Italian food is one of the best and healthiest foods known. Why? They include minimal to no processed food or artificial substances and are mostly made from scratch. Therefore, Italian cuisine is well-known inside and outside the country for being nutritious.

Not only are the dishes healthy to consume, but they are also straightforward to prepare. So if you would like to enjoy some Italian dishes from the comfort of your home, you can do just that. Preparing meals on your own is much healthier, as you have total control over the ingredients used.

Eating homemade dishes boosts your energy and makes you healthy; fortunately, some classic Italian dishes fall into this category. Therefore, if you are ready to make your Italian dish, these foods are some of the best choices to try out.

1. Well-Seasoned Italian Meatballs

Homemade Italian meatballs are one classic dish you should try at home. Most Italians have their meatball recipes passed down from their mother or grandmother, and they are still great despite passing through a series of generations.

You can easily make meatballs in your home with ingredients like ground beef and pork, parsley, Italian sausage, parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, and roasted garlic. This dish can be eaten with tomato sauce, a green side dish and bread. However, a more American way to eat meatballs is serving them with spaghetti or even rice.

2. Lasagne

Even those who have never tried it are aware of lasagne as one of the most well-known and traditional Italian dishes. This is another classic Italian dish that is quite famous and can be prepared at home. A delicious meal of lasagna can be prepared with pasta sheets, meat, cheese, Bolognese sauce, bechamel, and layers of the pasta sheet. Lasagna is known to be a very delicious, nutritious, and filling meal, so this is one meal you will undoubtedly enjoy alone or with a loved one. 

3. Pasta Carbonara

Spaghetti alla carbonara's history can be traced to coal miners several years ago. This meal is famous for its delicious simplicity, as the ingredients used in making it are pretty simple and basic. Pasta carbonara is made with spaghetti, egg yolk and Pecorino Romano cheese sauce, crispy guanciale, and black pepper. 

The spaghetti is boiled in a small amount of water, and starch is used to make the rich, creamy sauce used in preparing the meal. With all these ingredients available in your kitchen, you can go ahead and make yourself this famous Italian classic.

4. Mushroom Risotto

Risotto ai Funghi is an Italian dish containing creamy rice cooked with saffron, mushrooms, chicken broth, and Parmesan cheese. This is an excellent meal with an earthy and delicious taste and can be eaten as a side dish with items such as roast chicken or beef. However, in Italy, it’s never served as a side only a starter which Italians call a primo.

Not only is this meal delicious, but it is also a source of protein and helpful antioxidants. So, if you are looking for a super healthy Italian meal to prepare at home, then mushroom risotto is perfect for you.

5. Margherita 

Named after the Queen of Italy, Margherita is one classic Italian pizza you should try at home. This variation of Neapolitan pizza has a topping combination of tomato, basil, and mozzarella, all colors representing the Italian national flag.

Fortunately, with the outdoor Ooni Pizza Oven, making Margherita or any other pizza is relatively easy, plus you get to enjoy that wood-fired feel. To prepare this classic Italian dish, you will need ingredients like Italian pizza dough, yeast, salt, sugar, fresh basil leaves, San Marzano tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, and an Ooni pizza oven.

6. Linguine Alle Vongole

Do you enjoy seafood? If you do, Linguine alle Vongole, also known as spaghetti with clam sauce, (although spaghetti is a slightly different ribbon shape to linguine), is the perfect dish for you. Linguine alle Vongole is a classic Italian dish made with ingredients like linguine/ spaghetti, clams, garlic, parsley, and olive oil and takes only 30 minutes to make. This meal is known to be made in two versions; the first is the one made without tomatoes, and the other version is made with crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce. Therefore, you can make the Linguine alle Vongole versions that appeal to you and enjoy either alone or with loved ones.

7. Romana Al Taglio

Romana al Taglio, also known as "by the slice" pizza, is a popular Italian street food that can be made in your home. Although this is street food, Romana al Taglio can be categorized as a classic Italian dish. Thankfully, with the outdoor pizza oven, flour, fresh brewer's yeast, olive oil, and any topping of your choice, you can enjoy this delicious Italian meal from the comfort of your home.

8. Bolognese Sauce or ‘Ragu’

Bolognese is an Italian meat-based sauce that is eaten with pasta. It’s called Bolognese outside of Italy as the dish originates from Bologna. However, in Italy, this is only called ‘Ragu’. Though there are many variations, it is mainly prepared with ground meat cooked with carrots, celery, onions, and tomatoes for a long time.

Although Bolognese sauce is customarily served with ‘tagliatelle al ragu’ this sauce can be eaten with the pasta shape you prefer. In Italy, the meaty sauce is served with pasta ribbons like tagliatelle and pappardelle. This is due to the consistency of the sauce being quite heavy. The wide ribbons are thought to hold the sauce together better.

9. Chicken Parmesan

Technically this is not an Italian dish. It’s an Italian-American adaption of Aubergine Parmigiana. Chicken was added to lots of Italian dishes when Italians migrated to America because poultry was a very cheap meat at the time. So you won’t find this dish in an authentic Italian restaurant in Italy.

Chicken is not as widely eaten in Italy as it is in the US and UK. However, it is a great family dish. As a result of being so famous, there are several recipes for making chicken parmesan. To make it you'll need chicken breast, flour, eggs, cream, and breadcrumbs. This is a very flavorful meal that can be enjoyed with melted cheese. Once you have tasted this, you will surely add it to your weekly shopping list.

10. Italian Wedding Soup

Italian wedding soup is a perfect meal for the chilly weather. It’s not served at Italian weddings but so called from the translated Italian phrase "minestra maritata," which means married soup. The Italian wedding soup is made with chicken meat, vegetables, and small pasta shapes. This classic Italian dish tastes delicious and is best served hot as it is both filling and healthy.

You should try it when you can, as the ingredients are super easy to get.

11. Pasta e Fagioli 

Pasta e Fagioli, also known as pasta and beans, is a very simple yet delicious meal from Italy. Years ago, it was a popular meal among peasants, as pasta and beans were cheap ingredients. However, this delicacy is no longer restricted to peasants alone, as it has become a widely accepted meal among many in addition to being highly nutritional.

12. Diavola

This list will undoubtedly be incomplete without mentioning the famous Italian spicy pizza Diavola. Similar to ‘pepperoni pizza’ in the United States due to its heat. Diavola is also known as Pizza Devil or Devil-style sauce pizza. Interestingly, the base of Diavola is no different from that of Margherita pizza. In Italy, salame piccante is added which is salame with a hint of spice. This is actually different from the processed, sausage-type ‘pepperoni’ you get in the US.

Beware of ordering ‘pepperoni pizza’ in Italy as this means pizza with bell peppers. If you would like to have the American-style pepperoni pizza ask for Pizza Diavola. With a great pizza oven, you could make your own!

Conclusion

Though there are several Italian dishes for you to try, the ones listed above are some of the easiest, healthiest, and classiest meals to try by yourself. The good thing is that they really don't cost much to make and are also made with ingredients that are easy to purchase.

Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.