45 Italian-Inspired Recipes You Haven’t Tried Yet
45 Italian-Inspired Recipes You Haven’t Tried Yet
Read Time: 21 mins
45 Italian-Inspired Recipes You Haven’t Tried Yet
Diabetic Exchanges: 7 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1 fat
14g fat (4g saturated fat), 111mg cholesterol, 532mg sodium, 13g carbohydrate (6g sugars, 5g fiber), 39g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 7 lean meat, 1 vegetable, 1 fat. Check out these must-have Italian cookbooks for eating your way through Italy. 2/45 Grilled Bruschetta 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Grilled Bruschetta Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is my go-to appetizer in the summer when tomatoes and basil are fresh from the garden. The balsamic glaze takes this bruschetta recipe over the top. I like to use an
olive oil infused with Tuscan herbs or basil for this
olive oil infused with Tuscan herbs or basil for this. But, it’s great with just plain olive oil too. —Brittany Allyn, Mesa, Arizona Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 58 calories, 3g fat (0 saturated fat), 0 cholesterol, 49mg sodium, 7g carbohydrate (3g sugars, 0 fiber), 1g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 1/2 starch, 1/2 fat. 3/45 Pesto Vegetable Pizza 2 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My family loves pizza, but we rarely have it delivered since I created this fresh and flavorful version. Always a
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 fat, 1 lean meat, 1 medium-fat meat
winner in my house, it is a fast and delicious meal that even my young son looks forward to. —Kate Selner, Lino Lakes, Minnesota Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 310 calories, 15g fat (4g saturated fat), 15mg cholesterol, 707mg sodium, 31g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 13g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 starch, 2 fat, 1 lean meat, 1 medium-fat meat. 4/45 Italian Sausage Sloppy Joes Test Kitchen Approved Italian Sausage Sloppy Joes Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 4 hours 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My grandma absolutely loves Italian food, so
I decided to make a twist on classic sloppy joe sandwiches just for her
I decided to make a twist on classic sloppy joe sandwiches just for her. The mozzarella and tomato sauce are classic, and red peppers make it fun. —Kristen Heigl, Staten Island, New York Nutrition Facts: 1 sandwich: 661 calories, 35g fat (14g saturated fat), 121mg cholesterol, 1231mg sodium, 46g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 3g fiber), 42g protein. 5/45 Mixed Berry Tiramisu 1 Review Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 35 min Servings 12 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Because I love tiramisu, I came up with this deliciously refreshing twist on the traditional coffee-flavored
Italian dessert
Italian dessert. Fresh softened berries star with crisp ladyfinger cookies and mascarpone cheese. Serve it from a glass bowl or in clear dishes to show off the luscious layers. —Najmussahar Ahmed, Ypsilanti, Michigan Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 501 calories, 26g fat (14g saturated fat), 105mg cholesterol, 77mg sodium, 63g carbohydrate (45g sugars, 5g fiber), 8g protein. 6/45 Arrabbiata Sauce with Zucchini Noodles 1 Review Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 45 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This popular Italian dish is flavorful and spicy. We decided to re-create one of our favorite jarred sauces and
The results were amazing!
serve over zucchini pasta for a lighter, healthier meal that’s naturally gluten-free. The results were amazing! —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 1 cup sauce with 1 cup zucchini noodles: 287 calories, 13g fat (4g saturated fat), 71mg cholesterol, 708mg sodium, 17g carbohydrate (11g sugars, 4g fiber), 26g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 2 vegetable, 1/2 starch. 7/45 Green Chile Prosciutto Appetizers Test Kitchen Approved Green Chile Prosciutto Appetizers Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 25 min Servings 14 rolls Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I created these for my husband, who adores green chiles.
He loves these rolls so much he could eat a whole pan. —
He loves these rolls so much he could eat a whole pan. — Paula McHargue, Richmond, Kentucky Nutrition Facts: 1 roll: 98 calories, 6g fat (2g saturated fat), 23mg cholesterol, 258mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 0 fiber), 3g protein. 8/45 Spaghetti & Meatball Soup 11 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Spaghetti & Meatball Soup Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 7 hours Servings 8 servings (3 quarts) Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: A couple of nights a week our family ends up eating in shifts because everyone is going every which way, all at the same
My husband doesn’t even like meat loaf, but he’ll always eat this
time. Having a hearty soup simmering in the slow cooker is an easy way to give them all a warm meal. —Susan Stetzel, Gainesville, New York (Sop up this soup with a piece of one of these types of Italian bread.) Nutrition Facts: 1-1/2 cups: 394 calories, 26g fat (9g saturated fat), 95mg cholesterol, 1452mg sodium, 23g carbohydrate (9g sugars, 2g fiber), 17g protein. 9/45 Italian Meatloaf 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 1 hour 10 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: My husband doesn’t even like meat loaf, but he’ll always eat this
irresistible Italian meatloaf!
irresistible Italian meatloaf! He likes this dish because it offers a wide variety of flavors. —Myra Innes, Auburn, Kansas Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 245 calories, 13g fat (6g saturated fat), 93mg cholesterol, 677mg sodium, 8g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 24g protein. 10/45 Tomato-Cucumber Mozzarella Salad 11 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Total Time 20 min Servings 8 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I used fresh mozzarella for the first time last year and loved it. I wanted to incorporate it into as many dishes as possible and came up with this tomato cucumber basil salad.
It has quickly become a mainstay at my house
It has quickly become a mainstay at my house. —Jennifer Klann, Corbett, Oregon Nutrition Facts: 3/4 cup: 160 calories, 14g fat (3g saturated fat), 11mg cholesterol, 265mg sodium, 6g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 fat, 1 vegetable. 11/45 Italian Cream Cheese Cake 33 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 1 hour Servings 16 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Buttermilk makes every bite of this awesome Italian cream cheese cake recipe moist and flavorful. I rely on this recipe year-round. —Joyce Lutz, Centerview, Missouri Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 736 calories,
We like to include sausage for a main dish but it could be a meatless side too
41g fat (19g saturated fat), 117mg cholesterol, 330mg sodium, 90g carbohydrate (75g sugars, 2g fiber), 7g protein. 12/45 Italian Sausage-Stuffed Zucchini 24 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Taste of Home Total Time 50 min Servings 6 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I’ve always had to be creative when getting my family to eat vegetables, so I decided to make stuffed zucchini using the pizza flavors that everyone loves. It worked! We like to include sausage for a main dish but it could be a meatless side too. —Donna Marie Ryan, Topsfield, Massachusetts Nutrition Facts: 2 stuffed zucchini halves:
Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 2 lean meat, 1/2 starch
206 calories, 9g fat (3g saturated fat), 39mg cholesterol, 485mg sodium, 16g carbohydrate (5g sugars, 3g fiber), 17g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 2 vegetable, 2 lean meat, 1/2 starch. 13/45 Turkey Scallopini 9 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Turkey Scallopini Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 20 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: Quick-cooking turkey breast slices make this recipe a winner when you only have a few minutes to fix a satisfying meal. I’ve also used flattened boneless skinless chicken breast halves in place of the turkey of this entree. —Karen Adams, Cleveland, Tennessee
Serve slices as an appetizer or with a meal
Nutrition Facts: 4 ounces cooked turkey: 358 calories, 17g fat (10g saturated fat), 169mg cholesterol, 463mg sodium, 12g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 0 fiber), 38g protein. 14/45 Blue Cheese Garlic Bread 6 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Blue Cheese Garlic Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 10 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: This is an irresistible way to dress up an ordinary loaf of bread. Serve slices as an appetizer or with a meal. —Kevalyn Henderson, Hayward, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1 piece: 250 calories, 14g fat (8g saturated fat), 34mg cholesterol, 546mg sodium,
24g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 7g protein
24g carbohydrate (1g sugars, 1g fiber), 7g protein. 15/45 Mushroom Pasta Carbonara 60 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Mushroom Pasta Carbonara Recipe photo by Taste of Home Total Time 30 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I absolutely love this creamy and cheesy mushroom carbonara. I serve it with a side salad and rolls to make a complete meal. —Cindi Bauer, Marshfield, Wisconsin Nutrition Facts: 1-1/4 cups: 511 calories, 33g fat (18g saturated fat), 78mg cholesterol, 525mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 2g fiber), 11g protein. 16/45 Pizza Burgers 3 Reviews Test Kitchen Approved Open-Faced Pizza
💡 Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken Caprese 22 Reviews Contest Winner Test Kitchen Approved Caprese Chicken Recipe photo by Jackie Alpers for Taste of Home Total Time 40 min Servings 4 servings Go to Recipe From the Recipe Creator: I love a Caprese salad of tomatoes, basil and cheese, so why not try a chicken caprese?
Answer coming soon. We are working on detailed responses to this common question.
⭐ Expert Tips
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Include seasonal or trendy variations to keep your meals exciting.
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Highlight prep shortcuts or time-saving techniques for busy cooks.
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Consider dietary restrictions and include substitution suggestions.
✅ Key Takeaways
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These dinner ideas are perfect for impressing guests or enjoying special occasions.
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Choose recipes that match your skill level and available kitchen tools.
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Presentation and taste both contribute to a memorable dining experience.
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