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  4. 21 Quick and Easy Italian Recipes Your Family Will Love

21 Quick and Easy Italian Recipes Your Family Will Love

Jenna Sims, Associate Digital Editor at Southern Living
By Jenna Sims Updated March 04, 2021
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Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Tired of the same old spaghetti on Italian night? Try some of these quick-and-easy Italian recipes to get out of the rut. From one-pot dishes to slow-cooker meals to 30-minute recipes, each of these Italian-inspired dishes are easy to pull together to give your family a delicious dinner no matter how busy your weeknight may be. Plus, there are so many different ways to enjoy and prepare the flavors of Italian cooking that you can always swap it up to keep your family from getting bored with the dinner menu. We guarantee these easy Italian recipes will become instant favorites that you'll enjoy for years to come. 

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Italian Casserole

Italian Casserole
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Italian Casserole

This casserole can be assembled the night before so all you have to do on busy weeknights is pop it in the oven.

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Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese

Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese
Credit: Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese

Coming together in just 35 minutes, this skillet supper is ideal to pull together on even the busiest days. 

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Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms

Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Prop Styling: Ginny Branch Stelling; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms

The pork can be prepared up to two days in advance. Reheat it in a skillet for the best flavor. 

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Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken Spinach Pasta

Buttermilk Alfredo Pasta with Chicken and Spinach
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken Spinach Pasta

A convenient rotisserie chicken combines with a homemade sauce for a cheesy supper that's ready in 20 minutes. 

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Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese

While some Bolognese recipes may require all-day cooking, this sauce offers plenty of flavor in just 25 minutes. 

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Ziti with Mushroom, Fennel, and Tomato Ragu

Ziti with Mushroom, Fennel, and Tomato Ragu
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Ziti with Mushroom, Fennel, and Tomato Ragu

You won't miss the meat in this vegetarian version of ragu with plenty of flavor from mushrooms, fennel, and tomatoes. 

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Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

Slow-Cooker Bolognese Sauce
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce

Get the cooked-all-day flavor without having to spend all day in the kitchen with the help of your slow cooker. 

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Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
Credit: Photography: Caitlin Bensel, Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs

This Italian classic will be on the table in under an hour with the help of your multi-cooker. 

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Oven-Baked Risotto with Ham, Leeks, and Peas

Oven-Baked Risotto with Ham, Leeks, and Peas
Credit: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mary Clayton Carl Jones; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

Recipe: Oven-Baked Risotto with Ham, Leeks,and Peas

Risotto doesn't have to be reserved for special occasions. This one-pot comfort dish comes together in just 45 minutes. 

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Fettuccine Alfredo with Leeks, Peas, and Bacon

Fettuccine Alfredo with Leeks, Peas, and Bacon
Credit: Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Missie Neville Crawford; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Fettuccine Alfredo with Leeks, Peas, and Bacon

This recipe will teach you that homemade Alfredo sauce is even easier to make than you thought. 

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Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole
Credit: Greg DuPree

Recipe: Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole

Sneak some veggies into mealtime with this cheesy casserole that includes an entire package of spinach. 

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti

Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti
Credit: Hector Manuel Sanchez

Recipe: Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti

Just 20 minutes of prep work will yield a delicious dinner the whole family will enjoy. 

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Spaghetti with Pecan Pesto and Garlicky Breadcrumbs

Spaghetti with Pecan Pesto and Garlicky Breadcrumbs
Credit: Photo: Alison Miksch; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Torie Cox

Recipe: Spaghetti with Pecan Pesto and Garlicky Breadcrumbs

Switch up spaghetti night with pesto sauce and garlicky breadcrumbs. 

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All-In-One Spaghetti

All In One Spaghetti Recipe
Credit: Photo: William Dickey

Recipe: All-In-One Spaghetti

No need to use an extra pot to cook your noodles with this one-dish spaghetti that includes a delicious homemade sauce. 

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Vanessa's Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna

Vanessa's Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford

Recipe: Vanessa's Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna

This unbaked lasagna can be frozen for up to 3 months. Just thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours before baking. 

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Baked Four-Cheese Spaghetti with Italian Sausage

Baked Four-Cheese Spaghetti with Italian Sausage
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Baked Four-Cheese Spaghetti with Italian Sausage

Letting this spaghetti cook in your slow cooker for three hours will allow the four cheeses to fully melt together. 

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Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables

Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables
Credit: Jennifer Davick

Recipe: Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables

This easy one-dish-wonder is complete with chicken, asparagus, zucchini, herbs, and cheese. 

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Italian-Style Turkey Meatball Soup

Italian-Style Turkey Meatball Soup Recipe
Credit: Photo: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Italian-Style Turkey Meatball Soup

Frozen meatballs help this comforting soup come together in under an hour. 

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Lasagna Roll Ups

Tomato-Basil Lasagna Rolls
Credit: Hector Sanchez

Recipe: Lasagna Roll Ups

Roll ups offer a fun new spin on classic lasagna that kids and adults will love. 

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Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna

Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna
Credit: SL Van Chaplin

Recipe: Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna

Store-bought sauces and frozen ravioli come together with a six-blend cheese for a filling dinner that takes just 10 minutes of prep time. 

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Italian-Style Beef-and-Pepperoni Soup

Ground Beef Recipes: Italian-Style Beef-and-Pepperoni Soup
Credit: Southern Living

Recipe: Italian-Style Beef-and-Pepperoni Soup

Soup offers a lighter yet just as comforting way to enjoy the flavors of Italian cooking. 

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    1 of 21 Italian Casserole
    2 of 21 Beefy Baked Ravioli with Spinach and Cheese
    3 of 21 Italian-Style Grits and Greens with Pulled Pork and Mushrooms
    4 of 21 Buttermilk Alfredo Chicken Spinach Pasta
    5 of 21 Quick and Easy Spaghetti Bolognese
    6 of 21 Ziti with Mushroom, Fennel, and Tomato Ragu
    7 of 21 Slow Cooker Bolognese Sauce
    8 of 21 Instant Pot Spaghetti and Meatballs
    9 of 21 Oven-Baked Risotto with Ham, Leeks, and Peas
    10 of 21 Fettuccine Alfredo with Leeks, Peas, and Bacon
    11 of 21 Creamy Chicken Alfredo Casserole
    12 of 21 Slow-Cooker Chicken Cacciatore with Spaghetti
    13 of 21 Spaghetti with Pecan Pesto and Garlicky Breadcrumbs
    14 of 21 All-In-One Spaghetti
    15 of 21 Vanessa's Make-Ahead Beefy Lasagna
    16 of 21 Baked Four-Cheese Spaghetti with Italian Sausage
    17 of 21 Chicken Risotto with Spring Vegetables
    18 of 21 Italian-Style Turkey Meatball Soup
    19 of 21 Lasagna Roll Ups
    20 of 21 Spinach-Ravioli Lasagna
    21 of 21 Italian-Style Beef-and-Pepperoni Soup

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    21 Quick and Easy Italian Recipes Your Family Will Love
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