Nonna’s Kitchen Chronicles: 27 Italian Comfort Food Recipes

If the idea of Italian cuisine gets your taste buds tingling, you might want to explore some fresh Italian comfort food recipes to add to your repertoire. These comforting dishes, ranging from cheesy pasta bakes to sweet potato gnocchi and classic Italian lentil soup, are sure to become beloved family favorites. With options like roasted cauliflower carbonara, there’s something to satisfy every Italian food enthusiast!

Roasted Cauliflower Carbonara

This delicious Italian recipe is ideal for any pasta lover, combining roasted cauliflower florets with a creamy sauce that includes bacon, pancetta, and parmesan cheese. It comes out of the oven perfectly golden brown and caramelized and is sure to impress.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Cauliflower Carbonara

Easy Pink Pasta

This pink pasta sauce isn’t just easy to make with alfredo sauce and tomatoes. It’s delicious and turns your spaghetti a shade of pink!
Get the Recipe: Easy Pink Pasta

Italian Frittata Recipe

Straightforward to make and a treat to eat, this Italian vegetable frittata recipe is definitely a winning recipe. It’s simple to prepare, and you can mix and match the fillings depending on what you have in the refrigerator. It’s the perfect way to use up any vegetables or cooked meats you need to use up.
Get the Recipe: Italian Frittata Recipe

Italian Beef

You won’t be able to resist making slow cooker Italian beef again and again once you try it. This hearty and filling dish is perfect on toasted rolls or hoagie buns, and the slow-cooked beef is incredibly tender and flavorful.
Get the Recipe: Italian Beef

Ricotta Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells

This is a stuffed shells recipe with meat you’ll want to make more than once. Everything from the melty cheese to the hearty meat sauce and al dente pasta shells makes this mouthwatering dish really impressive!
Get the Recipe: Ricotta Beef Stuffed Pasta Shells

Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup

Sausage Tortellini Soup is a delicious option for lunch or dinner. It can be made with spicy or sweet Italian sausage!
Get the Recipe: Italian Sausage Tortellini Soup

Mushroom Ragu

Elevate your pasta game with this delicious and flavorful mushroom ragu vegan pasta sauce made with garlic, wine, herbs, and various fresh vegetables. This homemade spaghetti sauce is perfect for vegans or anyone who loves a hearty and healthy meal and is sure to become your new favorite meatless ragu recipe.
Get the Recipe: Mushroom Ragu

Lasagna Soup

This slow cooker lasagna soup recipe is the best you’ll ever try, with a hearty and delicious flavor that will satisfy you. Although there are quite a few ingredients, it’s an easy crockpot Italian dinner that is perfect for any night of the week.
Get the Recipe: Lasagna Soup

Italian Stromboli Recipe

Experience the taste of true Italian flavors with this authentic stromboli recipe from South Philly, where Italian immigrants first created this Italian-American dish. With its combination of deli meats, cheese, and rich Italian flavors rolled into a delicious sandwich, this easy-to-make stromboli is a great way to spice up any pizza night.
Get the Recipe: Italian Stromboli Recipe

Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Transform traditional Italian comfort food with this homemade sweet potato gnocchi recipe with roasted garlic sauce. The perfect vegetarian main course or flavorful side dish, this dish is easy to make with just a few simple ingredients and a little bit of patience.
Get the Recipe: Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Eggplant Parmigiana

Try this authentic Italian recipe for eggplant parmigiana, which is a comfort food favourite. Baked with a flavorful tomato and vodka sauce, this delicious vegetarian dinner idea is a hearty and satisfying meal bursting with tasty flavors.
Get the Recipe: Eggplant Parmigiana

Chopped Italian Sandwich

A chopped Italian sub is sure to satisfy even the strongest hunger pangs. This Italian bread sub with deli meats, cheese, pepperoncini peppers, red onion, and more make a great lunch.
Get the Recipe: Chopped Italian Sandwich

Hot Italian Sliders

Spice up your next gathering with hot Italian sliders – the perfect appetizer for tailgating or backyard picnics! Made with slider rolls, deli meats, and cheeses, these mini sandwiches are a crowd-pleaser. Don’t forget the marinara dipping sauce for an extra kick of flavor!
Get the Recipe: Hot Italian Sliders

Roasted Tomato and Meatball Polenta

Meatballs and polenta with garlic roasted tomatoes is a simple-to-make, hearty meal. Easy, comforting weeknight meals like this are perfect for the colder months when you crave something tasty and satisfying.
Get the Recipe: Roasted Tomato and Meatball Polenta

Heart Shaped Pizza

Indulge in a delightful homemade heart-shaped pizza with a crisp, golden crust, gooey cheese, and your favorite toppings. This simple recipe will win over your loved one’s heart with its delicious flavors and charming presentation.
Get the Recipe: Heart Shaped Pizza

Beef Braciole

This savory dish, featuring a stuffed and rolled steak smothered in tomato sauce, is a timeless classic that pairs perfectly with pasta, mashed potatoes, or a side of vegetables, making it the perfect centerpiece for a Sunday family dinner.
Get the Recipe: Beef Braciole

Lentil Soup – Zuppa Di Lenticchie

This Italian lentil soup, or zuppa di lenticchie, is a flavorful minestrone packed with fresh vegetables, perfect for any occasion but especially comforting in cooler months.
Get the Recipe: Lentil Soup – Zuppa Di Lenticchie

Italian Penne Rosa Pasta

If you’re looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner, try making this one-pot Penne Rosa Pasta with a creamy tomato sauce. This comforting and filling Italian dish is both tasty and satisfying and perfect for those who love a little spice in their meal.
Get the Recipe: Italian Penne Rosa Pasta

Pasta e Ceci – Pasta and Chickpea Stew

Experience the wonderful flavors of classic Italian comfort food with pasta e ceci, a delicious chickpea soup packed with bacon, garlic, rosemary, tomatoes, and more. This iconic and nutritious recipe will satisfy your craving for a hearty stew.
Get the Recipe: Pasta e Ceci – Pasta and Chickpea Stew

Meatball Marinara Subs

Savor the juicy homemade meatballs, tangy marinara sauce, and fluffy brioche buns in Italian meatball marinara subs – a satisfying comfort food that’s perfect for lunch or busy weeknights. These sandwiches are far tastier than the fast-food version and are sure to please anyone, regardless of their Italian heritage.
Get the Recipe: Meatball Marinara Subs

Pappa al Pomodoro – Tomato and Bread Soup

Make a delicious lunch with Pappa al pomodoro soup, an authentic Italian recipe featuring tomato and bread. This sweet and light Tuscan soup is perfect for those who love fresh flavors and can be made with stale or leftover bread and tomatoes.
Get the Recipe: Pappa al Pomodoro – Tomato and Bread Soup

Simple Ribollita Bean Soup

Create a delicious, healthy, and hearty white bean kale soup with Ribollita Italian bean soup featuring a variety of vegetables, beans, and seasonings. This versatile Italian soup recipe is perfect for using up any vegetables approaching the end of their prime.
Get the Recipe: Simple Ribollita Bean Soup

Italian Wedding Soup

Enjoy a filling and tasty Italian wedding soup made from scratch with chicken meatballs and acini de pepe pasta. This traditional Italian soup is hearty and fresh, perfect for a comforting meal.
Get the Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup

Chicken Pastina Soup

Chicken pastina soup is a favorite Italian comfort food. This Italian chicken soup with little pasta shapes and shredded chicken is a winter go-to recipe.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Pastina Soup

Minestrone Soup

This traditional minestrone soup recipe is a delicious blend of fresh vegetables, herbs, and pasta – perfect for warming up on a chilly day. Pair it with some crusty bread for a hearty lunch or supper.
Get the Recipe: Minestrone Soup

Pesto Fettuccini with Bolognese Sauce

Indulge in a delicious homemade Italian pasta dinner with pesto fettuccini and Bolognese sauce, bursting with fresh veggies in every bite. This hearty dish, featuring a homemade beef Bolognese meat sauce and fettuccine pasta, will satisfy your cravings for a flavorful Italian meal.
Get the Recipe: Pesto Fettuccini with Bolognese Sauce

Cheese Stuffed Italian Meatloaf

This Italian meatloaf is brimming with the warmth of Italian spices and cheese. With a generous topping of sauce, this recipe for Italian meatloaf is definitely going to become a favorite with your family. It’s the ultimate comfort food that’s perfect for a cozy family dinner.
Get the Recipe: Cheese Stuffed Italian Meatloaf