11 Easy Italian Recipes That Are Just as Impressive as Mario Batali's
Cooking Italian food can range in complexity -- from rolling your own pasta to making a three-minute pizza in the toaster oven. These recipes definitely fall under the lazier end of that spectrum, but they're much more impressive and delicious than just opening a can of Chef Boyardee. Since we're not all Mario Batali, that's totally OK.
This is the ultimate date night dish. Crisp chicken cutlets and saucy noodles in under an hour. Bonus: it's made for only two people, so no soggy leftovers! Recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Chicken
- Canned tomatoes
- Mozzarella
- Spaghetti
Cheesy baked eggs in marinara sauce -- a complete breakfast -- in just 10 minutes, which is even quicker than some Toaster Strudels. Get the recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Eggs
- Marinara
- Gruyere
Place everything in the slow cooker, walk away, and eight hours later you’ve got chicken Marsala. That was easy. Recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Chicken
- Marsala wine
- Mushrooms
The five-ingredient version of Chicago’s famous Italian beef sandwich. Find the recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Chuck roast
- Italian dressing
- Giardiniera
- Hoagie buns
Make a lasagna without even turning on the oven! None of that layering either. Recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Lasagna noodles
- Tomato sauce
- Ricotta
- Mozzarella
Putting cream in your soda is the Italian way, but it should probably be the only way. Start the movement by following the steps here.
Key ingredients:
- Club soda
- Torani syrup
- Cream
Make these personal pizzas in the toaster oven, and they’ll be ready faster than you could sing “Amore.” The recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Pita
- Marinara
- Mozzarella
Give Newman’s Own a rest. Making Italian dressing is as easy as shaking up oil and vinegar. It tastes better than the store-bought stuff, too. Get the recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Vinegar
- Romano
- Garlic powder
Another lazy lasagna recipe, but this one has meat. You don’t have to cook the meat, of course, just use frozen meatballs. It somehow makes the casserole seem more Italian. The recipe’s right here.
Key ingredients:
- Lasagna noodles
- Ricotta
- Frozen meatballs
- Shredded cheeses
Italians like their hot chocolate thick and rich. So much so, it’s almost like drinking pudding. This version is lightly spiced with cinnamon and cayenne, and heavily topped with whipped cream. Get the recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Cocoa powder
- Cinnamon
- Cayenne
- Milk
Super sweet summer tomatoes, fresh fragrant basil, and spaghetti are cooked in one pot for an easy, 20-minute meal. Get the recipe here.
Key ingredients:
- Spaghetti
- Burrata
- Tomatoes
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Perry Santanachote is Thrillist's recipes editor. She has never made pasta from scratch, and probably never will. Follow her @perrysant.