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Combine food and family the Italian way (including plenty of pasta) with this Italian Christmas dinner menu!

Collage of Italian dinner recipes for Christmas.

Food and Family!!!

Italian + Family + Food – you really can’t have one without the other. Christmas is an especially wonderful time for all three!!

We’ve rounded up our FAVORITE Italian dishes to round out your Christmas feast! Now you can easily celebrate your own Christmas Cenone (big dinner) with these hearty dishes. Just pick your favs from each section to create your own Italian Christmas Dinner Menu.

Enjoy food and family the Italian way!! Buon Natale and Merry Christmas!


Our Top 10 Italian Christmas Dinner Picks

4.88 from 89 votes

Easy Lasagna Recipe

Our family's favorite lasagna recipe – not only because it's delicious but because it's so EASY! With beef, Italian sausage, three cheeses, and tons of seasonings, you know this recipe is going to be a hit!
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5 from 384 votes

Fettuccine Alfredo

Indulge in the rich and comforting flavors of this easy fettuccine alfredo that's on the table in only 30 minutes!
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5 from 6 votes

Chicken Parmigiana Recipe

Tasty chicken parmigiana is hearty and filling crispy chicken a top a bed of pasta covered in a rich homemade tomato sauce.
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5 from 25 votes

Italian Pork Chops Recipe

These Italian Pork Chops require just a few ingredients and are baked in the oven with loads of veggies. Have it ready and on the table in just 30 minutes!
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4.98 from 873 votes

White Sauce Recipe

This super simple and delicious white sauce recipe is packed with flavor. This dish is perfect by itself or you can add chicken too!
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5 from 365 votes

Kid-Friendly Spaghetti

Our favorite spaghetti is kid-friendly and simple with a delicious homemade sauce making it the perfect family dinner recipe!
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4.99 from 253 votes

Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe

Easy cheesy Italian sausage pasta is creamy, delicious, and perfectly spiced. It's a family favorite ready in only 20 minutes!
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4.87 from 23 votes

Chicken Scallopini Recipe

This Chicken Scallopini is a delicious dish of crusted chicken over lemon butter pasta. The combo is irresistible and beyond delicious!
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5 from 15 votes

Chicken Piccata Recipe

With surprisingly few ingredients, this best chicken piccata recipe is bright, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes!
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4.73 from 18 votes

Pasta Carbonara Recipe

Pasta carbonara is a creamy and deliciously flavorful pasta dish that is on the table in under 30 minutes!
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More Recipes To Complete The Meal

4.98 from 245 votes

Focaccia Bread Recipe

Crisp yet fluffy bread topped with delicious herbs and seasonings. This flavorful focaccia bread is so easy to make, and is perfect for sandwiches, dipping in soups, or enjoying on its own!
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5 from 24 votes

Mozzarella Sticks

Everyone is obsessed with these gooey homemade mozzarella sticks, breaded with a flavorful coating and fried to golden perfection.
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5 from 28 votes

Easy Bruschetta Recipe

This easy bruschetta recipe is quick and simple. With just 5 ingredients, it's the perfect appetizer for any occasion.
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5 from 13 votes

Tortellini Skewers Recipe

Quick + simple pesto Tortellini Skewers whip up in minutes for a tasty appetizer perfect for any occasion. They are cheesy and delicious!
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4.91 from 22 votes

Fried Ravioli Recipe

Ready to enjoy in only 15 minutes, this crispy and cheesy Fried Ravioli is a fan-favorite appetizer! We love to serve it with warm marinara.
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4.96 from 197 votes

Spinach Puffs Recipe

Buttery spinach puffs are cheesy and savory with pops of bacon. As you can imagine, they are a hit at parties!
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4.89 from 36 votes

Garlic Bread Recipe

This is by far our favorite Garlic Bread recipe. It takes minutes to put together and is SO cheesy and delicious. It’s the perfect side dish for any meal, but especially for pasta and Italian dishes!
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4.96 from 64 votes

Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe

Just like the originals, these copycat Olive Garden breadsticks are light, airy, and flavored with butter and garlic salt.
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5 from 12 votes

Caprese Kabobs Recipe

Simple, quick and delicious Caprese Kabobs take minutes to throw together and are perfect for any party or get together.
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5 from 9 votes

Italian Meatball Recipe

This homemade Italian meatball recipe is sure to rival your favorite Italian restaurant. They are juicy, soft, and full of flavor!
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5 from 228 votes

Fried Zucchini

Restaurant-style fried zucchini is a family favorite! It's simply addicting, especially dipped in ranch or marinara.
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5 from 7 votes

Roasted Tomatoes Recipe

Juicy roasted tomatoes are the yummiest and easiest appetizer or side dish. Roasting them (with a little olive oil, basil and parmesan) brings out every delicious flavor!
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Fried Eggplant Recipe

With a crispy outside and tender middle, this fried eggplant dipped in marinara will be a favorite way to eat your veggies!
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4.97 from 31 votes

Oven Roasted Vegetables Recipe

Simple, flavorful, and healthy Oven roasted vegetables take less than 10 minutes of prep work! Nothing beats yummy veggies roasted in the oven!
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4.94 from 92 votes

Italian Bread Recipe

It is so easy to make our Italian bread recipe at home! This soft, crust bread is delicious and takes just 6 simple ingredients.
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5 from 7 votes

Bruschetta Caprese Recipe

Toasted bread rounds are topped with a mixture of juicy tomatoes, ripe avocado, and fresh mozzarella to make this Bruschetta Caprese.
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4.97 from 217 votes

Crockpot Tortellini Soup

Rich and creamy crockpot tortellini soup is packed with pasta and veggies. It preps in minutes, perfect for busy nights!
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4.95 from 17 votes

Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

Hearty chicken gnocchi soup is filled with veggies and on the table in only 30 minutes. It's a favorite copycat recipe!
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5 from 10 votes

Minestrone Soup Recipe

This Minestrone Soup is not only delicious and comforting, but it's also really nutritious! It makes a hearty meal or side.
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5 from 20 votes

Chicken Alfredo Soup Recipe

Easy Chicken Alfredo Soup takes a best-loved pasta dish and turns it into a soup! It's still creamy and delicious!!
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5 from 10 votes

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Recipe

Bring the taste of Italy home with this creamy and delicious copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana soup recipe. 
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5 from 10 votes

Tomato Mozzarella Salad

Our favorite fresh tomato mozzarella salad delivers big flavors with just 4 simple ingredients in under 10 minutes!
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5 from 10 votes

Caesar Salad Cups Recipe

Caesar Salad Cups are a quick, simple and tasty side dish or appetizer. They're mini salads in a cup and great for parties and get togethers!
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5 from 14 votes

Pizza Salad Recipe

Pizza Salad is hearty & refreshing. All of the flavors of pizza are served on a bed of greens and topped with a homemade herb dressing!
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5 from 1 vote

Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad recipe

Caprese Pesto Pasta Salad is a light dish with a bold flavor, making it perfect for potlucks, parties, BBQ's, and get togethers!
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4.96 from 22 votes

Easy Tortellini Salad Recipe

Fresh and filling Tortellini Salad whips up in minutes for a delicious summer salad topped with creamy ranch dressing.
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5 from 2 votes

Quick Caprese Salad Recipe

Simple and Quick Caprese Salad is easy and delicious with pops of mozzarella, tomatoes, avocados and drizzled with a balsamic glaze!
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5 from 8 votes

Antipasto Salad

Quick and hearty antipasto salad is filled with cured meats and veggies and lightly dressed with your favorite Italian dressing!
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5 from 11 votes

Mozzarella Pasta Salad Recipe

Easy & Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Salad is light, delicious, and flavorful. This simply dressed salad is a favorite!!
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5 from 6 votes

Panna Cotta

This silky and creamy vanilla panna cotta recipe is a showstopper dessert sure to turn heads, but is quite easy to make!
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4.98 from 467 votes

Italian Cookies

Our version of traditional Italian cookies is flavored with almond extract and covered in a simple sweet almond glaze.
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4.97 from 273 votes

Easy Chocolate Cake Recipe

Our easy chocolate cake recipe is topped with a delicious chocolate frosting and is made with pantry staples.
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4.99 from 79 votes

Easy Bread Pudding Recipe

This easy bread pudding recipe is a cozy old-fashioned dessert made with simple ingredients and is completely addicting.
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4.99 from 99 votes

Pistachio Dessert Recipe

Delicious pistachio dessert has a crunchy shortbread cookie base for the perfect combination of crunchy, creamy, sweet + salty.
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5 from 156 votes

Best Shortbread Cookies Recipe

This is the best shortbread cookies recipe – a buttery melt-in-your-mouth treat that is perfect all year long and especially for the holidays.
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4.92 from 49 votes

White Chocolate Lasagna Recipe

Layers of Golden Oreos, cream cheese, pudding, whipped cream and white chocolate curls make up this DELICIOUS White Chocolate Lasagna that is a hit at every function.
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5 from 81 votes

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

Create everyone's favorite treat at home with this simple and quick tutorial for how to make chocolate covered strawberries!
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5 from 13 votes

Mini Fruit Tarts Recipe

Cute cream-filled Mini Fruit Tarts are a delicious and simple summer dessert! These mini treats are perfect for any get together.
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4.93 from 84 votes

Cream Puff Recipe

Our homemade cream puff recipe is filled with fluffy, delicious cream and is easier to make at home than you'd think!
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4.97 from 161 votes

Lemon Lasagna Recipe

This luscious Lemon Lush consists of 4 tasty layers, including a Lemon Oreo crust, cream cheese layer, lemon pudding layer and topped with whipped cream! 
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5 from 12 votes

Lemon Curd Recipe

Deliciously tart Lemon Curd is an easy treat, perfect for summer! Enjoy it as a dessert on its own or use it in pies and cakes.
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About Kristyn

Kristyn Merkley is a published cookbook author, wife, mom of six, and major food enthusiast! For the past 15 years, she has been sharing foolproof, family-friendly recipes—each one tested in her kitchen—that anyone can master. As a seasoned recipe creator, she loves making cooking simple, stress-free, and totally doable for everyone!

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7 Comments

  1. Kristina says:

    5 stars
    I appreciate the explanation of the courses of an Italian dinner as well as the recipe suggestions that fit. I’ve already made several of your appetizers and cant wait to work through the different pasta dishes.

  2. Jim Gavin says:

    5 stars
    Amazing recipes looking forward to making them

  3. Joy says:

    5 stars
    I love this list!! I make your tortellini salad all the time!! It helps to see all the options on this one post, so thank you!

  4. Paige D says:

    5 stars
    Thank you so much, these are even better than my Italian grandmother’s cookies!

  5. Sam says:

    5 stars
    We do a different theme for Christmas dinner every year, and this year is Italian. So glad I found this GREAT collection of recipes to help me put together my menu!

  6. Olivia says:

    5 stars
    Aside from Mexican this is the next best dinner for us……Italian! We love pretty much anything pasta. The food is great and not hard to make.

  7. Carmen Lachance says:

    The students really liked the layout of this website.