Valerie Bertinelli’s Best Italian Recipes, From Lasagna to Cannoli

Perfect for Sunday dinners or entertaining, this traditional meat and cheese lasagna is baked until golden and bubbly. Craving pasta but short on time? Try these easy stuffed pasta recipes that start with store-bought noodles.

Lamb has always been a staple in the Italian kitchen, especially in the spring and summer months. In this recipe, Valerie opts for Frenched chops and prepares them with a red wine and balsamic reduction.

Simply delicious and oh so comforting, a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs is like a warm hug from mom. For the most mouth-watering meatballs, use a combination of ground pork and beef.

Jazz up a simple tomato and cucumber salad by adding oven-baked pancetta crisps. Be sure to serve it with lots of crusty bread to soak up all of the deliciousness.

Refrigerated crescent roll dough forms the base of this veggie and cheese pie. Top it with button mushrooms, baby spinach, and lots of mozzarella and Parmesan.

This easy risotto is made with creamy Arborio rice, peas, fresh mint, and grated Parmesan cheese. It’s perfect as a vegetarian main, or served as a first course instead of pasta.

Parmigiana is a delicious, comforting dish and many Italian families pride themselves on their recipes. For added depth of flavour, Valerie grills the eggplant first, giving it a rich, smoky taste. Add more aubergine to your family’s menu with these easy eggplant recipes.

A favourite from the Tuscany region of Italy, this salad takes cubes of stale bread and tosses them with tomatoes, red onion, basil, and a simple oil and vinegar dressing. It’s the perfect side for barbecues and picnics.

Lightly breaded and fried veal or chicken cutlets are a staple in Italian households. Valerie serves these golden chicken cutlets with a peppery arugula salad.

Simple penne is kicked up a notch when served with a piquant arrabbiata sauce. It’s easy to make and packed with spicy flavour.

In this simply delicious dish, al dente linguine is tossed with white wine, butter, garlic and littleneck clams. It’s easy to make for everyday dinners or as a special dish to impress guests.

Valerie makes these shortcut pizzas on naan, but pita or focaccia would also work in a pinch. Topped with Tuscan kale salad and shrimp scampi, it’s great as an appetizer or part of a potluck spread.

While frittata is typically served for breakfast or brunch, it’s equally delicious as a lunch or dinner option when paired with a side salad. Valerie’s recipe is filled with tomato, asparagus, goat cheese and herbs, giving it a taste of summer in every bite. Hosting a holiday brunch? Try one of these easy-to-make breakfast casserole recipes.

Richer and more decadent than a traditional lasagna, besciamella (or béchamel sauce) is layered along with grated mozzarella and a beef and sausage ragu. This is a dish reserved for holidays or special occasions.

Take the classic Italian-American sausage and pepper sandwich, and transform it into snack-sized sliders for your next party or picnic.

A great dish to serve when entertaining guests, tubes of pasta are filled with a mixture of ricotta and Italian sausage. Once assembled, top with lots of tomato sauce and cheese, and bake until bubbly.

Family gnocchi recipes are treasured and passed down from generation to generation. Valerie makes her grandma’s recipe with pillowy soft potato dumplings in a simple marinara and a sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan.

Similar to beignets, zeppole are Italian pastries shaped into balls and deep-fried to a golden brown finish. Valerie serves them with a homemade Marsala-spiked caramel dipping sauce.

While pre-made cannoli shells will cut down your prep time, it’s a lot of fun to make your own. Fill each one with a sweet ricotta mixture studded with grated orange zest and shaved chocolate.