Combine food and family the Italian way with this Italian Christmas dinner menu featuring antipasti, hearty mains, sides, and classic sweets!
Food and Family!!!
Food + family = the Italian way, especially at Christmas ! For our holiday Cenone, we love kicking off with easy antipasti , plenty of pasta , and warm breads , then finishing with something sweet .
Whether you’re hosting the whole crew or keeping it simple, this collection rounds up our favorite Italian and Italian-American dishes to mix and match into a stress-free menu. You’ll find quick appetizers, make-ahead mains (hi, lasagna !), comforting soups , fresh salads , and bakery-style desserts. Pick one or two mains, add a couple of sides and a bread, and you’re set.
Everything here is tested in our kitchen, family-friendly, and great for feeding a crowd. Buon Natale!
PRO TIP: Pin or bookmark this list so you’re ready with delicious Italian recipes to make your Christmas celebration warm, festive, and full of flavor.
Top 10 Most Loved Italian Christmas Dinner Ideas
Enjoy our favorite Italian Christmas dishes that bring a touch of old-world charm to your holiday table.
1 Easy Lasagna Recipe
Easy Lasagna Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 10 minutes minutes
This Easy Lasagna Recipe is a best loved classic. With no bake noodles and a delicious sauce you know it's going to be a hit!
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2 Easy Alfredo Recipe
Easy Alfredo Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Rich and creamy, this easy fettuccine Alfredo comes together in minutes with a handful of simple ingredients, perfect for busy weeknights.
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3 Chicken Parmigiana Recipe
Chicken Parmigiana Recipe
Total Time: 37 minutes minutes
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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4 Italian Pork Chops Recipe
Italian Pork Chops Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
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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5 White Sauce Penna Pasta
White Sauce Penna Pasta
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
This White Sauce Penne Pasta is creamy, cheesy, and loaded with garlic Parmesan flavor. An easy 20 minute dinner the whole family loves.
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6 Easy Spaghetti Recipe
Easy Spaghetti Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
This easy spaghetti recipe features a rich homemade sauce and tender noodles, perfect for family dinners everyone will love!
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7 Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe
Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
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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8 Chicken Scallopini Recipe
Chicken Scallopini Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
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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9 Chicken Piccata Recipe
Chicken Piccata Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
With surprisingly few ingredients, this best chicken piccata recipe is bright, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes!
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10 Pasta Carbonara Recipe
Pasta Carbonara Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes minutes
Pasta carbonara is a creamy and deliciously flavorful pasta dish that is on the table in under 30 minutes!
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Antipasti + Party Appetizers
It wouldn’t be an Italian feast without the appetizers, and these recipes will not disappoint!
11 Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes minutes
Everyone is obsessed with these gooey homemade mozzarella sticks, breaded with a flavorful coating and fried to golden perfection.
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12 Easy Bruschetta Recipe
Easy Bruschetta Recipe
Total Time: 14 minutes minutes
This easy bruschetta recipe is quick and simple. With just 5 ingredients, it's the perfect appetizer for any occasion.
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13 Tortellini Skewers Recipe
Tortellini Skewers Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
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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14 Caprese Kabobs Recipe
Caprese Kabobs Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes minutes
Simple, quick and delicious Caprese Kabobs take minutes to throw together and are perfect for any party or get together.
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15 Italian Meatball Recipe
Italian Meatball Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 48 minutes minutes
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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Breads for the Table
Do NOT forget the bread! We almost love the bread more than the main event, especially when it’s any of these easy recipes.
16 Focaccia Bread Recipe
Focaccia Bread Recipe
Total Time: 8 hours hours 55 minutes minutes
This Focaccia Recipe makes a crisp, golden crust with a tender, airy crumb, easy overnight dough with olive oil, oregano, basil, and sea salt.
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17 Garlic Bread Recipe
Garlic Bread Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
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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18 Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe
Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours hours 27 minutes minutes
Just like the originals, these copycat Olive Garden breadsticks are light, airy, and flavored with butter and garlic salt.
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19 Italian Bread Recipe
Italian Bread Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours hours 40 minutes minutes
This easy Italian Bread Recipe makes soft, chewy, golden loaves with only six simple pantry ingredients and bakes up perfectly every time.
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20 Garlic Knots Recipe
Garlic Knots Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes minutes
Buttery-soft homemade garlic knots whip up in under 20 minutes and make a perfect side for pizza, pasta, or salads!
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Soups to Warm the Crowd
Cozy up your Italian Christmas dinner with a warm lineup of classic soups!
21 Crockpot Tortellini Soup Recipe
Crockpot Tortellini Soup Recipe
Total Time: 3 hours hours 5 minutes minutes
Crockpot Tortellini Soup is a creamy slow cooker soup with cheese tortellini, spinach, tomatoes, cream cheese, and chicken broth.
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22 Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe
Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
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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Minestrone Soup Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour
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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23 Chicken Alfredo Soup Recipe
Chicken Alfredo Soup Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
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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24 Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Recipe
Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes minutes
Bring the taste of Italy home with this creamy and delicious copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana soup recipe.
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Fresh Salads
We always like to balance out the meal with fresh and vibrant salads that can feed a crowd.
25 Tomato Mozzarella Salad
Tomato Mozzarella Salad
Total Time: 8 minutes minutes
Our favorite fresh tomato mozzarella salad delivers big flavors with just 4 simple ingredients in under 10 minutes!
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26 Caesar Salad Cups Recipe
Caesar Salad Cups Recipe
Total Time: 14 minutes minutes
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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27 Quick Caprese Salad Recipe
Quick Caprese Salad Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes minutes
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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28 Antipasto Salad
Antipasto Salad
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Quick and hearty antipasto salad is filled with cured meats and veggies and lightly dressed with your favorite Italian dressing!
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29 Mozzarella Pasta Salad Recipe
Mozzarella Pasta Salad Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
Easy & Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Salad is light, delicious, and flavorful. This simply dressed salad is a favorite!!
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Classic Italian Desserts
These are some of our FAVORITE classic and simple Italian desserts.
30 Panna Cotta
Panna Cotta
Total Time: 4 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
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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31 Italian Cookies Recipe
Italian Cookies Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 20 minutes minutes
Our version of traditional Italian cookies is flavored with almond extract and covered in a simple sweet almond glaze.
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32 Pistachio Dessert Recipe
Pistachio Dessert Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours hours 18 minutes minutes
Delicious pistachio dessert has a crunchy shortbread cookie base for the perfect combination of crunchy, creamy, sweet + salty.
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33 Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Learn how to make chocolate covered strawberries at home with this no fail tutorial, easy steps and irresistibly delicious results.
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34 Mini Fruit Tarts Recipe
Mini Fruit Tarts Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
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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35 Cream Puffs Recipe
Cream Puffs Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
This Cream Puff Recipe makes crisp shells with clouds of lightly sweetened cream, simple ingredients, bakery quality, ready for any celebration.
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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.
Amazing recipes looking forward to making them
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!
Thank you so much, these are even better than my Italian grandmother’s cookies!
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!
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.
The students really liked the layout of this website.