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Here’s a Traditional Italian Dinner I served to our family with six courses that lasted over 2 hours. This type of meal is more like an event–perhaps on a Sunday afternoon with family and friends and plan for plenty of visiting in-between courses. Because there are so many courses, the portions are smaller than what we might see in the U.S.
Since October is the official Italian-American Heritage Month, I always like to feature a few of our favorite Italian recipes–I have so many that I love! Plus, if you’ve never experienced a Traditional Italian Dinner, it should be on your list of things to do. Not only the steps in making the dinner, but actually enjoying the hours of eating, laughing, drinking, and visiting, of course, with more laughter! This type of dinner would be perfect for Easter with family or friends.
For a movie night introduction to a Traditional Italian Dinner, I encourage you to watch “Big Night”, starring Stanley Tucci that was filmed in 1996. Other actors include Tony Shalhoub, Minnie Driver, Ian Holm, and Isabella Rossellini.
It was such fun learning about the steps of an Italian Dinner and the wines to serve with each dish. Here’s to Italian Food! Buon Appetito!
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First Course – Antipasto – “Before the Meal” similar to appetizers in America. I love to serve Antipasto Trays when we have a gathering of family and friends. Antipasto is commonly known as the first course of a traditional Italian meal. Here in America, it might also be called a cheese and cracker tray, a charcuterie board, or simply appetizers. For this course, I served a simple tray with cheese, pistachios, salami, and olives with Sauvignon Blanc. View and download my free guide Making a Charcuterie Board Here.
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Antipasto Trays
I love to serve Antipasto Trays when we have a gathering of family and friends. Antipasto is commonly known as the first course of a traditional Italian meal. Here in America, they might also be called a cheese and cracker tray, a charcuterie board, or simply appetizers.
If you’re looking for an easy appetizer to make for your next dinner or party, try these Antipasto Skewers with Italian Dressing. They look great on a table, and they are delicious. Plus, they are so easy to put together.
Primo is a pasta dish, risotto, gnocchi, or soup served with a hard bread. For a lighter meal (or one with fewer courses, you might serve this as your main dish and exclude the Secondo.) For this course, I served Fettuccine with Truffle Sauce and Asparagus.
If desired, a nice Chardonnay would be good with this course. If serving a red sauce you might go with a favorite Chianti or Sangiovese.
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Fettuccine with Truffle Sauce and Asparagus
This Fettuccine with Truffle Sauce and Asparagus is a perfect second course (Primi) for a traditional Italian meal. Or served as a side dish with boiled shrimp or steak. So yummy!
I love trying new recipes especially classic Italian and French dishes. Here's my take on Ragu Bolognese with Homemade Pappardelle. This dish simmers on the stove for hours, cooking down to a dense, flavor-intense sauce, that's simply wonderful. Comfort Food, Italian-style.
Cabbage and Sausage Rigatoni is comfort food, perfect for weeknight dinners. Packed with Italian sausage, cabbage, cannellini beans, and wonderful flavor, it’s a new favorite I will be making often.
Butternut Squash Risotto with Saffron is a new favorite dish. Creamy risotto with tender roasted butternut squash, flavored with the subtle essence of savory saffron. A perfect side dish for autumn, served with your favorite chicken or pork recipes.
This Creamy Chicken Gnocchi Soup is so delicious. Seared pieces of chicken breast cooked in an aromatic buttery base of vegetables, then finished off with light cream, homemade potato gnocchi, and a sprinkling of fresh spinach.
You’ll want to continue serving bread through the 2nd-4th courses. Rustic Sourdough Baguettes are so delicious and perfect for breaking bread with your family during the meal. Our family loves when I make them. Hard and crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside, and just the right taste of tangy sourness. Have everyone break apart small sections throughout the meal. This recipe will make 4 small loaves.
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Rustic Sourdough Baguettes
Oh my goodness! This is the best recipe for Sourdough Baguettes–hard and crusty on the outside, chewy on the inside, and just the right taste of tangy sourness.
The Secondo course is a meat and/or fish dish often served with Contorni, ie vegetables. I made this Stuffed Pork Tenderloin based on an Italian “Rosa di Parma”–which is so wonderfully tender and delicious you have to try it! Serve with a nice Pinot Noir.
Here's a recipe I made based on an Italian "Rosa di Parma"– a delicious tenderloin stuffed with garlic, rosemary, prosciutto and Parmesan. Oh my! Who knew pork could taste so good!
Some nights I just want something creamy and easy for supper. This Creamy Garlic Chicken Recipe hits the spot with butter, garlic, and heavy cream, plus Parmesan cheese. So, yummy.
Try this easy recipe when you’re craving shrimp–which I do often! This is wonderful served with Sourdough Baguettes to soak up the delicious garlic butter. Enjoy!
This Foil-Wrapped Lemon Garlic Salmon recipe is easy to prepare and enhances the flavor of the fresh salmon exceptionally well. It receives 5 stars from both my husband and me.
This is a delicious way to serve fresh asparagus, either as an appetizer or side dish. It’s also a fun recipe to make with children, as they love to help with the breading process.
Insalata is a salad, served after the main dish to cleanse your palate before dessert. Isn’t that interesting? We Americans have it all backward. We eat salad to fill our bellies before our main dish so that we don’t overeat. Who would have guessed?
Formaggio e Frutta is simply Cheese and Fruit. Sometimes this course is omitted or could even be combined with the final course of dessert. This Crescent Lined Baked Brie with Apricots is perfect when you want to serve guests a little something special. I love how the cheese oozes once you slice into this yummy goodness. Baked Brie is delicious with a sweet Riesling or a zesty Pinot Grigio.
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Crescent Lined Baked Brie
Here's a delicious recipe to serve guests when you want a little something special. We love how the cheese oozes once you slice into this yummy goodness.
Dolce is a final sweet or dessert, often served with Prosecco followed by a cup of coffee. This Elderberry Wine-Poached Pear Crostata is a fabulous recipe I tried last summer that we really loved. Honestly, I thought it was amazing. Decadent enough to include as the finale for the finest Italian meal. This would be a perfect example of combining the 5 and 6th courses.
I love learning about and trying new Italian recipes. Homemade Cannoli with Creamy Ricotta is a delicious dessert that has just the right amount of sweetness. Plus chocolate and pistachios! Our family loves them.
I hope you have enjoyed learning about a Traditional Italian Dinner. It’s always fun to research foods in other countries, and especially Italian food (my favorite). Maybe this will inspire you to host your own Italian Dinner for your family. Buon appetito!
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I so enjoyed your comments about each course and suggestions for what to serve. I only wish I could sit at your table!
Thanks for stopping by, Beth. I’d love to have you over for an Italian dinner. If you’re ever passing through Kansas, let me know!