Italian Recipes That Would Make Your Nonna Proud

Melissa De Martin

In a perfect world, you'd gather around the table every Sunday with your whole family and feast on your Nonna's home cooking. That pasta. Those meatballs. That gravy. There should be odes written to the perfect, simmered-all-day tomato sauce that only tastes right when it comes from your grandmother's kitchen. Here are 10 Italian recipes that would make your Nonna proud — that is, if she'd let anyone else do the cooking.

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The Best Meatballs

LYNNINMA

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Forget everything you know about meatballs, especially that they're made from ground beef. The best, most straight-from-grandma's-kitchen meatballs are made with three meats and a pinch of seasoning, then cooked until crispy outside and tender inside.

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World's Best Lasagna

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Don't be intimidated by the cooking time on this lasagna recipe — over 33,000 people have made this incredibly popular, five-star dish, and there are raves all around. The best part? Cook it once, and enjoy for days.

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Grandma Maggio's Spaghetti Sauce

Sean Patrick Goodearl

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A truly great Italian meal starts with a truly great sauce. This recipe, handed down through generations, uses simple ingredients like garlic, basil and tomatoes, and lets those flavors shine.

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Pasta e Fagioli a la Chez Ivano

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There's no wrong time to eat soup. Bad day? Good day? As lunch, dinner, an appetizer? All of the above. This pasta e fagioli is quick to prepare, but simmers long enough that your whole house will be full of the enticing aroma.

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Homemade Focaccia Bread

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If there's no bread on an Italian table, it's not an Italian table. This Homemade Focaccia Bread is flavorful enough to eat on its own, but is even better dipped into good olive oil or Sunday gravy.

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Simple Chicken Parmesan

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Chicken Parmesan is the ultimate comfort food: golden chicken cutlets, topped with rich sauce and melted cheese. This version is easy enough that you can make it while teaching a few simple kitchen techniques to your kids, then enjoy the meal together.

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Pesto

Melissa De Martin

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The secret to pesto is that it only takes five ingredients (and five minutes) to make a bright, flavorful sauce. Serve it over fresh pasta for simple perfection, or add grilled chicken or shrimp for a truly memorable meal like Nonna used to make.

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Chicken Marsala with Portobello Mushrooms

AllrecipesPhoto

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If you've always loved this savory, saucy dish but have never tried it at home, now is the time. This Chicken Marsala recipe is quick and easy. Pro tip: skip the grocery store cooking wine and buy real Marsala. It makes all the difference.

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Italian Wedding Soup

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This soup is traditionally served at Italian weddings, but really, there's no reason to wait. Made with tiny meatballs, vibrant vegetables and tender pasta, this recipe for Italian Wedding Soup is a winner any day.

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Classic Tiramisu

manson.yan

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At Nonna's table, it doesn't matter how many courses you've eaten or how full you are. There is always room for dessert. This classic Tiramisu recipe is easier than you might think, and is a perfect last taste of a Sunday meal.

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North Italian Meat Sauce (Ragu Bolognese)

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True story: not every Italian dinner needs tomato sauce. This classic Northern Italian dish comes from Bologna, and is a little bit creamy, a little bit sweet and a little bit savory. Serve over really good pasta and imagine the possibilities.

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Nonna's Pizzelle

Cher Duprey

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These classic cookies are not-too-sweet and are traditionally served with espresso at the end of a meal. Coffee and cookies are perfect any time, though. For breakfast? Go ahead, we're not judging.

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Spaghetti Carbonara

FoodFan

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This cheesy, bacon-y pasta tastes rich and complex, but is simple to make. On special occasions, like, say, any Sunday, serve Spaghetti Carbonara in small portions as a pasta course before your main meal — or whip it up on a Tuesday when you're craving comfort food.

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Sicilian-Style Broccoli Rabe

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There's just something not-right about a pile of steamed veggies next to a plate of rich pasta — but this broccoli rabe, made with garlic and a pinch of red pepper, hits all the right notes.

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Sicilian Easter Pie

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Every Italian family has its own recipe for Sicilian Easter Pie. If you haven't had it before, expect a light, fruity dessert that's a little bit rice pudding and a little bit cheesecake, with orange water and orange zest that taste like spring.

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Italian Recipes That Would Make Your Nonna Proud

1 of 15

The Best Meatballs

1 of 15

2 of 15

World's Best Lasagna

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Grandma Maggio's Spaghetti Sauce

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Pasta e Fagioli a la Chez Ivano

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Homemade Focaccia Bread

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Simple Chicken Parmesan

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Pesto

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Chicken Marsala with Portobello Mushrooms

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Italian Wedding Soup

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Classic Tiramisu

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North Italian Meat Sauce (Ragu Bolognese)

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Nonna's Pizzelle

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Spaghetti Carbonara

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Sicilian-Style Broccoli Rabe

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Sicilian Easter Pie

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