Italian

This is a dish that'll wow your whole table – and offer a wealth of extra-good-for-you nutrients.

Beef braciole (pronounced brah-jole' in the US and brah-cho'-leh in Italy) is a classic Neapolitan recipe that’s made quicker by braising the beef in marinara in the Instant Pot.

This genius salad combines all the salty-sour-sweet Italian flavors of a classic muffuletta sandwich, minus the bread to weigh you down. If you can’t find giardiniera, look for mixed pickled vegetables or even antipasto.

The BBQ favorite.

We’ve elevated the classic carbonara with seared scallops for added protein. Use any type of spaghetti here, such as brown rice or even quinoa if you prefer.

Most chicken piccata recipes use white flour to dredge the chicken, but in this Whole30-friendly version, we’ve used a combination of arrowroot and almond flour instead. A quick sauce of broth, coconut cream and mustard powder adds big flavor to this easy dinner.

Who doesn’t love a rich, gooey pasta bake, especially when all the work was done weeks ago? In this freezer-friendly recipe, we undercook the penne so it’s perfectly al dente (never overdone) once baked. Garnish with parsley or basil before serving.

All your favorite pizza flavors — marinara, cheese and pepperoni — stuffed into a chicken breast for lots of flavor with fewer carbs. Stuff the chicken on your Sunday prep day and then simply grill it when you are ready to eat. Toss some extra veg on the grill to make it a complete meal.

The ultimate Italian comfort food need not be assembled à la Nonna. Try our deconstructed version, replete with traditional flavors and ready in less than 45 minutes, for a quick midweek dinner.

Make peas the star of this bright dish by adding them to this classic ravioli.

Our team was seriously impressed by the deep flavors in this easy-to-make roast. Pop it into the slow cooker before you head to work and come home to a comforting meal. Make sure you check all your ingredients to ensure they are Whole30 compliant.

Looking for a gluten-free dinner that satisfies your Italian food craving? This zucchini lasagna is so perfect that you won't even miss the noodles.

Four types of seafood – clams, mussels, fish and shrimp – are combined in this classic Italian American stew. Save some of the fronds from the fennel bulb for a delicate anise flavor and garnish.

Bright tomato sauce with a splash of vodka gets simmered with juicy meatballs — and it can all be made in advance and ready to cook in the Instant Pot. We like to serve them with steamed green beans or broccoli, but you can also enjoy with crusty bread to soak up the sauce.

Try Jesse Lane Lee's famous Bruschetta Chicken recipe — it contains all the same enticing flavors as regular bruschetta, but she’s swapped out the refined white bread for protein-rich chicken to help keep blood sugar stable for sustained energy.

These oven-baked, flavor-packed chicken meatballs are the perfect pairing with zoodles and our homemade pesto.

This healthy riff on the traditional Italian pasta con le sarde (pasta with sardines) gives you those brain-boosting omega-3's atop zucchini noodles instead of carbohydrate-rich spaghetti. In one study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, people who ate a higher percentage of their calories from carbs had an increased risk of cognitive impairment or dementia. If you still prefer a classic flavor, swap whole-wheat pasta for half of the zucchini noodles. Grana Padano is a hard Italian cheese with buttery, nutty notes, but you can substitute Parmigiano-Reggiano, Pecorino Romano or any hard, sharp cheese.

This piquant relish, made with eggplant, onions, celery, capers and a generous amount of olive oil and vinegar, embodies its home island of Sicily. Eat it warm or cold, spread it on crostini, spoon it on top of grilled chicken or fish, or fold it into an omelette.

Rosemary has been used for hundreds of years in folk medicine and aromatherapy to enhance memory and cognitive function. In cooking, its assertive flavor goes especially well with meat and root vegetables.

Also known as Italian or red chicory, radicchio is a brilliantly-colored lettuce that looks like a small cabbage. A cup of raw radicchio has only 9 calories, with nearly 130% of the daily value (DV) for vitamin K.

This rustic-style stew contains hearty cannellini beans and turkey sausage for a filling meal.

This vegan lasagna may taste decadent, but it’s actually a lightened-up version of traditional cream-heavy varieties. Relying on heart-healthy beans and nuts and loaded with mineral-rich greens, this one-pan wonder is exceptionally satisfying.

Why splurge on infused oils when you can so easily (and inexpensively) make your own? Here, we quickly heat sage and garlic in oil to add herbaceous notes to the cauliflower and greens.

When you cook hulled barley – also called whole-grain barley – in a pressure cooker, you don’t have to soak it beforehand, which cuts down on prep time. It also makes the barley tender and creamy without all the stirring you usually have to do to make risotto on the stove top.

This easy grilled pizza is the perfect combination of salty and sweet, thanks to turkey bacon and pineapple. Prep the toppings ahead of time for a laid-back pizza night.

Serve with cooked pasta, spoon over grilled fish or spread over whole-grain crusty bread and top with halved grape or cherry tomatoes.

This recipe turns a traditional Tuscan side dish into a summery main course with marinated chicken, red onions and fresh baguette – all threaded on a skewer and perfectly cooked on the grill.

This tomato, herb and almond 
pesto is named for the sunny 
fishing port of Trapani in western Sicily, where almonds and olive oil figure prominently in the cuisine. The sauce is traditionally served with busiate, a type of thick handmade corkscrew pasta, but we’ve substituted whole-grain quinoa spaghetti for a healthy 
dose of whole grains.

Vodka brightens the flavor in this classic creamy tomato sauce, 
but you won’t taste the alcohol – it simmers off during cooking.

A bold pasta that cooks in just one pot? Now that's a delicious recipe made easy.

Our fresh take on pesto uses roasted zucchini and toasted sunflower seeds for maximum flavor.

This clean catfish recipe is coated in cornmeal and fried, but its naturally sweet flesh works perfectly with a simple sprinkling of spicy chile powder.

A quick and easy dish that will leave your pasta cravings satisfied! Sprinkle with mint and pine nuts for added touch of flavor.

This hearty bean soup is brimming with veggies like celery, onion, carrot and zucchini.

This gluten-free pasta is a beautiful blend of gluten-free flours and seeds. We’ve opted not to use any gums or fillers in this recipe, as many people with gut issues or intolerances try to avoid them; however, the lack of gums does make this pasta a little more delicate. You can use the pasta machine to flatten it, but then we suggest using your fingers to gently press them into bowties or leave in sheets for fresh lasagna.

Make It From Scratch: Use a store-bought pasta in any of our recipes, or if you’re feeling adventurous, try one of our two fresh pasta recipes – we have a whole-grain and a gluten-free option.

Mascarpone, an Italian-style cream cheese, may be best known as the key ingredient in the dessert tiramisu, but its extra-creamy texture and mild buttery taste make it a brilliant addition to pastas. Adding some of the pasta-cooking water thins out the mascarpone to make an easy, not-too-rich cream sauce.

You can easily pull this protein-packed meal off on busy weeknights – all you really need is a bunch of kale and a handful of freezer and pantry staples. Be sure to cut the tough stems from the kale – an easy way is to fold the leaf in half lengthwise and run your knife or kitchen scissors along the inner edge of the stem to remove. Omit the chile pepper (or scrape out the seeds) for a milder pasta.

We've elevated the humble pasta bake to Sunday supper-worthy fare by using lamb instead of beef and swapping out the mozzarella often found on casseroles for Fontina, a mild, buttery, semi-soft cheese with a slight nuttiness. Substitute ground lamb for lean sausage or ground beef depending on your current taste bud needs.

Cherry Bomb peppers may look cute but these little guys pack the heat! The round red peppers – also known as Hungarian cherry peppers – are about as spicy as jalapeños and have a thick, crunchy flesh that stands up well to cooking. Keep the basil stems and toss them in your sauce for extra (and effortless!) flavor. The stems become very tender when cooked, so there's no need to remove them before serving.

Hulled barley is the whole-grain version, meaning it's minimally processed and has only the inedible outer hull removed. It takes longer to cook than the more common pearl barley, but its higher fiber content makes it well worth the wait. If you're time-crunched, though, substitute pearl barley and reduce the cooking time to between 20 and 25 minutes.

In this herbaceous sauce, white wine brings out the flavor of the shallots and herbs by bonding to the butter and imparts greater flavor to the dish from the reduction in liquid.

Portobello mushrooms have a meaty texture that makes them a stellar 
swap for beef patties in veggie burgers. But here's the trick: We've 
actually used the mushroom caps as the bun, then filled the middle 
with warmed marinara sauce, provolone and fresh, crisp greens.

This hors d’oeuvre is traditionally made with thinly sliced raw 
beef or fish, but we’ve swapped 
the meat for one of our favorite unassuming veggies, celery root. Look for firm celery root without any spongy spots.

Pesto can be used in countless ways – as a pizza topper, a flavor booster for proteins, stirred into noodles or baked into bread, just to name a few. It’s also fantastic for dipping your favorite homemade crackers into. Try this unique broccoli version for a nutritious, adventurous twist.

We’re always on the lookout for fresh new ways to enjoy kale, and this twist on 
pesto might just be our favorite yet! Here, we’ve layered it into a veggie-packed 
lasagna as a fun, nutrient-rich alternative to tomato sauce.

Dressing (aka stuffing) has long served as a faithful sidekick to turkey. Here, the side steals the show in traditional meatballs, lending moist texture and tons of flavor.

Creamy ricotta cheese adds decadence to these no-fuss, rolled-up chicken breasts. A smooth cauliflower purée and a buttery, lemony sauce will make this dish a dinner-party favorite. For extra color, garnish with finely chopped fresh parsley or oregano.

This Italian antipasto is filled with artichokes, roasted peppers and pepperoncini- all tossed together in a salad with an oregano-cheese dressing.

Jarred tomato sauce is a shortcut that helps get these meaty subs on the table fast. For evenly sized meatballs, divide mixture into thirds, then divide each third into 6 equal balls – this will ensure they cook through at the same time.

These easy-to-make, lower-carb 
noodles are a great match for our homemade tomato sauce.

Turkey bacon adds a salty, savory quality to this chicken cannelloni with Asiago 
and mozzarella cheeses and a creamy béchamel sauce.

We recommend using organic carrots for this recipe. Store the carrot tops separately from the carrots so that the tops don’t drain energy and moisture from the roots.

Dandelion greens pack a tasty, bitter punch that is best paired with other bold ingredients that 
can stand up to its flavor, such as the sharp Parmesan and flavorful sausage in this quick pasta. 
The leaves mellow as they cook, so hold back some fresh ones to toss in at the end of cooking for 
an extra kick. Serve with lemon wedges and red pepper flakes.

Pretty packages filled with seasoned chicken and ricotta are smothered in a vegetable-filled tomato sauce. It takes a little bit of work to cut the zucchini with a mandoline and wrap the parcels, but it’s absolutely worth it. Garnish with shaved Parmesan if you have some on hand, or simply eat as is.

Sub spaghetti squash for pasta in this rich and filling gluten-free casserole.

This classic Italian dish blends salty, buttery and tart flavors in one quick and easy meal. Traditionally, chicken piccata is breaded, but we’ve cut the carbs (and saved you a step!) by simply tossing the seared breasts in a creamy citrus butter sauce.

Adding fresh herbs such as rosemary and oregano to your dishes can be a great way of punching up flavor, reducing the need for excess fat or salt.

Boost your mood with this classic Italian dish. Chicken is an excellent source of tryptophan, an essential amino acid that helps your body produce niacin. It also produces serotonin, a hormone linked to relaxation, restfulness, and an overall feeling of well-being.

Tender eggplant, mushrooms and sweet bell pepper are slow simmered in juicy tomatoes for a delicious, savory dish. Paired with whole-grain penne, this stew makes a hearty meal.

Tip: If you want to add a little variety, try serving half the recipe on eggplant rounds and the other half on Portobello mushroom caps. They both take the same amount of cooking time and offer a toothsome, meaty texture.

If your family’s main complaint about boneless, skinless chicken breast is 
that it's dry, then braising may be your answer! The slow-and-low technique keeps meat moist.

Chicken, pasta and cheese get dressed up with balsamic glazed figs and herbs in this comforting yet elegant dish.

This satisfying chili boasts classic flavors such as thyme, oregano and basil. Grilled corn lends the dish a modern flair, but frozen corn kernels work just as well if you want to save time.

A quick and easy take on eggplant Parmigiana, our eggplant casserole skips breading and frying the eggplant while still oozing with saucy, cheesy goodness. Try serving alongside simple tossed and steamed veggies topped with shaved Parmesan for a complete meal.

Rich with tender lamb and meaty mushrooms, our slow-cooker risotto will have you wondering why you ever bothered making finicky stove-top risotto. There’s no carefully timed stirring or multiple additions of liquid here – just 
set the timer and let the slow cooker do the work for you!

Walnut pesto with pungent ginger and fragrant fresh basil is the hero that brings this dish together. Walnuts have the highest concentration of antioxidants among nuts, while also containing essential fatty acids, so keep them on hand and snack on them often! In this dish, spaghetti squash is a carotenoid-rich stand-in for pasta, while protein-packed shrimp is among the seafood picks with the least amount of mercury.

This pumpkin turkey lasagna with spinach & béchamel sauce is great for cozy fall nights at home. Make two and freeze one for later in the week, without compromising your meal plans!

Fresh lemon zest shines in this classic pasta dish with meaty turkey sausage and just a kick of heat. For less than $2 a plate, this is a quick and easy supper that we’re sure will make it into regular rotation in your household.

Whether you mince it or use as a garnish, buy radishes with tops still attached. They are cost-effective and a two-for-one deal in terms of culinary uses.

Enjoy garden-fresh spinach and tomatoes all tangled up in whole-grain noodles and just one pot to wash tonight.

In this gorgeous, bright dish, basil is used in two ways – it's blended into a creamy garlic buttermilk sauce and also used as a garnish for extra impact.

Traditionally, scampi is made with shrimp or prawns, but salmon goes equally well 
with the garlic and butter 
preparation – as do colorful spinach and cherry tomatoes.

This is one of those go-to meals that has it all: fun shapes, pretty colors, nutrients from multiple food groups and the convenience of cooking in one pan. Don’t skip the almonds – they add crunchy texture that brings it all together.

Your average chicken patty takes a trip to Italy!

Sticky, golden sautéed plums steal the show in this rustic flatbread recipe that is sure to impress.

We’ve kept the authentic twice-baked technique of these Italian-style cookies – we’ve simply replaced wheat flour with almond and rice flours and drizzled chocolate over top for an indulgent, wheat-free treat.

Nutrient-rich fennel is a great source of vitamin C, potassium and the anti-inflammatory compound anethole, which has shown potential for boosting your body’s defenses against cancer.

Hailing from Rome, saltimbocca is thin cutlets combined with prosciutto and served with white wine sauce. Soft yet earthy sage ties it all together.