There’s a particular kind of meal that doesn’t check the clock. It gives everyone a reason to stick around a little longer, refill their glass, and act like it’s still early. These 19 Italian favorites aren’t meant to be rushed or eaten in silence. They’re built for nights that stretch out with good company, shared dishes, and maybe one too many stories about that one trip to Florence.
Classic Shrimp Scampi
A generous helping of pasta gets paired with perfectly cooked shrimp in Classic Shrimp Scampi, making it a favorite for sharing around the table. The sauce is just the right balance of richness and freshness, designed to be enjoyed slowly with friends. It’s easy to scoop into smaller portions for everyone to enjoy, but it still keeps all its bold flavor.
Get the Recipe: Classic Shrimp Scampi
Italian Wedding Soup
Big gatherings feel warmer with a pot of Italian Wedding Soup bubbling away. It’s hearty enough to be a centerpiece dish but still light enough that it leaves room for more conversation and laughter. The tiny additions and balance in texture make it an easy bowl to pass around. Whatever is on your mind, a soup like this begs for long talks and second helpings.
Get the Recipe: Italian Wedding Soup
The Backyard Table
Get it NOW and level up your outdoor dining! The Backyard Table - Recipes for Summer Cookouts features 34 of Chef Jenn's BEST recipes for outdoor eating and entertaining.
You'll get ad-free recipes like:
- Grilled Corn Guacamole
- Grilled French Onion Burgers
- Deviled Egg Pasta Salad
- Blueberry Grunt
- and so many more!
Every recipe is created, tested and loved by Chef Jenn and her family - there's no AI here!
Get it now, at a special introductory price of $7.99. That's over 50 pages of foodie love at your fingertips!
Buy Now!Chicken Cacciatore
Dinner gets more interesting when someone brings out Chicken Cacciatore, a dish packed with deep, rich flavor that encourages everyone to grab a bite. It’s made to be eaten slowly and shared generously, whether plated or scooped right into bowls. The boldness here matches perfectly with a full glass of wine and lively discussion.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Cacciatore
Copycat Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup
Copycat Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup is a great one for passing bowls and letting people serve themselves as much as they want. It’s comforting enough to make everyone feel at home, even if they’re meeting for the first time. A soup like this sets the tone for a meal about good food and good people. Let it simmer nearby while laughter and stories take over the night.
Get the Recipe: Copycat Olive Garden Pasta E Fagioli Soup
Classic Meatballs
There’s something special about passing a platter of Classic Meatballs at the table. It’s the kind of dish that bridges old traditions while adding familiarity to the night. Pair it with your favorite pasta, or enjoy it solo with a little sauce on the side. When shared, it becomes the anchor of any gathering, stretching dinner as long as you’d like.
Get the Recipe: Classic Meatballs
Oven Roasted Tomato Soup
Sharing a pot of Oven Roasted Tomato Soup sets the mood for relaxed, candle-lit evenings at home. It provides a balance of flavors perfect for pairing with anything from fresh bread to a fresh salad. This soup makes for warm and easy conversation at the table. A comforting yet shareable classic that’s perfect for long dinners.
Get the Recipe: Oven Roasted Tomato Soup
Italian Pot Roast Pasta
Dinner gets exciting when Italian Pot Roast Pasta shows up, full of rich, hearty textures that are perfect for sharing. It’s a generous dish that everyone at the table can help themselves to without holding back. You’ll find it’s easy to pair this with whatever drinks are flowing, and the conversations follow naturally. Gatherings stretch longer when plates like this are on the menu.
Get the Recipe: Italian Pot Roast Pasta
Summery Caponata
Bringing out Summery Caponata adds a variety of flavors that complement everything else on the table. It’s a dish made for scooping and passing, with each guest taking just the right amount for their plate. As light as it is, it holds its own as a full dish or a side without trying too hard. Stories and laughter move as smoothly as the food when this is in the mix.
Get the Recipe: Summery Caponata
Vintage Slow Cooker Sausage & Peppers
Bowls of Vintage Slow Cooker Sausage & Peppers are the kind of comfort food every group loves to dig into. The slow cooking locks in bold elements, making it perfect for serving as the night stretches out. This dish works well served straight from the pot to keep things simple. No one’s plate stays empty for long with this on the table.
Get the Recipe: Vintage Slow Cooker Sausage & Peppers
Herb-Marinated Mozzarella Balls
Passing around a plate of Herb-Marinated Mozzarella Balls feels just right in relaxed company. The small size makes them perfect for mingling, and they go great on their own or with a bite of bread. Everyone grabs one as they continue conversations that have no rush to end. It’s the kind of appetizer that keeps the energy alive and the food flowing easily.
Get the Recipe: Herb-Marinated Mozzarella Balls
Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
A dish like Grilled Bruschetta Chicken brings a nice mix to the table that grabs attention immediately. It’s a balance of fresh and charred, delicious in big chunks or smaller slices passed around. The flavors hold up with wine or whatever else is being poured. Moments keep sliding by smoothly when this is part of the gathering.
Get the Recipe: Grilled Bruschetta Chicken
Nonna’s Pastina Soup
There’s a warmth that comes to the meal when Nonna’s Pastina Soup makes its appearance. It’s simple, served in deep bowls, and easy to refill throughout the evening. A dish like this reminds everyone of home, no matter their history. Gatherings settle into a relaxed rhythm when flavors of this classic hit the table.
Get the Recipe: Nonna’s Pastina Soup
Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Guests can’t help but lean in when Chicken Parmesan Meatballs come to the center of the table. They’re smaller and easier to pass around, perfect for messy laughs and dropped forks. With flavors bold enough to stand alone or pair with others, they make hosting a breeze. Dishes like this keep evening plans happily unpredictable.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Parmesan Meatballs
Classic Caprese Salad
A colorful spread of Classic Caprese Salad immediately sparks conversations and feels like a natural start to the evening. This dish isn’t complicated, but its freshness goes a long way in setting the tone. It’s easily shareable, with each piece as good as the next. Plates circle the table smoothly when this is part of the lineup.
Get the Recipe: Classic Caprese Salad
Baked Pesto Salmon
Putting Baked Pesto Salmon on your dinner spread creates a standout main dish with a twist. It’s an easy option for pairing with bold red or lighter white wines that fit any gathering. Something about this dish draws everyone in for a second helping. Set it in the middle, and it becomes something everyone wants on their plate.
Get the Recipe: Baked Pesto Salmon
Chicken Scampi
When Chicken Scampi is part of the meal, there’s a sense that dinner isn’t ending anytime soon. Its rich flavor and tender textures keep everyone grabbing seconds and passing plates back and forth. The balance in the dish works effortlessly with wine glasses clinking in the background. Gatherings stay close and comfortable when this kind of dish is the focus.
Get the Recipe: Chicken Scampi
Sausage Parmigiana
Serving up Sausage Parmigiana is a great way to bring bold flavors to the table while keeping it classic. Pair it with sides or fresh bread to make it a relaxed, shareable centerpiece. Each serving feels hearty and filling, making it great for long evenings with friends. A dish like this sparks conversation and lets everyone enjoy a familiar favorite.
Get the Recipe: Sausage Parmigiana
Authentic Bolognese Sauce
A pot of Authentic Bolognese Sauce stretches the evening by bringing the heartiness that makes gatherings special. This rich addition is perfect over pasta, inviting everyone to pass the bowl and help themselves. Slow-cooked and shareable, it fits any dinner designed for bonding over good food. Expect it to become the hallmark of the table by the end of the night.
Get the Recipe: Authentic Bolognese Sauce
Polenta with Mascarpone
Talk slows down just a bit when something like Polenta with Mascarpone hits the table. Everyone grabs a portion, and the smooth textures offer something memorable as the meal carries on. It’s versatile enough to complement both light and richer dishes. Perfect for drawing people in while still letting other plates shine beside it.
Get the Recipe: Polenta with Mascarpone