Shrimp ‘n’ Spinach Risotto
I enjoy concocting new, healthy recipes and spinach is one of the few vegetables that my husband will eat. My creamy risotto makes a great side dish, but doubles as a meal-in-one as well. —Jennifer Neilsen, Williamston, North Carolina
Vegetable & Cheese Focaccia
My family eats this flavorful bread as fast as I can make it. Sometimes I add different herbs, red onion or crumbled bacon. It’s one of my best recipes! —Mary Cass, Baltimore, Maryland
Turkey Scallopini with Marsala Sauce
My family requests this entree at least once a month. The slightly sweet Marsala sauce is yummy over the turkey slices and hot cooked noodles. —Briana Knight, Ferndale, Washington
Eggplant Zucchini Bolognese
“I roast the veggies while the pasta cooks, making this a quick dish.” This meal-in-one blends rustic comfort with fresh flavors. Trisha Kruse – Eagle, Idaho
Spaghetti Meatball Supper
It was such a joy to come home and find my mom making spaghetti and meatballs for dinner. This recipe has always been dear to my heart. —Debbie Heggie, Laramie, Wyoming
Homemade Ravioli
I love to bake and cook, especially Italian dishes. In fact, my idea of a perfect day consists of cooking my family’s favorite foods then watching them dig in!—Lori Daniels, Hartland, Michigan
Eggplant Rollatini
Want to learn how to cook eggplant? Here’s where to start. These authentic eggplant roll-ups may take some time to prepare, but the end result is restaurant-quality. Your family will request this recipe time and again. —Nancy Sousley, Lafayette, Indiana
Chicken Escarole Soup with Meatballs
This is an old recipe from southern Italy. My mother gave it to me when I was first married. It started out as a holidays-only dish…but my children and grandchildren love it so much that we have it every chance we get!—Norma Manna, Hobe Sound, Florida
Pepper Ricotta Primavera
Garlic, peppers and herbs top creamy ricotta cheese in this meatless skillet meal you can make in just 20 minutes. —Janet Boulger, Botwood, Newfoundland and Labrador
Spinach and Tortellini Soup
My tomato-y broth is perfect for cheese tortellini and fresh spinach. Add extra garlic and Italian seasoning to suit your taste. —Debbie Wilson, Burlington, North Carolina
Tomato & Artichoke Bruschetta
A healthy and refreshing appetizer, I enjoy bruschetta anytime of year. For serving guests, I like to slice the garlic instead of chopping it for both beauty and flavor infusion. This is also a simple make-ahead dish: You can mix it up, cover and refrigerate for a few hours before serving.—Gina Bergamino, Chanhassen, Minnesota
Summer Carbonara
Basil and bacon make best summer buds in this smoky-sweet pasta. I pair it with a simple spring mix salad with balsamic dressing and a glass of good Chardonnay or cold iced tea. —Cathy Dudderar, Lexington, Kentucky
Traditional Italian Wedding Soup
You don’t have to be Italian to love this easy-to-make soup with tiny round pasta! Add homemade meatballs but use ready-made stock and rotisserie chicken.—Mary Sheetz, Carmel, Indiana
Ricotta Gnocchi in Tomato Sauce
If you like trying out new dishes and enjoy Italian food, you should give this recipe a try. We think you’ll agree that homemade pasta just tastes better.—Jenn Martin, Sebago, Maine
Basil and Parsley Pesto
Toss this herby pesto with pasta, spread it over sandwiches or stir it into an Italian-style soup, like minestrone. —Lorraine Fina Stevenski, Land O’ Lakes, Florida
Penne alla Vodka
This easy and impressive pasta is always on the menu when my husband and I have new friends over for dinner. Years later, they’ve asked me to make this Penne alla Vodka recipe again. —Cara Langer, Overland Park, Kansas
Tuscan Fish Packets
My husband does a lot of fishing and I’m always looking for different ways to serve it. A professional chef was kind enough to share this recipe with me, and I played around with some different veggie combinations until I found one my family liked best. —Kathy Morrow, Hubbard, Ohio
Lemon Parmesan Orzo
A splash of lemon and shower of chopped parsley brighten this orzo, one of my family’s most requested springtime sides. It’s fantastic with chicken, pork and fish, or you can eat it on its own as light lunch. —Leslie Palmer, Swampscott, Massachusetts
Penne with Tomatoes & White Beans
I learned how to make this dish from friends in Genoa, Italy, where they’re known for creating tasty combinations of veggies, pasta and beans. You can sub feta cheese to give this a Greek twist. —Trisha Kruse, Eagle, Idaho
Sea Scallops and Fettuccine
This luscious and lemony pasta dish is so easy, it’s become one of our weekly meal mainstays. But it’s also elegant enough to serve to guests. —Donna Thompson, Laramie, Wyoming
Turkey Portobello Bolognese
This sauce tastes better the longer it simmers, which allows the flavors to fully develop. In fact, it tastes best the second day after a night in the refrigerator. Mangia! —Darrell Kau, Eugene, Oregon
White Seafood Lasagna
We make lasagna with shrimp and scallops as part of the traditional Italian Feast of the Seven Fishes. Every bite delivers a tasty “jewel” from the sea. —Joe Colamonico, North Charleston, South Carolina
Contest-Winning Easy Minestrone
This minestrone soup recipe is special to me because it’s one of the few dinners my entire family loves. And I can feel good about serving it because it’s full of nutrition and low in fat. —Lauren Brennan, Hood River, Oregon
Shrimp Scampi
This shrimp scampi pasta looks like you fussed, but it’s easy to prepare. Lemon and herbs enhance the shrimp, and bread crumbs add a pleasing crunch. Served with fresh parsley, this main dish is pretty enough for company. —Lori Packer, Omaha, Nebraska
Make-Ahead Spinach Manicotti
When I invite people to dinner, many have started requesting this pasta bake ahead of time because it’s that good. Plus, the manicotti is stuffed before it’s cooked, making it even more convenient. —Christy Freeman, Central Point, Oregon
Chicken Cacciatore
This chicken cacciatore recipe makes a good Sunday dinner, since it’s so simple to prepare. This recipe is the best because it’s loaded with lots of vegetables and is a family favorite. —Barbara Roberts, Courtenay, British Columbia
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Kristin Sutter