If feeding kids feels like a negotiation, these 15 Italian recipes turn the table into a peace summit with zero arguments. Each dish has a knack for winning over even the pickiest eaters, leaving them too busy eating to complain. By the end of dinner, all you’ll see are sparkling clean plates and maybe a little sauce on their faces. Who knew family meals could be this stress-free?
Italian Wedding Soup
When you’ve got kids who turn their noses up at anything green, you need a secret weapon. Bingo, here it is, packed with tiny meatballs and greens in a soothing broth. Even if it’s called Italian Wedding Soup, there’s no need for a fancy occasion to enjoy it. This is the bowl that gets them slurping, leaving nothing but a gleam of broth at the end.
Get the Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup
Classic Shrimp Scampi
Ever worry about getting your kids to try seafood? Well, worry no more. Classic Shrimp Scampi is your answer, with its garlicky, buttery goodness that even the pickiest eaters can’t resist. Serve it over pasta and watch it disappear faster than a magic trick, plates scraped clean without a shrimp in sight.
Get the Recipe: Classic Shrimp Scampi
Chicken Cacciatore
If there’s one dish that makes everyone at the table happy, it’s this one. Chicken Cacciatore brings a hearty mix of chicken simmered in a rich, tomato-based sauce that has a way of winning over the crowd. Forget about complaints; this dish turns dinner into a peaceful, plate-cleaning mission. It’s a reminder that sometimes, the simplest flavors are the most compelling.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cacciatore
Sausage Parmigiana
Who can resist the combo of sausage covered in cheese and marinara sauce? Not many, we bet. Sausage Parmigiana is a dish that combines simple ingredients that pack a punch. It’s cheesy, it’s meaty, and it’ll disappear from the plates in no time. Ideal for those evenings when only something indulgent will do.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Parmigiana
Pizza Pasta Salad
When you can’t decide between pizza night or pasta night, here’s your answer. Pizza Pasta Salad blends the best of both worlds, offering a dish that’s as fun to eat as it is to say. Crisp, colorful, and packed with flavor, it turns any meal into a playful twist on traditional Italian favorites.
Get the Recipe: Pizza Pasta Salad
Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich
Bring a touch of Italian summer into your kitchen with this dish. Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich transcends the ordinary with juicy chicken, fresh tomato, and melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella. It’s the kind of meal that promises no leftovers, only faces lit up with the joy of a sandwich well enjoyed.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Chicken Caprese Sandwich
Copycat Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo
If the success of a dish is measured by how quickly it vanishes off the plate, then this one’s a champion. Copycat Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo offers creamy pasta entangled with succulent shrimp, a home version that might just outdo the original. It’s a ticket to seeing your kids actually ask for more seafood – yes, it’s that good.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Shrimp Alfredo
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Meet the dish that turns ordinary chicken into something Italians would nod in approval at. Grilled Bruschetta Chicken takes the beloved appetizer and imagines it as a main course, topped with juicy tomatoes and vibrant basil. It’s a dish that’s simple, yet beautifully sophisticated in its flavors, ensuring a clean plate is the only thing left behind.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Copycat Maggiano’s Little Italy Sausage & Peppers
It’s time to bring the flavors of Little Italy to your kitchen with a dish that’s bursting with taste. Loaded with sausage and peppers, it’s as colorful as it is delicious. Copycat Maggiano’s Little Italy Sausage & Peppers is the perfect way to spice up dinner time without having to book a table.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Maggiano’s Little Italy Sausage & Peppers
Chicken Piccata
Sometimes, all you need is a little lemon to turn a meal around. Chicken Piccata proves it, with its light lemon sauce that brightens the tender chicken it accompanies. This dish doesn’t fuss around; it goes straight for the win with its tangy flavor, making it a hit among those seeking something both comforting and refreshingly different.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Piccata
Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Who doesn’t love sneaking restaurant favorites into home-cooked meals? With Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce, you can bring that creamy, indulgent experience right onto your dining table. It’s rich, it’s creamy, and it rivals the original, making simple pasta turn into a request for seconds – or thirds.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Alfredo Sauce
Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage & Broccoli Rabe
Who knew a single skillet could bring so much joy? Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage & Broccoli Rabe is proof that delicious doesn’t need to be complicated. This dish marries pillowy gnocchi with savory sausage and greens in a way that feels both indulgent and utterly fulfilling. It’s a weeknight win that tastes like weekend effort.
Get the Recipe: Skillet Gnocchi with Sausage & Broccoli Rabe
Copycat Il Fornaio Rigatoni Alla Vodka
Bringing the restaurant experience home has never been easier or more delicious. Copycat Il Fornaio Rigatoni Alla Vodka is that rich, comforting dish that makes a regular Tuesday feel like a special occasion. Creamy, with just the right kick, it’s a pasta dish that leaves no room for complaints, only content smiles and full bellies.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Il Fornaio Rigatoni Alla Vodka
Chicken Scampi
Here’s one more reason why pasta nights are a family favorite. Chicken Scampi dazzles with its garlic-lemon sauce and perfectly cooked chicken, all tossed together with pasta that’s ready to soak up all the goodness. It’s a straightforward dish with the magical ability to disappear from plates at an astonishing speed.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Scampi
Italian Pot Roast Pasta
Combine Sunday dinner elegance with weekday ease, and this is what you get. Italian Pot Roast Pasta is a rich blend of tender roast and pasta, all simmered together in a flavorful sauce. It’s the sort of meal that asks for nothing more than a fork and a hefty appetite, delivering satisfaction on all levels without fail.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pot Roast Pasta