easy Italian recipes blog

Easy Italian Recipes For Beginners (+ Key Food Habits)

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Alessia Spampinato

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You travel to Italy, you eat at Italian restaurants, you even buy Italian food brands, but your cooking still feels miles away from tasting Italian.

If that’s how you feel, you’re in the right place.

Let me help you bring Italy to your kitchen, even if you’re a complete beginner. You don’t need any special skills — just the right mindset, a few key ingredients, and staple recipes to start cooking authentic Italian dishes.

I’ll also share simple eating habits that can make your daily meals taste instantly more Italian, with the right flavor combinations.

Sounds good? Let’s start!


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easy Italian recipes for beginners

Italian Cooking Is All About The Ingredients

If you think eating food that tastes Italian requires some amazing culinary skills you don’t have, that’s far from it.

All you really need are these three things:

  1. High quality ingredients
  2. Familiarity with Italian flavors
  3. Genuine love for food and eating

And this is why.

Many of the best Italian recipes are simple ones, and it’s the combination of very few ingredients that creates the magic. But for that to be possible each ingredient needs to do its part, which is why it needs to be the best you can afford. That holds for anything you use, whether it’s olive oil, or fresh tomatoes.

In order to understand whether you are getting closer to a recipe or not, you should have ideally tasted it before in Italy or in a proper Italian restaurant. If you haven’t, don’t worry though. You can still get to know and love Italian flavors from scratch as you recreate the simple Italian recipes I will share with you in this post.

I am pretty sure you wouldn’t be here reading this, if you didn’t love food and eating. Here’s why the latter is essential. Your love for eating and cooking will push you to learn new things, try new recipes, and keep it up even when life gets busy and time is limited.

This is why it’s good we are starting off with easy beginner Italian recipes that won’t overwhelm you. To make it even easier, you can work on perfecting one, before you move onto the next.


Must-Have Italian Ingredients

There’s no point in attempting to cook Italian if you don’t have these ingredients. I am going to limit myself to the minimum essential, especially based on the tips and recipes I will be sharing in this post. 

Don’t let this overwhelm you. Luckily, a good part of the ingredients will be fresh produce. Plus, you don’t have to buy everything at one go.

Here’s my first tip, and it’s the most important one I can give you: Don’t skimp on the quality! 

There’s no point in buying a cheap version of an ingredient. You think you might be saving money, but in reality you will be wasting it, and your time too.

Here is why – if your cheap ingredient ruins the recipe, which it will likely do, you have wasted all the other ingredients and your time, and you will be back to square one, in a place where you want to eat food that tastes like my Italian grandma made it for you, but which instead tastes like a low quality packaged version.

With that said, here’s the list of essential ingredients you should have in your kitchen if you want to start eating meals that taste truly Italian.


essential Italian ingredients list

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Oils & Condiments

Extra virgin olive oil like this one
Balsamic Vinegar of Modena like this one (I love this premium brand)

Fresh Produce

Tomatoes
Onions
Garlic
Carrots
Celery
Zucchini
Potatoes
Mushrooms (porcini and portobello)
Lemons
Parsley
Basil
Thyme
Rosemary
Olives
Capers

Canned & Jarred

Tomato passata
Chopped tomatoes
Vegetable stock cubes (unless you make your own from scratch)

Dairy

Parmigiano Reggiano
Mozzarella (fresh and cheese style)
Mascarpone
Pecorino
Asiago
Milk (for minestrone variations, optional)
Eggs

Protein

Fish (sea bass or similar)
Beef steaks (thin fillets and ticker ones)
Prosciutto – cotto and cured
Canned tuna

Dry Goods & Staples

Arborio or Carnaroli rice
Savoiardi (ladyfingers)
Dried pasta (spaghetti, pastina, plus your favorite shapes)
Rustic Italian bread (for bruschetta, and sandwiches)
Brioche and biscuits > more details below
Dark chocolate
Pine nuts

Herbs & Spices

Salt and pepper
Oregano
Bay leaves
Nutmeg

Liquids & Drinks

White wine
Red wine
Espresso
Marsala (optional for tiramisù)



Italian food habits to copy

5 Italian Eating Habits That Make Your Food Taste Better

Remember that third point I listed, the one about having a genuine love for food? Well, most Italians are born with that love, and keep nurturing it throughout their lives. 

That’s of course easier for us because of many factors like the following one:

Don’t worry though. You still can learn a thing or two that can make the whole eating and cooking become and feel more than just the action of feeding yourself or your loved ones.

These are the habits you should try to get into:

  1. Treat meals as sacred rituals. Make time for them, and make the effort to prepare something that looks and tastes like a meal, rather than a bunch of snacks eaten together, a bad takeaway, or a reheated packaged meal.
  2. Stop eating on the go! If you truly want to eat like an Italian, pull up that chair and sit down. Taking the time to do that sends your brain a signal, which not only helps your mind relax and savor the food much more, but also aids digestion.
  3. Use that dining table, and forget about the couch! Your couch is meant for watching TV or sitting down to chat with your loved ones. Your dining table and chairs are where the eating should happen. If you don’t have a formal dining table, I am sure you have a small kitchen island and stool, or a small breakfast table nook. Any of those would work, as long as they are comfortable, you are sitting down in a comfortable position, and your plate has a place to be rested that doesn’t involve you holding it. Trying to achieve those ergonomics on the sofa doesn’t count!
  4. Eat together as a family. If you don’t leave alone, whether you are just two or a full family with kids, try to eat at least one of your meals together daily. That habit not only makes eating more pleasant for each one of you, but also creates a stronger family bond and helps you make wholesome memories that don’t involve expensive holidays or day outs. If once a day is not possible, try to at least make it happen a few times a week.

    Even though I am Italian, I don’t eat together with my husband every day. I work from home and he has a strange work schedule that changes all the time. That means I eat all my lunches alone, and many of my dinners too. But we make sure to eat together at least three times a week. Even when I eat alone, I still set the table, and make the experience pleasant for myself. I do the same for him when I prepare his meal later at night.
  5. Reduce any unnecessary distractions. If your phone tends to ring or beep all the time, put it on silent mode. If you love watching action movies or the news, maybe switch the TV off or choose a more relaxing show. You could also put on your favorite relaxing music, or take the time to just enjoy the quiet around you. The aim is to calm down your nervous system while you eat, allow your mind to have the space to focus on your food and how it tastes and feels in your mouth, and also make it easier for your digestion to do its work.

If you have heard these habits before, it’s because they truly are the most important ones. Rather than saying I have heard this before, ask yourself this: have I tried any of them? If not, it’s time you give it a go. Start with one habit, and move up to doing all 5 to the best of your abilities. You will notice the difference, I promise.



Eat Like An Italian With Real Examples

Before I share the easy Italian recipes you can incorporate in your daily cooking from today, I’d like to show you the importance of mastering Italian flavors to eat like an Italian without too much effort.

Let’s take a normal day in your life, starting with breakfast and ending with a dinner party you are hypothetically hosting.


how to eat like an Italian at breakfast

Breakfast Time

If you love coffee, have you ever tried making it the Italian way? It truly tastes different.

All you need is a classic Italian moka pot and the right coffee grounds.

I have no doubt you know this. Italians love pairing espresso or cappuccino with a croissant, or cornetto as we call it in Italy. That doesn’t mean we eat it every day, although some do. Read more about Italians’ breakfast habits here.

Even those who don’t drink espresso, usually love a caffelatte. This is made with ⅔ warm milk and ⅓ espresso. The espresso is normally poured on top of the warm milk, which, unlike cappuccino, is not frothed. 

Italians are known for loving a sweet breakfast. If you want to start your morning the Italian way, consider filling your breakfast cupboard with these Italian breakfast treats. Don’t go overboard with the amount you eat. One is an ideal portion. You can pair it with fruit and yogurt, if you need something bigger.

Croissants
Nastrine
Crostatine
My favorite biscuits

All these treats are made by a brand I grew up eating. The ingredients are overall good. Of course, everything is healthier when you make it from scratch at home, but that’s not always a possibility, right?

PS: This type of breakfast is not for everyone. If you can’t eat sugar, or if you prefer eating less processed food, you could get inspired by these treats and make a homemade version.


Mid Morning Coffee Break

Most Italians take a mid morning coffee, usually an espresso. Feel free to copy that. If you do, make sure to take a five minute break to enjoy your espresso away from your screen, your phone, or your work tasks.

Italians take this as an excuse to get away from their office, take a walk to the nearest coffee shop, stretch their legs, have a chat, and recharge for the next stretch of work, which usually lasts until lunchtime.

No food is usually consumed with this second espresso, but this might depend from person to person, whether he/she has had breakfast or not, and other factors.


easy Italian recipes for busy mums

Lunch Time

If you truly want to do it like an Italian you’ll have a plate of pasta. The most traditional option is pasta al pomodoro, and I will show you how to make it easily in one of the recipes below.

Italian cuisine is known for the heavy use of tomatoes.


Here are the best Italian tomatoes pairings:

  1. Tomatoes and salt – if you love eating tomatoes on their own, cut them in half, make sure they are fresh, preferably organic or coming from a local farmer, sprinkle some salt and enjoy.

    My little sister grew up on tomatoes and salt, because they were one of the few things she loved and wouldn’t make her sick. The tomatoes came directly from my grandpa’s garden.
  2. Tomatoes and extra virgin olive oil – if you want to make yourself a quick salad to enjoy on its own or with some bread do it like my dad does: slice two tomatoes or more, sprinkle some salt, optional black pepper, and oregano, and drizzle plenty of good quality Italian extra virgin olive oil.

    You can enjoy it as is, or with some bread, which you can dip in the juice that will form on your plate. You can also make yourself a sandwich. My dad eats that with sliced mozzarella, fresh prosciutto crudo (parma ham), and bread. It’s one of his favorite lunches.
  3. Tomatoes and fresh mozzarella – take the tomato salad above, top it with mozzarella and fresh basil leaves, and you’ll make yourself a quick Caprese salad.
  4. Tomatoes and pesto – this combination is amazing for pasta. Here’s a tip: if you find pesto too rich, make your own pesto; then swirl it into your cooked pasta (penne and farfalle work great, but also fusilli and spaghetti) and add a few sliced tomatoes.

    Don’t worry, I will also share an easy recipe for homemade pesto. Tomatoes and pesto also work on top of chicken, on pizza, inside savory croissants, and of course for sandwiches.
  5. Tomato and cheese – whether it’s parmesan, pecorino, or another Italian cheese, this pairing is simple but incredible for pasta, chicken, pizza, panini, and so on.
  6. Tomato and oregano/basil – I’ve already mentioned this, but if you ever questioned what herb goes best with tomatoes it’s either oregano or basil.
  7. Tomato and olives – I grew up eating tomato and tuna sandwiches, and olives were a must. Both black and white pair well, it’s a question of preference.
  8. Tomato and meat – meatballs, meat sauce, meatloaf, baked mince pasta, lasagna… they all have this pairing in common, and it never fails.
  9. Tomato and fish – this pairing is more popular in Southern Italy and the rest of the Mediterranean. You can find it in couscous alla Trapanese, in Mediterranean versions of cartoccio fish (aka fish in a parcel), in seafood pasta, and much more.
  10. Tomato and balsamic – You might be familiar with drizzling balsamic on a tomato and mozzarella sandwich, or a caprese salad, but have you ever tried adding it to a cooked tomato sauce? I tried it once when testing a recipe for a client’s blog and I never looked back. Barilla has a pesto that celebrates this flavor combo. 


If sandwich is your go to lunch, let’s give it an Italian makeover. Try these pairings next:

Click here for more Italian classic sandwich ideas.



a day in the life of an Italian eating habits

Mid Afternoon Break

You guessed it! Italians have another espresso this time of the day, but if coffee is not your best friend, you don’t have to.

I am Italian and I drink zero coffee. That doesn’t make me any less Italian. You can embrace the mid afternoon break culture and have another drink of your choice, or just use it as an excuse to stretch your legs.

If you’d like mid-afternoon pick-me-up other than coffee, here are the options my school would list in any outings prep guides for parents:


Dinner Time

You can read about Italians’ dinner habits here.

However, if I could only give you three suggestions that work for dinner for one, two, four, or 10, it would be these:

  1. Risotto – Italian cuisine is known for its fork licking risottos, especially if we look at  Northern Italy. The three most popular ones you should start learning are these: risotto  alla Milanese (featuring parmesan and saffron), mushrooms risotto (with mushrooms and white wine), radicchio risotto (featuring chicory and parmesan). I will give you the mushroom recipe in the next section, but the other two recipes are very similar.
  2. Chicken Cacciatore – which we call pollo alla cacciatora. I promise I will share a full recipe from my mum’s cookbook soon. If you don’t know what this is, it is simply an aromatic chicken dish cooked and served in tomato sauce.
  3. Baked fish – whether it’s cartoccio fish, baked sea bass, baked salmon, fish is a popular dinner meal for us Italians. It’s tasty, relatively easy to put together after work, the kind of meal you throw in the oven to cook while you take a shower, and is healthy and easy to digest too. I will share a simple cartoccio (parcel) fish recipe below.
healthy and easy Italian recipes



What About Dessert?

Don’t worry, I will also share with you a simple tiramisu recipe, because if there’s one Italian dessert you should master, it is definitely this one. If you are vegan or can’t eat eggs, I have shared a healthy egg free version tiramisu inside my newsletter – Buona Settimana. 

You can join via one of the boxes in this post, and get access to all the recipes I have shared previously, including that tiramisu one.



10 Easy Italian Recipes For Beginners

Finally, here’s what you have come looking for. I apologise if I kept you waiting, but I think what I shared before added context and value to these recipes. I hope you found that useful.

No more waiting now. Here are the 10 easy Italian recipes I suggest you start making.

I chose recipes that are both easy, delicious, popular, and authentic Italian — those kinds of recipes I grew up eating, and so did most Italians.

These are not fancy recipes you only eat in restaurants but recipes that can help you eat more Italian at lunch time and dinner, whether you cook for one, your family, or want to host an Italian dinner party.

Enjoy!


how to make tomato pizza sauce

1. Italian Tomato Sauce

You can use this to make pasta, meatballs, on pizza, to top chicken, cook pasta bakes, for the pizzaiola beef dish below, and so much more.

INGREDIENTS

HOW TO MAKE IT

  1. – Pour the passata in a medium large pot.
  2. – Add the garlic cloves, cut in half.
  3. – Add the fresh basil leaves.
  4. – Season with salt and pepper.
  5. – Mix, cover with a lid, let it come to a near boil, and then lower the heat and leave it to simmer for 40 minutes.
  6. – Take it off the heat and add two tablespoons or so of extra virgin olive oil.

You can use this to make the most popular Italian dish – spaghetti al pomodoro, by serving it on top of spaghetti cooked al dente, and topping it with grated parmesan cheese, or cured ricotta cheese, which is what we do in Sicily.


2. Classic Pesto Recipe

I promise that your homemade pesto, which takes a few minutes to prepare, will be 100 times better than the store bought one! You must try it. 

INGREDIENTS

HOW TO MAKE IT

  1. – Put everything in a food processor and blend.
  2. – You can choose to pulse and blend for a short time to achieve a coarse texture, or you can blend until smooth.

If you prefer a healthier and lower calorie version, that still tastes amazing, join my newsletter and you’ll find it in my archives. I actually like that recipe better because it’s less rich and overpowering. You can join via one of the sign up boxes in this post. See you there!


easy Italian recipes for hosting

3. Bruschetta

I wasn’t going to share this recipe because I am pretty sure everyone knows how to make it, but maybe you don’t or you are missing an important step, so here it comes.

INGREDIENTS

HOW TO MAKE IT

  1. – Start by washing and cutting your tomatoes into very tiny pieces. 
  2. – Add those to a bowl, season with salt and pepper, and drizzle with a generous amount of extra virgin olive oil.
  3. – Add the herbs of your choice and mix. You can add the fresh basil now, or on top of each bruschetta. Make sure to chop the leaves with your hands, not with a knife; that avoids it from oxidizing. 
  4. – The key to the best bruschetta ever is to have fresh, juicy and tasty tomatoes, and to let them marinate for as long as possible. Of course, a great bread is the other important part of the recipe, along with a phenomenal olive oil – only extra virgin please!
  5. – If you are going to use garlic, you can add it minced with the tomatoes, or cut the cloves in half, and spread the juices on each slice. You could take it a step further and bake a head of garlic for an hour, and then squeeze it onto the bread, before adding the tomatoes.
  6. – When it’s time to assemble your bruschetta, slice the bread, lightly toast it or not – whatever you prefer.
  7. – Top with the tomatoes you’ve prepared, and enjoy.
  8. – Cheese is not part of the classic recipe, but if I were to add some, it would be parmesan or pecorino, or both!


easy Italian recipes for appetizers

4. Antipasti Platter

While bruschetta is the perfect aperitivo snack and small appetizer when you are having guests over, I’d like to give you a second option, that’s even easier to put together. It’s an antipasti platter.

Since the options are endless, I am giving you my ideal antipasti platter. You can remove what you don’t like and add whatever you think is missing.

INGREDIENTS

HOW TO MAKE IT

You can assemble everything on a large board, or on individual plates, bowls, and chopping boards on your table or kitchen island.

The only recipe you need is the bread dip. Here’s how to make it:

Add 3 parts of extra virgin olive oil in a bowl, and one part of balsamic vinegar of Modena. Mix and enjoy with bread.

Make sure you are using high quality ones like the ones I listed in the first section of this post.


risotto is a typical Italian dinner

5. Mushroom Risotto

INGREDIENTS

HOW TO MAKE IT

  1. – Clean and slice the mushrooms.
  2. – Sauté the onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook until softened.
  3. – Stir in the rice and toast lightly for 1–2 minutes.
  4. – Pour in the white wine and let it evaporate.
  5. – Add warm broth gradually, one ladle at a time, stirring frequently, and allowing the rice to absorb the liquid before adding more.
  6. – Continue adding more broth until the rice is creamy and cooked al dente, about 18–20 minutes.
  7. – Remove from heat, stir in butter and grated Parmigiano, season with salt and pepper, and sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.


6. Baked Fish al Cartoccio

Whether you are cooking something special for your family or having guests over, baked fish in parchment paper is a great recipe you can put together in the morning, refrigerate, and bake before serving.

You can serve it with steamed or boiled potatoes, and an extra virgin olive oil and parsley reduction, and a leafy salad.

INGREDIENTS

HOW TO MAKE IT

  1. – Preheat the oven to 200°C (390°F).
  2. – Lay a sheet of foil or parchment on a baking tray.
  3. – Place each fish on the paper, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. 
  4. – Stuff the fish with slices of lemon, pieces of minced garlic, herbs and extra virgin olive oil.
  5. – Make sure to season and add a few herbs and oil on top too.
  6. – Drizzle with plenty of extra virgin olive oil
  7. – Fold the foil or parchment over the fish to create a sealed packet.
  8. – Bake for 20–25 minutes, depending on the size of the fish, until the flesh is opaque and tender.
  9. – Keep the fish inside the foil or parchment paper and serve it on a plate.


easy Italian recipes for family dinners

7. Carne alla Pizzaiola

I don’t know how popular this recipe is outside Italy, but it’s one my mum made all the time, and it also happens to be super easy. That’s why I think you will like it. It’s delicious too, of course.

You can enjoy this with a few slices of bread and a leafy salad.

INGREDIENTS

HOW TO MAKE IT

  1. – Heat olive oil in a skillet and lightly brown the beef on both sides.
  2. – Remove the meat and set aside.
  3. – In the same pan, add garlic and sauté briefly.
  4. – Pour in the tomato passata, season with salt, pepper, and oregano, and simmer for a few minutes. You can also make this without the tomato sauce, by adding slices of tomatoes on each beef fillet. That’s how my mum made it.
  5. – Return the beef to the pan, cover, and cook gently for 20–30 minutes until tender, turning occasionally. Add fresh basil.
  6. – Place a slice or small handful of shredded mozzarella on top of each piece of beef and cover the pan for 1–2 minutes until the cheese melts slightly.
  7. – Serve immediately with plenty of sauce for you to enjoy a scarpetta moment.

Scarpetta is the act of dipping the bread into sauce, and this recipe surely calls for that! Enjoy.


Two sizes classic Tiramisu

8. Tiramisu

Here’s the authentic tiramisu recipe for you to try.

INGREDIENTS

HOW TO MAKE IT

  1. – Whisk egg yolks with sugar until pale and creamy.
  2. – Gently fold in the mascarpone until smooth.
  3. – Pour espresso into a shallow dish and add liqueur if using.
  4. – Quickly dip each ladyfinger into the coffee, making sure not to soak them, and lay them in a single layer in a serving dish.
  5. – Spread half of the mascarpone mixture over the biscuits.
  6. – Repeat with another layer of dipped ladyfingers and the remaining mascarpone.
  7. – Smooth the top and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
  8. – Just before serving, dust generously with cocoa powder.

Don’t forget that you can get my healthy Italian tiramisu recipe (half the calories and still delicious) inside my newsletter. You just need to join!


homemade green minestrone soup

9. Minestrone

Come Winter, there’s nothing better than an Italian minestrone.

You are likely used to the red recipe, but I’d like to share with you a delicious green version, because more people need to  know about it. Don’t worry, I will soon share my classic red minestrone too.

Click here to go to the recipe.


pastina soup

10. Pastina

Finally, but not least, pastina is the perfect recipe you should learn to make whether you are sick, or feeling like a cosy warm meal.

It’s one of those recipes that was only popular in Italy, until someone decided to share it on Social media, and now it’s one of the most trendy Winter recipes. 

My pastina recipe provides a delicious twist on the original, that makes it higher in protein and also more nutritious.


Try making lasagna: When you are ready to try an Italian recipe that’s a little more complex, I suggest you make lasagna from scratch. It’s the most delicious, rewarding recipe you’ll ever make, apart from tiramisu! And I promise my lasagna recipe makes each step super easy.

authentic Italian lasagna recipe blog



More Italian Food Reads & Recipes

I truly hope you loved this post. If you do, make sure to bookmark it, pin it on Pinterest, and share it with a friend. Don’t forget to give it a heart.

Want more delicious Italian recipes?

Join my weekly newsletter by signing up via one of the sign up boxes in this post. You’ll receive an email every Sunday, and it almost always will include a simple but tasty Italian recipe I like to make or I grew up eating.

In the meantime, you can find more Italian food articles here.

Thank you for reading, friend.

A presto,
Alessia


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Alessia
Alessia Spampinato
Alessia is the founder of Italy with an Italian. She is an Italian, born and raised in Sicily, with a big passion for content creation – writing, photography and anything in between – almost as big as her love for travelling, biscotti al burro and Italian vistas.