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Combine food and family the Italian way with this Italian Christmas dinner menu featuring antipasti, hearty mains, sides, and classic sweets!

Collage of Italian dinner recipes for Christmas.

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 10 minutes
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!
4.88 from 90 votes
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2 Easy Alfredo Recipe

Easy fettuccine alfredo served on a plate.
Easy Alfredo Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
Rich and creamy, this easy fettuccine Alfredo comes together in minutes with a handful of simple ingredients, perfect for busy weeknights.
5 from 386 votes
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3 Chicken Parmigiana Recipe

Chicken Parmigiana Recipe
Total Time: 37 minutes
Tasty chicken parmigiana is hearty and filling crispy chicken a top a bed of pasta covered in a rich homemade tomato sauce.
5 from 6 votes
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4 Italian Pork Chops Recipe

Italian Pork Chops Recipe
Total Time: 30 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!
5 from 25 votes
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5 White Sauce Penna Pasta

White Sauce Penna Pasta
Total Time: 15 minutes
This incredibly easy white sauce penne pasta is packed with deliciously cheesy flavor, loved by all, and on the table in only 20 minutes!
4.98 from 880 votes
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6 Easy Spaghetti Recipe

Easy Spaghetti Recipe
Total Time: 50 minutes
This easy spaghetti recipe features a rich homemade sauce and tender noodles, perfect for family dinners everyone will love!
5 from 368 votes
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7 Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe

Homemade Italian sausage pasta served on a white plate.
Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
Easy cheesy Italian sausage pasta is creamy, delicious, and perfectly spiced. It's a family favorite ready in only 20 minutes!
4.99 from 257 votes
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8 Chicken Scallopini Recipe

Chicken Scallopini Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
This Chicken Scallopini is a delicious dish of crusted chicken over lemon butter pasta. The combo is irresistible and beyond delicious!
4.87 from 23 votes
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9 Chicken Piccata Recipe

Chicken Piccata Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
With surprisingly few ingredients, this best chicken piccata recipe is bright, flavorful, and ready in under 30 minutes!
5 from 16 votes
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10 Pasta Carbonara Recipe

Pasta Carbonara Recipe
Total Time: 25 minutes
Pasta carbonara is a creamy and deliciously flavorful pasta dish that is on the table in under 30 minutes!
4.74 from 19 votes
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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

A plate of mozzarella sticks served with marinara sauce.
Mozzarella Sticks Recipe
Total Time: 40 minutes
Everyone is obsessed with these gooey homemade mozzarella sticks, breaded with a flavorful coating and fried to golden perfection.
5 from 25 votes
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12 Easy Bruschetta Recipe

Easy Bruschetta Recipe
Total Time: 14 minutes
This easy bruschetta recipe is quick and simple. With just 5 ingredients, it's the perfect appetizer for any occasion.
5 from 28 votes
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13 Tortellini Skewers Recipe

Tortellini Skewers Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes
Quick + simple pesto Tortellini Skewers whip up in minutes for a tasty appetizer perfect for any occasion. They are cheesy and delicious!
5 from 13 votes
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14 Caprese Kabobs Recipe

Caprese Kabobs Recipe
Total Time: 10 minutes
Simple, quick and delicious Caprese Kabobs take minutes to throw together and are perfect for any party or get together.
5 from 12 votes
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15 Italian Meatball Recipe

Italian Meatball Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 48 minutes
This homemade Italian meatball recipe is sure to rival your favorite Italian restaurant. They are juicy, soft, and full of flavor!
5 from 9 votes
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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 in dish towel.
Focaccia Bread Recipe
Total Time: 8 hours 55 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.
4.98 from 251 votes
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17 Garlic Bread Recipe

Garlic Bread Recipe
Total Time: 20 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!
4.90 from 37 votes
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18 Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe

Olive Garden Breadsticks Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 27 minutes
Just like the originals, these copycat Olive Garden breadsticks are light, airy, and flavored with butter and garlic salt.
4.96 from 64 votes
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19 Italian Bread Recipe

A sliced loaf of Italian bread in a basket.
Italian Bread Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
This easy Italian Bread Recipe makes soft, chewy, golden loaves with only six simple pantry ingredients and bakes up perfectly every time.
4.94 from 92 votes
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20 Garlic Knots Recipe

Garlic Knots Recipe
Total Time: 20 minutes
Buttery-soft homemade garlic knots whip up in under 20 minutes and make a perfect side for pizza, pasta, or salads!
5 from 13 votes
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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

Crockpot Tortellini Soup
Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
Rich and creamy crockpot tortellini soup is packed with pasta and veggies. It preps in minutes, perfect for busy nights!
4.97 from 218 votes
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22 Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe

Chicken Gnocchi Soup Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
Hearty chicken gnocchi soup is filled with veggies and on the table in only 30 minutes. It's a favorite copycat recipe!
4.95 from 17 votes
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5 from 10 votes

Minestrone Soup Recipe

Total Time: 1 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
Easy Chicken Alfredo Soup takes a best-loved pasta dish and turns it into a soup! It's still creamy and delicious!!
5 from 20 votes
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24 Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Recipe

Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana Recipe
Total Time: 35 minutes
Bring the taste of Italy home with this creamy and delicious copycat Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana soup recipe. 
5 from 10 votes
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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
Our favorite fresh tomato mozzarella salad delivers big flavors with just 4 simple ingredients in under 10 minutes!
5 from 10 votes
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26 Caesar Salad Cups Recipe

Caesar Salad Cups Recipe
Total Time: 14 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!
5 from 10 votes
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27 Quick Caprese Salad Recipe

Quick Caprese Salad Recipe
Total Time: 5 minutes
Simple and Quick Caprese Salad is easy and delicious with pops of mozzarella, tomatoes, avocados and drizzled with a balsamic glaze!
5 from 2 votes
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28 Antipasto Salad

Antipasto Salad
Total Time: 15 minutes
Quick and hearty antipasto salad is filled with cured meats and veggies and lightly dressed with your favorite Italian dressing!
5 from 8 votes
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29 Mozzarella Pasta Salad Recipe

Mozzarella Pasta Salad Recipe
Total Time: 15 minutes
Easy & Fresh Mozzarella Pasta Salad is light, delicious, and flavorful. This simply dressed salad is a favorite!!
5 from 11 votes
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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 10 minutes
This silky and creamy vanilla panna cotta recipe is a showstopper dessert sure to turn heads, but is quite easy to make!
5 from 6 votes
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31 Italian Christmas Cookies

Italian Christmas Cookies
Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Our version of traditional Italian cookies is flavored with almond extract and covered in a simple sweet almond glaze.
4.99 from 467 votes
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32 Pistachio Dessert Recipe

Pistachio Dessert Recipe
Total Time: 2 hours 18 minutes
Delicious pistachio dessert has a crunchy shortbread cookie base for the perfect combination of crunchy, creamy, sweet + salty.
4.99 from 99 votes
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33 Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe

Chocolate covered strawberries recipe with berries on white plate.
Chocolate Covered Strawberries Recipe
Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
Learn how to make chocolate covered strawberries at home with this no fail tutorial, easy steps and irresistibly delicious results.
5 from 81 votes
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34 Mini Fruit Tarts Recipe

Mini Fruit Tarts Recipe
Total Time: 30 minutes
Cute cream-filled Mini Fruit Tarts are a delicious and simple summer dessert! These mini treats are perfect for any get together.
5 from 13 votes
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35 Cream Puffs Recipe

Cream Puffs Recipe
Total Time: 55 minutes
This Cream Puff Recipe makes crisp shells with clouds of lightly sweetened cream, simple ingredients, bakery quality, ready for any celebration.
4.93 from 84 votes
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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.

    Reply
  2. Jim Gavin says:

    5 stars
    Amazing recipes looking forward to making them

    Reply
  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!

    Reply
  4. Paige D says:

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

    Reply
  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!

    Reply
  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.

    Reply
  7. Carmen Lachance says:

    The students really liked the layout of this website.

    Reply