47 Classic Italian Dishes From the Old Country

There’s a distinction (well, many distinctions) between Italian dishes and Italian-American dishes. In the latter camp, you’ll find shrimp scampi, chicken Parmesan, and meatballs in marinara sauce. Italian food, as in the Italian cuisine you’ll find in Italy, is a little different. It varies from region to region and generally involves more beans, greens, fresh veggies, and stews; less meat and mozzarella cheese.

That doesn’t mean you can’t love both! We do. (And it’s okay to lean on jarred tomato sauce. We do too.) But for this particular recipe roundup, we’re focusing on the traditions you’ll find in Milan, Tuscany, Rome, Sicily, and beyond. Here are our 47 best Italian Italian dishes.