Italian-American food is the comfort cuisine I grew up eating – red sauce, melted cheese, a tray of baked pasta on the table. It is not the food of nonna’s village in Italy. It is the food that immigrant families adapted to American ingredients and family-size portions, and it became its own cuisine. These are my favorite Italian-American recipes from years of cooking and a lot of restaurant copycats.
Whether you are planning a family dinner, a casual date night, or trying to recreate the meal you had at your favorite restaurant, the list below has something. Some are quick weeknight dishes, some are weekend projects. All have been tested in my kitchen.
In This Roundup
- 1. Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana
- 2. Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup Copycat
- 3. Olive Garden Chicken Soup
- 4. Olive Garden Kale and Sausage Soup
- 5. Olive Garden Wedding Soup
- 6. Olive Garden Stuffed Chicken Marsala
- 7. Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo
- 8. Olive Garden Chicken Parmigiana
- 9. Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo
- 10. Olive Garden Macaroni and Cheese
- 11. Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli Slow Cooker
- 12. Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake
- 13. Olive Garden Chicken Scampi
- 14. Olive Garden Italian Chicken Pasta
- 15. Olive Garden Spinach Dip
- 16. Olive Garden Margarita Chicken
- 17. Olive Garden Artichoke Spinach Dip
- 18. Olive Garden Marinara Sauce
- 19. Spinach Dip Olive Garden
- 20. Olive Garden Mushroom Sauce
- 21. Olive Garden Mac and Cheese
- 22. Olive Garden Garlic Herb Sauce
- 23. Olive Garden Alfredo Dipping Sauce
- 24. Olive Garden Grilled Chicken
- 25. Olive Garden Broccoli
- 26. Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi
- 27. Olive Garden Tiramisu
- 28. Olive Garden Five Cheese Marinara
- 29. Olive Garden Chocolate Lasagna
- 30. Olive Garden Black Tie Mousse Cake
- 31. Olive Garden Creamy Mushroom Sauce
- 32. Olive Garden Peach Bellini Tea
- 33. Olive Garden Copycat Alfredo Sauce
- 34. Olive Garden Braised Beef Tortellini (Better Than the Restaurant)
- 35. Olive Garden Alfredo Dip
- 36. Olive Garden Braised Beef and Tortellini
- 37. Ultimate Chicken Parmesan Lasagna
- 38. 30-Minute Crispy Parmesan Chicken with Creamy Leek Butter Beans
- 39. Vibrant Spring Greens Carbonara
- 40. Classic Italian-Style Beef Meatballs
The Recipes
1. Olive Garden Zuppa Toscana
Oh, Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscana. Is there anything more comforting on a chilly evening? I swear, every time I walk…
2. Olive Garden Gnocchi Soup Copycat
Craving that famous Olive Garden gnocchi soup but don’t want to leave the house? This olive garden gnocchi soup copycat…
3. Olive Garden Chicken Soup
There’s something magical about Olive Garden’s chicken soup that keeps us coming back for more. That creamy, comforting bowl of…
4. Olive Garden Kale and Sausage Soup
There’s something magical about recreating your favorite restaurant dishes in your own kitchen. This copycat Olive Garden kale and sausage…
5. Olive Garden Wedding Soup
There’s something about a warm, comforting bowl of soup that just makes everything feel right, isn’t there? Today, I want…
6. Olive Garden Stuffed Chicken Marsala
Oh, Olive Garden. It holds a special place in so many of our hearts, doesn’t it? For me, it was…
7. Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo
Oh, Olive Garden Fettuccine Alfredo. It’s that dish everyone craves when they want pure comfort and indulgence, isn’t it? For…
8. Olive Garden Chicken Parmigiana
Oh, Olive Garden. There’s just something about their Chicken Parmigiana that calls to me. That perfectly crispy, golden-brown chicken cutlet,…
9. Olive Garden Chicken Alfredo
Alright, fellow food lovers, let’s talk about a classic. Who hasn’t walked into an Olive Garden, smelled that irresistible garlic…
10. Olive Garden Macaroni and Cheese
Craving that ultra-creamy, restaurant-style Olive Garden macaroni and cheese? This easy copycat Olive Garden macaroni and cheese recipe brings the…
11. Olive Garden Pasta Fagioli Slow Cooker
There’s something magical about recreating restaurant favorites at home, and this olive garden pasta fagioli slow cooker recipe delivers that…
12. Olive Garden Strawberry Cream Cake
If you’ve ever dined at Olive Garden and found yourself dreaming about their legendary strawberry cream cake, you’re not alone.…
13. Olive Garden Chicken Scampi
If you’ve ever savored the creamy, garlicky goodness of Olive Garden chicken scampi and wished you could recreate it at…
14. Olive Garden Italian Chicken Pasta
Craving that restaurant-quality Italian comfort food without leaving your home? This copycat Olive Garden Italian chicken pasta recipe brings all the…
15. Olive Garden Spinach Dip
If you’ve ever found yourself dreaming about Olive Garden’s famous spinach and artichoke dip long after leaving the restaurant, you’re…
16. Olive Garden Margarita Chicken
If you’ve ever savored the incredible grilled Olive Garden Margarita Chicken Recipe, you know it’s pure Italian perfection on a…
17. Olive Garden Artichoke Spinach Dip
Oh, I have to tell you, making the olive garden artichoke spinach dip recipe at home is honestly one of…
18. Olive Garden Marinara Sauce
When I first learned how to make a real olive garden marinara sauce recipe at home, I was shocked by…
19. Spinach Dip Olive Garden
The holiday season is the perfect time to bring out comforting, crowd-pleasing appetizers, and this spinach dip Olive Garden recipe…
20. Olive Garden Mushroom Sauce
There’s something incredibly comforting about a rich, creamy mushroom sauce that brings the classic flavors of Olive Garden straight to…
21. Olive Garden Mac and Cheese
Mac and cheese is comfort food at its best. The Olive Garden Mac and Cheese Recipe is rich, creamy, and…
22. Olive Garden Garlic Herb Sauce
Few sauces can elevate a dish quite like the Olive Garden Garlic Herb Sauce Recipe. With its creamy base, fresh…
23. Olive Garden Alfredo Dipping Sauce
There is simply nothing like the creamy pasta sauce they serve at Olive Garden. It is smooth, creamy, and deliciously…
24. Olive Garden Grilled Chicken
I have always enjoyed recreating my favorite restaurant meals at home, and this Olive Garden Grilled Chicken Recipe is one…
25. Olive Garden Broccoli
While broccoli is not always the main attraction on a plate, at Olive Garden, it is very important in balancing…
26. Olive Garden Chicken and Gnocchi
On a chilly day, there is something so satisfying about a creamy, steaming bowl of chicken and gnocchi soup. This…
27. Olive Garden Tiramisu
If you’re looking for a dessert that is creamy, rich and completely irresistible- this Olive Garden Tiramisu Recipe is for…
28. Olive Garden Five Cheese Marinara
If you’re a fan of Olive Garden’s warm, tomatoy comfort, this Olive Garden Five Cheese Marinara Recipe accomplishes the same…
29. Olive Garden Chocolate Lasagna
If you’re a chocolate lover, this Olive Garden Chocolate Lasagna Recipe is going to become your new favorite dessert. Inspired…
30. Olive Garden Black Tie Mousse Cake
Occasionally, a dessert hits that seems like an experience rather than just a sweet treat. That’s precisely the case I’m…
31. Olive Garden Creamy Mushroom Sauce
There’s something irresistibly comforting about a rich, velvety mushroom sauce especially when it’s reminiscent of Olive Garden’s signature flavors. This…
32. Olive Garden Peach Bellini Tea
Nothing says summer like a cool, fruity drink in your hand, and the Olive Garden Peach Bellini Tea is a…
33. Olive Garden Copycat Alfredo Sauce
There’s nothing quite like the creamy, dreamy Alfredo sauce from Olive Garden but what if I told you that you…
34. Olive Garden Braised Beef Tortellini (Better Than the Restaurant)
If you’ve ever ordered the Braised Beef Tortellini at Olive Garden and wondered how to make it at home, this…
35. Olive Garden Alfredo Dip
If you’re a fan of Olive Garden’s creamy Alfredo sauce, you’re in for a treat. Today, we’re taking the rich,…
36. Olive Garden Braised Beef and Tortellini
If you’ve ever dined at Olive Garden, you know that their Braised Beef and Tortellini is a flavor-packed comfort dish…
37. Ultimate Chicken Parmesan Lasagna
Imagine the crispy, saucy delight of Chicken Parmesan layered with the comforting, cheesy goodness of a classic lasagna. This recipe…
38. 30-Minute Crispy Parmesan Chicken with Creamy Leek Butter Beans
Finding a recipe that delivers immense flavor without demanding hours in the kitchen can feel like a triumph, and this…
39. Vibrant Spring Greens Carbonara
As the days grow longer and warmer, our kitchens begin to fill with the bright, beautiful produce of spring. This…
40. Classic Italian-Style Beef Meatballs
Here at Julia’s Recipe, we believe every home cook needs a go-to recipe for classic beef meatballs. They’re the heart…
Final Thoughts
There are my go-to Italian-American recipes. New ones get added as I test them. If there is a classic I have missed, leave a comment and I will put it on the list.