When you chat about the 17 dishes Nonna loves best, you’re really opening up a cookbook of her heart. Every dish is wrapped up in a story, usually featuring a daring dash of this or a sneaky pinch of that, which she’ll swear is the secret—even though she won’t tell you what it actually is. It’s in these moments, surrounded by the bubbling sounds of the kitchen, that you realize Nonna’s recipes aren’t just about eating; they’re about crafting memories one laugh and stir at a time.
Chicken Piccata
You’ve had chicken, but have you had it zinged with a lemony-caper flair called Chicken Piccata? It’s the culinary equivalent of finding an extra fry at the bottom of the bag. This dish is all about that tangy, buttery sauce – it’ll make your heart sing and your plates clean. The fork-to-mouth satisfaction here is so real, you might just forget what takeout tastes like.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Piccata
Pasta with Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce
Who knew that with just a few ingredients, you could whip up something that’s both a symphony for the senses and a hug for your stomach? Friends, meet Pasta with Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce, the superhero of quick-fix meals. It’s like capturing the Italian sunshine and serving it right on your plate – minus the sunburn. And the best part? You don’t need to be a wizard in the kitchen to conjure up this spell of deliciousness.
Get the Recipe: Pasta with Fresh Cherry Tomato Sauce
Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich
If a dish could win a popularity contest, the Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich would be homecoming king. Imagine your favorite Italian salad hugged by toasty bread and drizzled with balsamic like a sweet summer kiss. It’s the sandwich equivalent of a high-five – reliable, gratifying, and always right on time. Lunchtime just got promoted from meh to yum with virtually zero effort.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich
Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Who says you can’t enjoy restaurant magic at home? Get ready to swirl your fork into the creamy dream that is Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce. No reservation? No problem. Now, your dining room can be the fanciest eatery in town, where the dress code strictly requires stretchy pants.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage & Broccoli Rabe
Enter the room, Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage & Broccoli Rabe, a dish that tells a thrilling tale of textures with every bite. It combines the cushy comfort of gnocchi with the sizzling sass of sausage, and throws in some broccoli rabe for the ‘eat your greens’ seal of approval. Your eat-at-home experience just got leveled up, who needs a chef’s hat when you’ve got this recipe? Be warned: this dish might just become your belly’s new best friend.
Get the Recipe: Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage & Broccoli Rabe
Chicken Scampi
Say hello to Chicken Scampi, the dish that’s been saving dinner dilemmas since, well, forever. Its garlicky, buttery goodness is the stuff that ‘lick-the-plate’ dreams are made of. Pair it with some pasta, and voilà, you’re not just eating, you’re indulging in a flavorful food hug. If this dish were a movie, it would be a rom-com that leaves you feeling all fuzzy and warm inside.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Scampi
Copycat Maggiano’s Little Italy Sausage & Peppers
Swing open the doors to flavor town and let Copycat Maggiano’s Little Italy Sausage & Peppers waltz right into your kitchen. This combo isn’t just a duo; it’s a duet, singing harmonies of spicy and sweet right on your taste buds. It’s got that ‘grandma’s kitchen’ vibe without having to hop on a flight to Sicily. And hey, you can brag about your chef skills without needing to confess it’s really a copycat.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Maggiano’s Little Italy Sausage & Peppers
Zupas Toscana Soup
Ready to cozy up with a bowl of heartwarming goodness? That’s where Zuppa Toscana Soup steps in, featuring a team of Italian sausage and kale that could put any superhero duo to shame. You’ll want to grab the nearest bread and get dunking, because this creamy broth isn’t going to slurp itself. It’s not just soup; it’s an experience that warms you from your taste buds to your toes.
Get the Recipe: Zupas Toscana Soup
Creamy Keto Chicken Marsala
We get it, going Keto can feel like you’re giving up the good stuff – until Creamy Keto Chicken Marsala walks into your life. It’s like the little black dress of your diet – classy, sassy, and making you feel fabulous. Whisper sweet nothings to your hunger pangs with chicken drenched in a lush, mushroom-y sauce. Trust us, your dinner plate is about to get a low-carb lift that’ll make you question whether you’re truly ‘on a diet’.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Keto Chicken Marsala
Baked Pesto Salmon
Sometimes, all you need is a little pesto persuasion to turn a regular meal into a gourmet gig – that’s Baked Pesto Salmon for you. It’s the kind of dish that looks like you’ve slaved for hours, but in reality, you’ve just let the oven and pesto do the heavy lifting. Your taste buds get a first-class ticket to Flavor Town, with none of the guilt that usually comes with a one-way trip. Give yourself a pat on the back, you just hacked your way to a five-star meal.
Get the Recipe: Baked Pesto Salmon
Classic Caprese Salad
Classic Caprese Salad is not just a dish; it’s a colorful, edible ode to simplicity. Picture ripe, juicy tomatoes waltzing with silky fresh mozzarella, while basil provides the toe-tapping rhythm. Each mouthful is a reminder that the best things in life don’t have to be complicated. It’s the little black dress of salads – timeless, elegant, and always in good taste.
Get the Recipe: Classic Caprese Salad
Copycat Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo
The belle of the ball just arrived, and it’s the Copycat Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo. Dressed in a creamy, dreamy Alfredo gown, it’s the dish that’s ready to dance on your dinner table. Why go out when you can bring the restaurant vibes into your own kitchen, where the chefs (aka you) definitely remember your name? This dish makes a regular Tuesday feel like a Friday night date.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Imagine Grilled Bruschetta Chicken swinging by to rescue your bland chicken blues with a fresh, tomato-basil salsa. It’s your backyard BBQ stepping up its game to serve up sunshine on a plate. This dish is a summer fling that turns into a year-long romance, no messy breakup included. Put on your flip-flops, because your tastebuds are about to embark on a sunny getaway.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Copycat Il Fornaio Rigatoni Alla Vodka
Let’s turn that pasta game up a notch with Copycat Il Fornaio Rigatoni Alla Vodka, shall we? You get to twirl your fork through rich, saucy goodness that whispers sweet nothings to your Italian food-loving soul. It’s the stay-at-home date night winner that just might get you out of dish duty. Plus, you don’t need a plane ticket to feel like you’re dining in the heart of Italy.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Il Fornaio Rigatoni Alla Vodka
Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill Grilled Sausage & Peppers
Bust out your grilling gear, because when Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill Grilled Sausage & Peppers hit the scene, it’s flavor fireworks. We’re not just talking any sausage and peppers – we’re talking, ‘the neighbors might just hop the fence to join you’ level of delicious. This dish doesn’t just feed your stomach; it feeds your soul with a smoky embrace. Get ready to be the MVP of the patio party circuit.
Get the Recipe: Ninja Woodfire Outdoor Grill Grilled Sausage & Peppers
Copycat Carrabba’s Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup
Ready for a good old-fashioned belly warmer? Copycat Carrabba’s Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup is here with its big, welcoming Italian arms. Forget about sniffles or chills; this soup’s like wearing a comfort blanket you can slurp. Keep the cozy coming – this recipe is here to infuse your dinnertime with a little homemade ‘mamma mia’!
Get the Recipe: Copycat Carrabba’s Mama Mandola’s Sicilian Chicken Soup
Pizza Pasta Salad
It’s a pizza party and a pasta get-together all in one – we call it the Pizza Pasta Saldbathroomsad, and it’s the hero your potluck deserves. It’s like the best of both worlds decided to join forces in your bowl. No need for delivery, because this dish is hitting all the right cheesy-pepperoni notes, no pizza tracker required. Wave goodbye to boring salads, because this one just turned the flavor dial up to an ’11’.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Salad