20 great pasta dishes of Italian cuisine
From everyday meals to the most elaborate preparations of gourmet cuisine, pasta is perhaps the most versatile, popular and well-known dish served in Italy and almost all over the world. So that you can enjoy it too, I have searched for the best pasta dishes from classic Italian cuisine and summarized them for you in this article. Of course, you can also find the delicious and simple recipe for each of these dishes by clicking on the corresponding image.
Nowadays, pasta has become a fundamental part of the daily diet and has regained international recognition as a healthy food. The Mediterranean diet places it at the top of the food pyramid. In fact, a plate of pasta with tomato sauce and cheese is enough to have a complete & balanced meal.
Life is a mixture of magic and pasta!
Federico Fellini
The best pasta dishes
Here are 20 of the most popular classic recipes from Italian cuisine
Pasta with chestnuts and Parma ham
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Pasta with chestnuts and Parma ham is a classic Italian dish that is particularly popular during the cold season. The combination of the sweet taste of chestnuts, the salty Parma ham and a creamy sauce made from cream is simply irresistible. This pasta dish is quick and easy to prepare and is suitable for both a cozy dinner and a festive occasion.
Ziti alla genovese
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This dish is more than just a simple pasta – it reflects Italian culture and a love of fresh, high-quality ingredients. The combination of ziti, a type of hollow, tubular pasta, and the rich, flavorful sauce of tender braised beef and onions is simply delicious.
Pasta Carbonara
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This classic is a simple pasta dish with five very simple ingredients. Namely guanciale, pecorino, egg & pepper, basta! It originates from the Italian region of Lazio and is now one of the classics of Italian cuisine. The authentic version does not use any fresh cream at all. Instead, a little pasta water is added. This gives it a nice creaminess and saves us unnecessary calories at the same time.
Salmon lasagna with spinach
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Simple and absolutely delicious! An ideal pasta idea for the whole family.
Pasta e patate alla Napoletana
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This pasta is a hearty, warming dish that is very popular in many Italian households. It combines the simple but delicious ingredients of pasta, potatoes, carrots, celery and pancetta, infused with the flavors of spices and parmesan.
Pasta alla Norma
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Before we dive into the preparation, let's take a look at the ingredients you need for pasta alla norma. First of all, we need tender, deep-fried pieces of eggplant. They give the pasta a wonderful texture and an unmistakable taste. They are joined by a delicious tomato sauce, which rounds off the flavor perfectly. But the secret lies in the special flavor carrier: ricotta salata, a smoked sheep's cheese that makes pasta alla norma something very special.
Fettuccine Alfredo
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Fettuccine Alfredo is a classic Italian pasta dish that originated in Rome. It is named after Alfredo di Lelio, an Italian chef who is said to have invented the dish in the 1920s. The base of the dish is wide pasta, which is coated in a creamy sauce made from butter and Parmesan cheese. The simplicity of the ingredients brings out the taste of the pasta particularly well and makes this dish a timeless classic of Italian cuisine.
Spinach and ricotta cannelloni
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Cannelloni with a delicious ricotta and spinach filling. The perfect Sunday dish!
Calabrese pasta
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Pasta Calabrese is a pasta dish from Calabrian cuisine that is known for its strong aromas and spicy flavors. The base of the dish is spaghetti, which is prepared with a delicious tomato sauce. The fiery spiciness is achieved by adding salsiccia piccante, which gives the dish an additional wonderful spiciness. The use of fresh ingredients and spices such as garlic and basil further enhances the flavors.
All amatriciana pasta alla nonna
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This is a delicious Italian pasta dish that has been refined a little by our grandmother. The taste of fried bacon, reduced white wine and fruity tomatoes with a slight spiciness from the peperoncini is simply… fantastico! Let's go… Let's fill our home with this delicious aroma and cook you spaghetti amatriciana…
Cacio e Pepe
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This pasta, which consists of just a few ingredients, impresses with its intense flavor. "Cacio" stands for pecorino cheese, "Pepe" for pepper – an unbeatable combination that promises to delight the palate. Preparing this delicacy requires a sure instinct and a love of tradition. Our detailed instructions will guide you step by step through the process to achieve the perfect balance between cheese and pepper. The art lies in coating the al dente spaghetti in a creamy sauce that will enchant your palate.
Vesuviana pasta
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Pasta alla Vesuviana is a typical pasta dish from Neapolitan cuisine that reflects the flavors of the region in every bite. The base of the dish is spaghetti, which is combined with onions, capers and olives in a spicy tomato sauce. Delicious mozzarella is added to the pasta to round off the taste. The use of fresh ingredients and a hint of oregano give this delicious pasta its characteristic taste.
Tagliatelle with salmon and spinach
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Delicious pasta with fresh fish, spinach and arugula in creamy mascarpone cream sauce.
Orecchiette with broccoli and salsiccia
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Orecchiette with broccoli and salsiccia is a wonderfully simple yet sophisticated dish. This delicate pasta creation perfectly combines the flavors of hearty seasoned Italian sausage, fresh broccoli and orecchiette pasta cooked al dente. A real treat that transports you straight to the sunny atmosphere of Italy!
Penne alla Vodka
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Penne alla Vodka is a classic Italian pasta dish that takes its name from the vodka in the sauce. The dish is based on short, tubular pasta, which is prepared with a creamy tomato sauce. This is refined with vodka and cream and seasoned with onions, garlic and spices. The addition of vodka gives the sauce a special, slightly alcoholic note. Penne alla vodka is a delicious dish that is quick and easy to prepare and is not only very popular in Italy.
Gricia pasta
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For this very simple pasta dish we only need 5 ingredients. A pasta of your choice, here we take my beloved spaghetti, hearty guanciale (Italian bacon), freshly grated Pecorino Romano, salt & pepper.
Spaghetti alla puttanesca
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Spaghetti alla Puttanesca is more than just a pasta dish – it is a symphony of flavors that invigorate the senses. The origins of this dish are as fascinating as its taste. It is said to have been prepared on the streets of Naples by prostitutes who needed a quick, filling and tasty meal between their "working hours". The ingredients are simple, but the combination of tomatoes, olives, capers and anchovies gives this dish an incomparable intensity.
Boscaiola pasta
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My small variation of the popular dish from Italy will bring the wonderful scent of the forest directly into your kitchen. For this we add fresh mushrooms to the pasta. To get a nice creamy sauce, we add an extra dollop of cream to the tomato sauce. Add some smoked bacon, fresh parsley and a few spices and we can enjoy this fantastic pasta.
Pasta al baffo
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Pasta al baffo is a delicious Italian pasta dish that stands out for its creamy tomato and cream sauce. The name "al baffo" probably comes from the Italian phrase "da leccarsi i baffi", which means "so good that you will lick your whiskers".
Pesto alla siciliana pasta
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Pesto alla Siciliana is a delicious version of the classic pesto that originated in the sun-drenched region of Sicily. Fresh tomatoes and ricotta give this pesto a wonderfully fruity taste.
Did you like the best pasta dishes and now you want more?
Then you should definitely explore our many other pasta recipes from Italy. What are you waiting for? Let’s go…
Pasta
Pumpkin ravioli
2 hours 30 minutes
59kcal
Pasta
Gorgonzola walnut pasta
20 minutes
800kcal
Pasta
Penne all arrabbiata
25 minutes
136kcal
Pasta
Penne alla Vodka
40 minutes
511kcal
Pasta
Pasta with gorgonzola sauce, walnuts and radicchio
20 minutes
282.7kcal
Pasta
Tuna and sun dried tomato pasta with olives
20 minutes
284.3kcal
Pasta
All amatriciana pasta alla nonna
30 minutes
165kcal
Pasta
Spinach and ricotta cannelloni
1 hour 20 minutes
129kcal
Pasta
Ricotta Ravioli
1 hour
79kcal
Pasta
Pesto alla siciliana pasta
20 minutes
895kcal
Pasta, Sauces & Dips
Sicilian pesto
15 minutes
608kcal
Pasta
Pasta with tomato cream sauce and bacon
30 minutes
717kcal
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