14 Simple Italian Pasta Dishes That Taste Straight Out of Rome
There’s nothing quite like the magic of Italian pasta — simple ingredients, bold flavors, and that unmistakable touch of comfort in every bite. These 14 pasta dishes prove you don’t need a plane ticket to experience the taste of Rome. From creamy carbonara to rich cacio e pepe, each recipe captures authentic Italian flavor with effortless ease. Grab your fork — dinner in Italy is just a pot of boiling water away.
Italian Sausage Pasta
Italian Sausage Pasta recipe comes together in less than 30 minutes for a quick, hearty meal. A creamy sausage red sauce with spinach coats penne pasta for a delicious recipe ready for weeknights!
Prisoner’s Pasta (Pasta alla Carcerata)
The prisoner’s pasta is a Roman dish with a creamy tomato sausage brandy sauce. This is our latest comfort meal, and you can prepare it in a skillet at the last minute, making it a perfect weeknight dinner meal.
Pumpkin ravioli (tortelli di zucca)
Pumpkin ravioli may take a little time to make, but they are so worth the effort. Comforting little pillows of deliciousness, they’re addictively good!
Pasta alla Boscaiola (Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta)
Pasta alla boscaiola is a traditional Italian recipe made with mushrooms and sausage or pancetta. The perfect comfort pasta dish, this creamy rigatoni alla boscaiola recipe has porcini mushrooms, chestnut mushrooms, and Italian sausage for a flavourful feast that only takes 30 minutes to make.
Italian Peas and Pasta
Dive into the delightful world of plant-based cooking with our speedy Italian Peas and Pasta Recipe! Packed with fresh ingredients and bursting with flavors, this dish is not just a treat for the taste buds but also a nod to the benefits of seasonal, vegan produce. Whether you’re a seasoned vegan chef or just exploring this easy recipe promises an effortless culinary journey.
Authentic Bucatini alla Carbonara
Carbonara originated in the Lazio region of Italy, where Rome is. Rome is known for it’s four pastas: carbonara, amatriciana, cacio e pepe and gricia. Of the four, carbonara is most similar to gricia. In fact, gricia is pretty much just an eggless carbonara! All four pastas are delicious and easy to make—it’s all about technique!
Spaghetti Alla Siciliana
This authentic Sicilian spaghetti recipe is so easy and it takes only 5 ingredients to make it! Spaghetti Siciliana is a fiery mix of hot pasta mixed with lots of garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chillies and olive oil. Simple and gorgeous!
Clam Pasta (Spaghetti Alle Vongole)
Clam pasta is a dish that you’ll find on many restaurant menus in many coastal Italian seaside towns. It’s definitely very prominent in my mom’s hometown of Sperlonga, and for good reason. The flavors are so simple, and the flavor of the clams aren’t masked by any other flavors, due to the simplicity of the supporting ingredients.
Pasta con sarde a mare
Pasta con sarde a mare is a Sicilian dish made with (wild) fennel, pine nuts, raisins & anchovies. So much flavor from such simple ingredients!
Bucatini Cacio e Pepe from Italy
This deliciously creamy, cheesy pasta dish is so beautiful in its simplicity and can be on the dinner table in 30 minutes or less. It’s an ancient Roman pasta dish that has held up over time due to its uncomplicated ingredients and naturally amazing flavor.
Pasta alla Papalina (Creamy Ham and Peas Pasta)
Pasta alla papalina is a creamy ham and peas pasta that’s easy to make and beyond delicious. Think of these fettuccine alla papalina as carbonara on steroids, with lots of parmesan cheese, ham instead of guanciale, and a surprise ingredient in the form of peas.
Pasta alla Norma
Pasta alla Norma hails from the Catania region in Sicily, comprising aubergines, tomatoes and ricotta. The best part is, you can even make your own fresh fusilli pasta.
Mussel Pasta
This mussel pasta recipe is so flavorful, and the step by step directions so easy, they will ensure perfect results everytime. If you’re looking for a great pasta with mussels* recipe, you’ve found it!
Arrabiata Pasta with Shrimp
Pasta Arrabiata is a traditional Italian spicy tomato-based sauce pasta made with garlic, tomatoes and chili peppers, try it with shrimp!
