50 Italian Christmas Dinner Ideas That'll Make Nonna Proud

Start your Italian-inspired dinner with a bowl of cozy, comforting minestrone soup—a hearty mix of vegetables, beans, and pasta swimming in a flavorful broth. It's simple, nourishing, and full of warmth.

Get Ree's Minestrone Soup recipe.

Bring your holiday feast to a show-stopping finish with this decadent dessert. Layers of fluffy and moist coconut-flecked cake with rich pecans and a velvety cream-cheese frosting make it taste delectable, feel nostalgic, and look luxurious.

Get Ree's Italian Cream Cake recipe.

With juicy Italian-style meatballs that swim in a rich tomato sauce and get topped with melted mozzarella and baked until bubbly golden perfection, this is the kind of dish that brings everyone together.

Get Ree's Meatball Casserole recipe.

Easy enough for a cozy family meal but special enough for a holiday gathering, this one is made with tender chicken cutlets that are dipped in a rich yet bright lemon butter and white wine sauce.

Get the Chicken Francese recipe.

Tender chicken, hearty vegetables, and fragrant herbs simmer together in a golden broth—creating a first course that feels like a hug in a bowl. It's the perfect cozy starter to your festive Italian-inspired Christmas dinner.

Get Ree's Italian Chicken Soup recipe.

Yes, tiramisu can get even better than it already is! This recipe transforms the beloved dessert into a towering treat layered with espresso-soaked cake, silky mascarpone cream, and a generous snowfall of cocoa powder.

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Create a cozy, flavor-packed main (or side) that guests will request year after year. To make it, thick eggplant rounds are filled with herby tomato sauce, gooey cheese, and savory Italian seasoning, then baked until bubbly and golden.

Get Ree's Stuffed Eggplant Parmesan recipe.

Easy to throw together and impossible not to love, this Italian classic warms both the kitchen and the heart. Pasta baked with rich tomato sauce, melty cheese, and flavorful herbs creates a hearty, soul-soothing dish.

Get Ree's Baked Ziti recipe.

It really doesn't matter what you're making for the main course, because some sort of garlicky bread will go with it. Try making knots this year! They're so pretty, and more importantly, they're slathered in a lot of garlicky butter.

Get the Garlic Knots recipe.

Make your charcuterie board easier to guests to handle―literally! Place their favorites like salami, cheese, and pickle veggies on skewers so they can grab and mingle.

Get the Antipasto Skewers recipe.

Why choose between lasagna and chicken parmesan when you can make both in one dish? To save prep time, you can use both jarred marinara sauce and pre-cooked rotisserie chicken.

Get Ree's Chicken Parm Lasagna recipe.

These colorful almond cookies will win any cookie swap for sure! Sandwiched in between the moist layers, you'll find raspberry jam and then there's a coating of chocolate on top.

Get the Rainbow Cookies recipe.

If you want a starter course to warm everyone right up, then serve them a soup that's just hearty enough. Little meatballs and a sneaky amount of veggies will get everyone in the mood for even more.

Get Ree's Italian Meatball Soup recipe.

While this dish has layers bursting with flavor, it actually comes together in less than an hour. That's because you can use a jar of pesto and store-bought ravioli to save a lot of time.

Get Ree's Baked Spinach Ravioli with Pesto Cream Sauce recipe.

Christmas cheesecake, but make it Italian! Ricotta results in a lighter and fluffier version than an American-style cheesecake. Top with pistachios and chocolate shavings for a contrast in texture.

Get the Ricotta Cheesecake recipe.

Give those store-bought gnocchi a glow up! Adding spicy sausage and making a creamy sauce is just the start, too. The best part may be at the end: topping it with garlicky, buttery breadcrumbs.

Get the Creamy One-Pot Sausage Gnocchi recipe.

If you want to serve coffee and dessert all in one, look no further! Affogato is a simply a scoop or two of gelato with freshly brewed hot espresso poured over top, so you can put it together in just a few minutes.

Get the Affogato recipe.

This baked casserole is one of Ree's favorites! It's also an easy recipe to make and store in your freezer ahead. When you're ready to serve, just pop it in the oven for a cheesy, saucy holiday dish.

Get Ree's Eggplant Rollatini recipe.