29 Italian Recipes Filling the Table Over the Coming Long Weekend
A long weekend gives dinner a little more room to stretch beyond the usual weeknight routine. These 29 Italian recipes cover risotto, pizza, gnocchi, soup, pasta, breads, appetizers, sliders, and desserts, so the table can shift from casual bites to a full sit-down supper. Some take only 15 to 40 minutes, while breads, homemade pasta, and chilled desserts reward a slower pace. The mix leaves plenty of ways to fill the table across several meals without repeating the same dish.
Mushroom Risotto
Earthy mushrooms and creamy rice give Mushroom Risotto enough substance to anchor a relaxed weekend supper. The recipe takes 50 minutes and makes 4 servings with porcini, chestnut, and portobello mushrooms, risotto rice, white wine, vegetable stock, rosemary, cheddar, walnuts, and pecans. The broth is added gradually while the rice cooks, then the mushrooms, cheese, and toasted nuts go in near the end. Serve it hot with parsley and Parmesan over the top.
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Caprese Appetizer Bites
Toasted baguette slices topped with tomato, mozzarella, and basil make Caprese Appetizer Bites easy to pass around before the main meal. The recipe takes 15 minutes and makes about 20 pieces with baguette, olive oil, Italian seasoning, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, basil, and balsamic glaze. The bread is broiled until lightly crisp, then cooled before the toppings are added. Drizzle the balsamic glaze just before serving so the bread keeps its texture.
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Pesto Pizza
Bright basil pesto under melted mozzarella gives Pesto Pizza a fast route to a homemade-style pizza night. The recipe takes 20 minutes and makes 4 servings with a pre-cooked pizza crust, pesto, mozzarella, cherry tomatoes, and fresh basil. The short ingredient list keeps assembly simple, and the pizza bakes until the cheese melts and the tomatoes soften. Slice it for an easy lunch, or set it alongside salad and appetizers for a longer weekend spread.
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Gnocchi
Soft potato dumplings finished with butter and Parmesan make Gnocchi a from-scratch project that suits a slower weekend afternoon. The recipe takes 1 hour 45 minutes and makes 4 servings with potatoes, flour, egg, salt, butter, olive oil, basil, and Parmesan. The dough is shaped and cut before the pieces are boiled until they float. Toss the cooked gnocchi with butter, basil, and cheese, then serve while the dumplings are still tender.
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Antipasto Skewers
Colorful layers of cured meat, cheese, olives, and vegetables make Antipasto Skewers an easy addition to a table that already has several dishes going. The recipe takes 20 minutes and makes 16 skewers with mozzarella, prosciutto, salami, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, green olives, black olives, pesto, and fresh herbs. Everything is threaded onto skewers without cooking. Arrange them on a platter and spoon or brush pesto over the top before serving.
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Marry Me Chicken Soup
Silky broth with sun-dried tomatoes gives Marry Me Chicken Soup a richer profile than a standard chicken-and-pasta bowl. The recipe takes 40 minutes and makes 8 servings with shredded chicken, small pasta, chicken stock, spinach, heavy cream, Parmesan, tomato paste, sun-dried tomatoes, thyme, and red wine vinegar. The pasta cooks directly in the broth before the cream, cheese, spinach, and vinegar finish the pot. Serve it hot with extra Parmesan if you like.
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Spinach Pizza
A creamy ricotta base and tender greens give Spinach Pizza a different feel from a tomato-heavy pie. The recipe takes 30 minutes and makes 4 servings with pizza dough, spinach, garlic, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, artichoke hearts, and olive oil. The spinach is cooked before being spread over the dough with the cheeses and artichokes. Bake until the crust browns and the cheese melts, then add black pepper before slicing.
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Chicken Piccata
Bright lemon and capers cut through the buttery pan sauce in Chicken Piccata, making it a lively centerpiece for a weekend dinner. The recipe takes 55 minutes and makes 4 servings with chicken breasts, flour, Parmesan, white wine, garlic, capers, chicken broth, lemon juice, butter, and parsley. Thin chicken pieces are dredged and browned first, then the sauce reduces in the same skillet. Spoon the sauce over the chicken and serve with pasta or vegetables.
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Baked Ziti
Bubbling cheese over saucy pasta makes Baked Ziti a practical centerpiece when several people are gathering around the table. The recipe takes 1 hour and makes 8 servings with ziti, sweet Italian sausage, onion, garlic, tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and Parmesan. The sausage and tomato sauce are prepared before everything is layered with the pasta and cheeses. Bake until hot and melted through, then let the pan sit briefly before serving generous scoops.
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Tiramisu Ice Cream
Coffee, mascarpone, and chopped ladyfingers turn Tiramisu Ice Cream into a chilled dessert with familiar tiramisu flavors in scoopable form. The recipe takes 2 hours 15 minutes and makes 12 servings with mascarpone, milk, amaretto, sugar, espresso, chocolate, ladyfingers, and cocoa powder. The base is mixed with coffee and chocolate before the cookie pieces are folded in and frozen. Dust each serving with cocoa when it is time for dessert.
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Mushroom Bolognese
Finely chopped mushrooms give Mushroom Bolognese a thick, slow-simmered sauce that holds well to broad pasta. The recipe takes 1 hour and makes 4 servings with portobello mushrooms, onion, carrot, celery, garlic, tomato paste, red wine, crushed tomatoes, bay leaf, thyme, and pappardelle. The vegetables and mushrooms cook down before the wine and tomatoes are added. Let the sauce simmer until thick, then spoon it over pasta and finish with parsley.
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Garlic Knots
Soft twisted bread brushed with garlic butter makes Garlic Knots the kind of side that disappears easily beside pasta or soup. The recipe takes 2 hours 45 minutes and makes 8 servings with flour, yeast, water, sugar, butter, garlic powder, Parmesan, fresh garlic, parsley, and sea salt. The dough rises before being shaped into knots and baked. Brush the warm knots with the garlic-Parmesan butter right after they come out of the oven.
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Lamb Bolognese
A slow-simmered tomato sauce wrapped around ground lamb gives Lamb Bolognese plenty of depth without requiring an all-day cook. The recipe takes 55 minutes and makes 4 servings with lamb, celery, carrots, onion, tomato sauce, tomato paste, chicken broth, thyme, butter, linguine, Parmesan, and parsley. The vegetables soften before the lamb and sauce ingredients simmer together. Toss the sauce with the cooked pasta, then add Parmesan and parsley at the table.
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Pizza Pinwheels
Flaky spirals filled with pepperoni, marinara, and mozzarella make Pizza Pinwheels easy to set out for lunch, snacking, or an appetizer tray. The recipe takes 1 hour and makes 4 servings with puff pastry, marinara sauce, pepperoni, mozzarella, olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, and parsley. The filled pastry is rolled, chilled, sliced, and baked until puffed and browned. Serve the pinwheels warm with a small bowl of marinara for dipping.
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Marry Me Chicken Gnocchi
Creamy sauce, tender chicken, and pillowy dumplings make Marry Me Chicken Gnocchi substantial enough for the center of the table. The recipe takes 30 minutes and makes 4 servings with chicken breast, potato gnocchi, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, chicken broth, heavy cream, spinach, basil, Italian seasoning, and paprika. The chicken cooks first, then the gnocchi simmers in the creamy sauce. Stir in the spinach near the end and serve while everything is hot.
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Italian Sub Pinwheels
Salami, provolone, and crisp lettuce give Italian Sub Pinwheels the flavors of a deli sandwich in bite-size form. The recipe takes 30 minutes and makes 20 pinwheels with flour tortillas, cream cheese, mayonnaise, Italian seasoning, roasted red peppers, salami, romaine, provolone, and red onion. The filled tortillas are rolled tightly and chilled briefly before slicing. Keep them cold until serving, then arrange the pieces on a platter for an easy shared snack.
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Italian Wedding Soup
Small meatballs, pasta, and spinach fill Italian Wedding Soup with plenty of texture while the broth stays light enough for a multi-course meal. The recipe takes 40 minutes and makes 8 servings with a beef-and-pork meat mixture, egg, breadcrumbs, Parmesan, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, chicken broth, short pasta, spinach, and parsley. The meatballs are browned first, then finish cooking in the broth with the pasta. Add Parmesan over each bowl before serving.
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Shrimp Alfredo
Creamy Parmesan sauce coating fettuccine and shrimp makes Shrimp Alfredo an easy pasta main for a long weekend supper. The recipe takes 30 minutes and makes 4 servings with fettuccine, shrimp, olive oil, garlic, heavy cream, Parmesan, salt, pepper, and parsley. The shrimp cook quickly before the sauce is built in the same pan. Toss in the pasta once the cheese melts, then finish with parsley and extra Parmesan if you want more at the table.
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Cannoli Cookies
Soft ricotta cookies dotted with chocolate give Cannoli Cookies a dessert-table option that borrows from the flavors of the classic pastry. The recipe takes 30 minutes and makes 16 cookies with flour, baking powder, sugar, butter, ricotta, chocolate chips, vanilla, pistachios, powdered sugar, and chocolate for drizzling. The dough bakes until the cookies are set, then the toppings go on after cooling. Stack them on a plate for coffee or an after-dinner sweet.
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Tender Sweet Potato Gnocchi
Sweet potato and ricotta make Tender Sweet Potato Gnocchi softer and slightly sweeter than the classic potato version earlier in the list. The recipe takes 1 hour 30 minutes and makes 8 servings with sweet potatoes, ricotta, Parmesan, egg, flour, butter, thyme, salt, and pepper. The dough is shaped into dumplings and boiled before being finished with browned butter and thyme. Add fresh Parmesan at the table while the gnocchi are still warm.
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Focaccia Bread
A dimpled top coated with olive oil gives Focaccia Bread the chewy edges and soft center that make it useful beside almost anything on the table. The recipe takes 3 hours and makes 8 servings with warm water, sugar, yeast, flour, salt, olive oil, flaky sea salt, and rosemary. The dough rises before being stretched into the pan and dimpled by hand. Bake until golden, then slice into squares for dipping, sandwiches, or serving with dinner.
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Antipasto Salad
Crisp greens loaded with cured meat, cheese, olives, and vegetables make Antipasto Salad substantial enough to hold its own among richer weekend dishes. The recipe takes 15 minutes and makes 6 servings with romaine, arugula, salami, prosciutto, artichokes, mixed olives, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, bocconcini, parsley, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and garlic. Toss the greens and toppings with the simple dressing just before serving so the lettuce stays crisp.
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Cheese Ravioli
Fresh pasta wrapped around a ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan filling makes Cheese Ravioli a true from-scratch weekend project. The recipe takes 1 hour 15 minutes and makes 8 servings with flour, eggs, salt, semolina, ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan, egg yolk, nutmeg, butter, and herbs. The pasta dough is rolled thin before being filled and sealed into individual ravioli. Boil until tender, then finish with melted butter and herbs or your preferred sauce.
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Strawberry Tiramisu
Layers of mascarpone cream, strawberries, and ladyfingers give Strawberry Tiramisu a fruit-forward finish for a long weekend meal. The recipe takes 45 minutes and makes 8 servings with fresh strawberries, sugar, optional Cointreau, mascarpone, vanilla, heavy cream, powdered sugar, ladyfingers, and water. The berries are prepared first, then layered with the whipped mascarpone mixture and cookies. Chill before serving so the layers have time to settle and soften together.
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Butternut Squash Risotto
Creamy rice and soft squash make Butternut Squash Risotto an autumn-leaning centerpiece that fits the season as well as the Italian theme. The recipe takes 1 hour 10 minutes and makes 4 servings with butternut squash, Arborio rice, onion, garlic, vegetable broth, grated cheese, olive oil, butter, parsley, salt, and pepper. The squash cooks separately while warm broth is gradually stirred into the rice. Fold everything together near the end and serve hot.
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Italian Sliders
Layers of deli meat and melted provolone make Italian Sliders easy to bake as one tray and pull apart at the table. The recipe takes 40 minutes and makes 12 sliders with Hawaiian rolls, ham, salami, pepperoni, provolone, roasted red peppers, optional banana peppers, butter, Italian seasoning, and marinara sauce. The filled rolls bake together under seasoned butter until the cheese melts. Set out warm marinara for dipping and let everyone take a slider.
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Sourdough Focaccia
A long fermentation gives Sourdough Focaccia a different character from the quicker yeast-raised focaccia earlier in the roundup. The recipe takes 12 hours 55 minutes and makes 10 servings with active sourdough starter, bread flour, water, olive oil, kosher salt, rosemary, and flaky salt. Most of the time is resting and rising rather than active work. Once the dough is bubbly and relaxed, dimple it with oil, add rosemary, and bake until deeply golden.
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Caprese Pesto Tarts
Flaky pastry topped with pesto, tomato, and mozzarella makes Caprese Pesto Tarts a compact appetizer that looks right at home on a crowded weekend table. The recipe takes 25 minutes and makes 24 pieces with puff pastry, basil, walnuts, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan, grape tomatoes, mozzarella, lemon, black pepper, and balsamic glaze. The pastry squares are topped and baked until crisp. Finish with balsamic glaze just before arranging them on a serving tray.
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Marry Me Chicken Meatballs
Tender chicken meatballs in a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce make Marry Me Chicken Meatballs easy to serve over pasta, rice, or bread. The recipe takes 35 minutes and makes 4 servings with ground chicken, garlic, egg, Parmesan, breadcrumbs, onion powder, butter, thyme, red pepper flakes, sun-dried tomatoes, chicken broth, and heavy cream. The meatballs are browned first, then simmered in the sauce. Add extra Parmesan or herbs at the table if you like.
Get the Recipe: Marry Me Chicken Meatballs
