15 Best Italian Dishes To Eat
I love food, especially trying dishes from other cultures. Whether you are on vacation or want to experience variety right in your hometown, eating meals from different regions can transport you to another country with every bite.
On my last holiday in Italy, I made sure to try as many popular Italian food options while I was there. I did not want to waste any of my meals by selecting common choices I could have back home.
Engrossing myself in each dish helped me integrate with the Italian culture and traditions for the best vacation experience.
Now that I am home again, I can find local Italian dishes to help me reminisce about my time in Italy and enjoy the typical flavors of their culture.
To give you a better idea, I have a list of the 15 best Italian dishes for you to try in 2022.
Popular Italian Foods
Check out these classic Italian dishes to get a taste of the culture.
Cacio e Pepe
Pasta is a staple in Italy, and this dish is no exception. Cacio e Pepe translates into the phrase cheese and pepper.
In simple terms, it includes pasta, cheese, and pepper, but it is so much more than that.
Cacio e Pepe is a Roman dish that is simplistic but flavorful. Traditional recipes will use egg tagliolini, bucatini, or spaghetti for the pasta, although when I make this at home, spaghetti is more commonly available in my local grocery store.
Try finely grated Grana Padano or Parmesan and Pecorino cheese with fresh cracked black pepper to perfect the cheese sauce.
Carbonara
Another famous Roman dish is Carbonara. Translated, it means charcoal burner, and some speculate it was a typical dish for charcoal workers back in the day.
It is a pasta meal that contains spaghetti, browned guanciale, pecorino Romano cheese, eggs, and black pepper.
Although there are many varieties of traditional Carbonara, the authentic Italian meal uses only these five simple ingredients.
It does not contain garlic, salt, onions, cream, or other fixings. However, the Roman pecorino cheese is quite salty and adds enough flavor to the dish.
The trick to perfect Carbonara is beating the eggs and cooking them, so they are not scrambled or runny with the pasta. I like to order this while eating out since I prefer to let the experts make it.
Lasagna
Traditional Lasagna is a popular Italian food dish that is not as simple as other pasta meals, although it is still one of my favorite Italian dishes.
(@pandan_gula_melaka)It includes many ingredients, which all work together in harmony to create the perfect layered pasta meal. Originating in the city of Naples, some earlier versions of this recipe did not include tomatoes.
Today’s Lasagna recipe will use three kinds of cheese, layers of sheet noodles, tomato sauce, chucked beef, and various spices and flavorings.
Enjoying the perfect Italian Lasagna dish will transport you back to when families sat around a table sharing a full pan as they drank wine, ate bread, and enjoyed each other’s company.
Caprese
I enjoy an Italian Caprese salad for a light meal option as an alternative to pasta at lunch.
This simple dish uses tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, fresh basil leaves, and extra virgin olive oil.
It tastes great, but it always looks fantastic, too, with the alternating ingredients on your plate. It is no mistake that these elements mimic the Italian flag as a tribute to the country.
In the 1920s, a patriotic stone worker erected this popular Italian food dish representing everything Italy offers, both in taste and visually.
Caprese salad includes the four elements famous in Campania; tomatoes, basil, mozzarella, and olive oil.
Bolognese
Originating in a city just outside of Bologna called Imola, Bolognese is a rich, authentic sauce for many popular Italian food dishes.
This famous beef sauce uses tomatoes, pancetta, white wine, onion, celery, carrots, milk, and beef stock.
At first glance, I did not realize that celery and carrots were in Bolognese because they are miniature diced.
Still, the combination of these ingredients makes it perfect for many traditional Italian dishes, including Spaghetti Bolognese.
However, it is one of my favorite go-to sauces when I want a simple, flavorful Italian meal.
Neapolitan Pizza
Another popular Italian food dish that emulates Italy’s flag colors is Neapolitan Pizza.
Originating from Naples, this pizza uses only tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil leaves on an airy crust. Anything else for toppings is not an authentic Neapolitan Pizza.
I like this pizza better than other varieties because of its simple crust you cannot get when away from Italy.
The dough does not include olive oil as other crust recipes require, so it does not stretch as it would for alternative pizza choices.
Its simple, flavorful taste is the perfect way to enjoy Italy with every bite.
Pasta Fagioli al Forno
Pasta Fagioli al Forno is another tasty dish I thoroughly enjoy when I want comfort food.
Translate it into English; it is pasta with beans baked in an oven. Originating from Northern Italy, this pasta dish is hearty and full of flavor with textures.
This popular Italian food dish combines penne pasta, tomatoes, Italian sausage, cannellini beans, Parmesan, and shredded fontina or provolone cheese.
Using staples like onions, carrots, celery, garlic, basil, parsley, and other seasonings, make Pasta Fagioli al Forno a meal you will want again and again.
In my opinion, it is the ideal meal for a cold evening that requires comfort food.
Caponata
Caponata is a classic Sicilian appetizer that uses a blend of eggplant with vegetables, although some say it has Spanish origins.
If you are a vegetarian or just enjoy fresh Italian veggie alternatives, this option is perfect.
This antipasto appetizer combines eggplant, celery, onion, capers, olives, pine nuts, with tomato juice and seasonings for a delectable snack to serve with bread or Bruschetta, as a side dish perfect for fish, or as part of another flavorful Italian meal option.
Personally, I prefer Caponata with some bread and olive oil and balsamic vinegar as a tasty appetizer or a quick afternoon snack.
Risotto
If you crave a creamy popular Italian food menu item, Risotto can be the answer you need.
Loosely translated, Risotto means rice and is a staple in Northern Italy. You will find many common alternatives to Risotto over pasta.
The key component for perfect Risotto is the broth. You can find beef, chicken, vegetable, or fish broth, and they are all suitable, but it will depend on the final dish as to what broth will be best.
However, the basic Risotto recipe will use chicken broth, butter, onion, parmesan cheese, white wine, and Arborio Rice. The result should be creamy but slightly firm.
Pizzette
Naturally, a Pizzette is a small pizza and is a typical appetizer, snack, or treat throughout Italy.
These bite-sized pizzas can offer various flavorings with different toppings to suit any palate. I love them because I can enjoy a taste of authentic Italian pizza without having to eat a large order.
This way, I can enjoy more than one dish during a meal!
Some more traditional Pizzette selections include tomatoes and mozzarella cheese, while others sport thinly sliced prosciutto, olives, capers, and more.
This finger food is a standard item in many Italian family gatherings, and many restaurants offer a Pizzette on the side of a large meal.
Stuffed Shells
Also known as Conchiglie Rigate, Italian stuffed pasta shells provide all the flavor you need in a small package.
Originating from the Campania region, these ridged pasta shells resemble seashells and are perfect for stuffing full of beef, various cheeses, and seasonings.
These large pasta shells make a delicious menu item that includes everything I love in Italian food; pasta, beef, cheese, and garlic!
Of course, the traditional stuffed shell recipe also calls for white wine, olive oil, and various flavorful herbs.
Some alternatives include spinach, basil, bell peppers, and other tasty additions. If you are eating out at a popular Italian food diner, they may offer different types of stuffed shells.
Gnocchi
Any trip to Italy or an Italian food restaurant is not complete without trying one of my favorite dishes, Gnocchi.
Although some people may think it is another pasta dish, Gnocchi is actually a potato dumpling.
Originating in Northern Italy, where the climate is cooler and potatoes are abundant, Gnocchi means knot in the wood, knuckle, or a lump, which it resembles when cooked and served correctly.
The best part of this popular Italian food is that you can enjoy it with various sauces and flavorings to make it perfect for your palate.
All that you need to make Gnocchi yourself is mashed potatoes, flour, and egg! Then, top off with your favorite cheeses and sauce.
Chicken Parmesan
Many speculate that Chicken Parmesan, also known as Pollo Alla Parmigiana, evolved from Eggplant Parmesan, a popular meal item in the Southern Italy regions.
I am a sucker for comfort foods, and this dish is another favorite of mine when I want a filling, satisfying Italian meal.
Chicken Parmesan uses breaded chicken breasts topped with marinara sauces and mozzarella and parmesan cheeses to create the ideal oven-baked dish, in my opinion.
It goes well with pasta, Risotto, or even a salad, allowing you to create the perfect meal for any day of the week.
Bruschetta
I have a soft spot for appetizers, snacks, and finger foods. This weakness makes Bruschetta one of my go-to snacks as a popular Italian food item.
(@pastasauceandco)Originating from Ancient Rome, Italians would use bread to sample their olive oils.
Bruschetta requires toasted bread rubbed with garlic and topped with chopped tomatoes, basil, and olive oil.
However, many enjoy this dish with some additional seasonings and balsamic vinegar for a more flavorful alternative.
Meatballs
Italian Meatballs are much tastier than ones you find elsewhere globally, and I know the secret to why!
These small, ground beef morsels use bread crumbs soaked with milk to keep them moist and full of flavor.
To make the perfect Italian Meatball dish, you will also need eggs, garlic, parmesan cheese, and herbs for taste.
You can pair these tasty morsels with a plate of spaghetti or on their own since they are so delicious.
Do not let me tell you how to eat popular Italian food dishes, as I have also eaten them as appetizers.
Popular Italian Foods
- Cacio e Pepe
- Carbonara
- Lasagna
- Caprese
- Bolognese
- Neapolitan Pizza
- Pasta Fagioli al Forno
- Caponata
- Risotto
- Pizzette
- Stuffed Shells
- Gnocci
- Chicken Parmesan
- Bruschetta
- Meatballs
Final Thoughts
Now that I have taken you through some of my favorite selections of popular Italian food dishes, it can be hard to pick just one.
Additionally, I love to share my preference for Italian cuisine and hope that you can find the same attraction in their culture and traditions that I do.
If you’re interested in learning more about other cultures’ foods, check out our list of popular Thai dishes.
Do you have one that you prefer or maybe one you want to try? Let me know in the comments, or drop your favorite recipe that is not on this list. I am always up to trying new dishes.
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