This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Now this is where I earn my title — The Modern Nonna 💁♀️. I may have been born and raised in Bulgaria 🇧🇬, but if carb consumption was a qualifier, I’d be an Italian citizen for sure 🍕🍝. Italian food? Top 👏 tier 👏. If you ever asked me what my last meal on earth would be, it’s pasta or pizza, no contest. And honestly, Bulgarian food isn’t all that different. We share more than just good coffee and loud family dinners.
Over the past 10+ years, I’ve been deep in Italian kitchens — surrounded by Italian friends and family, soaking up authentic recipes like a slice of crusty bread. Making tomato sauce 🍅 became a yearly ritual, and slowly, I started putting my own twist on traditional dishes. And that, my friends, was how the name “The Modern Nonna” was born.
Now, before the Nonnas 👵 of the world come for me, I am aware that some dishes are sacred and deserve to stay exactly as they are! But other times? It’s fun to sprinkle in a little new-school flair ✨, whether it’s a healthier substitution or an unexpected ingredient, and create something familiar but fresh.
The Modern Nonna isn’t about changing tradition — it’s about evolving it. It’s about giving old-school, grandma-approved ✅ recipes a little new-school makeover, but never compromising on flavor or integrity.
The Art Of Italian Cooking
Italian cooking is basically the culinary version of “less is more“. The magic lies in simplicity, and that’s exactly why people fall hard for Italian food. The key isn’t a 20-step recipe or a secret ingredient… it’s just really good ingredients used in the right way 🤌.
You’ll notice I always say things like “use high-quality Parmesan” or “use good quality olive oil” — and no, I’m not being bougie. When you’re working with just a handful of ingredients, the quality matters. Like, brick Parm vs. pre-shredded Parm 🧀? Game changer. One melts like a dream, the other melts more inconsistently than Canadian snow in March (IYKYK).
And look, I’m not a food snob — trust me. I come from humble beginnings where flavor came from the garden 🪴, not a package. But humble doesn’t mean processed. It means homegrown, unrefined and fresh. It’s how the Italians roll too — their food tastes so damn good because the ingredients speak for themselves 😌.
My Favorite Easy Italian Recipes
Whether you’re trying to level up your Italian cooking game 🇮🇹 or just desperately hoping to impress your Italian mother-in-law (good luck, btw 😅), I’ve got you covered. These recipes are simple, authentic, and won’t have you sweating over the stove like you’re on the next season of MasterChef 👩🍳.
Over the years, I’ve put together a 🤤-worthy collection of Italian recipes — some are straight-up traditional, and others have that TMN magic sprinkled in. But all of them? Bellissimo 💫.
This roundup is basically your one-stop Italian shop — from pantry staples to main course masterpieces to delicious desserts, it’s all here. Make a full-blown Italian dinner night, or just treat yourself to one ridiculously good recipe at a time.
Homemade Pantry Staples
Italian Breadcrumbs
Making homemade breadcrumbs is an easy and tasty upgrade to your basic pantry staples 👌✨. This recipe gives you a big batch that you can stash in the freezer for up to 6 months!
Tomato Sauce Day, also known as “Sugo” Day, is the most special day of the year for my family 🍅❤️. This rich, homemade sauce is the heart of every single recipe I make — and it also happens to be my most-requested tutorial of all time 📹✨.
This Basil Walnut Pesto is basically summer in a jar 🌿☀️. You’ll love how quick and easy it is to whip up, and how it instantly levels up any dish you add it to 🍝💚.
If you haven’t tried Pastina yet, you’re missing out on the ultimate Italian comfort food 🇮🇹🍲. It’s cozy, nutritious, and tastes like a hug in a bowl 🤗. Whether it’s your first time or a nod to your Nonna, this recipe is a must!
Authentic Italian cooking is all about simplicity 🇮🇹✨. That’s why this Marinara Sauce Recipe is as straightforward and classic as it gets — just how Nonno and Nonna would’ve loved it.
This copycat Carbone Spicy Rigatoni is a total showstopper 🌶️🍝 — creamy, spicy, and under $10 a person. It’s a restaurant-worthy dish you can enjoy right at home.
Carbonara is a creamy, savory classic 🇮🇹🍝 that brings a taste of Italy’s rich culinary roots to your plate. Made with guanciale, silky eggs, and a hit of Pecorino Romano or Parmigiano, it’s simple, bold, and absolutely iconic ✨.
This Pasta e Ceci is perfect for a quick, cozy meal 🍝⏱️. It’s Italian simplicity at its finest — with a flavorful sauce and protein-packed chickpeas that make it extra hearty and satisfying.
This 15-minute pasta is made with just lemon juice, salt, butter, and that magical pasta water (aka liquid gold) 🍋🧈💦. It’s the ultimate speedy meal — simple, bright, and ready in a flash.
Penne alla Vodka is comfort food goals — creamy, dreamy, and downright delicious 🍝💖. I like to toss in fresh garlic and nutty Parmesan, but you can totally make it your own. Add what you love and dig in!
This Cherry Tomato Pasta is a simple stunner 🍅✨ — perfect for letting those sweet garden tomatoes shine. A quick sizzle in hot oil and garlic brings out their caramelized magic, and it all comes together in just 15 minutes ⏱️🌿.
This delicious recipe is perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or for special occasions — just like my family does on 🎄Christmas Eve. It’s easy, fast, and festive all in one!
My easy homemade pizza is about to be your new favorite 🍕🔥. This foolproof recipe delivers restaurant-style flavor and texture — no wood-burning oven, no fancy gear, just pure pizza magic from your own kitchen ✨🙌.
If you’re Italian, you know that Sunday = Sugo 🍅⛪. This rich tomato sauce is pure liquid gold, and I hope it becomes part of your weekend ritual too ✨❤️.
The VIRAL Italian Sushi is a trend you do not want to miss 😍🍣🇮🇹. Think creamy burrata, peppery arugula, and sun-dried tomatoes all rolled up in salty prosciutto — it’s a flavor bomb in every bite 💥✨.
This no-fry Baked Chicken Parm is a lighter take on the Italian classic 🍗🇮🇹 — crispy, juicy, and topped with fresh marinara and melty cheese you’ll love 🧀🔥.
This easy Calamari is crispy, tender, and totally divine 🦑✨. It’s simple to make with a little TLC, and I promise it’ll become your go-to. Perfect for the Feast of the Seven Fishes 🐟 or any time you’re craving seafood magic!
Cioppino is the ultimate seafood feast 🐟🍷 — a hearty Italian-American stew with a mix of fresh seafood simmered in a rich wine and tomato broth. As a true seafood lover, this one’s my holiday favorite!
Creamy, buttery, and totally comforting — this risotto has it all 🍚💛. Cooked until perfectly tender with a slight bite, every spoonful is luxuriously creamy thanks to that magical starch release ✨🧈.
These Eggplant Rolls are gluten- and grain-free, with just a touch of oil 🍆💚. They’re a lighter, healthier twist on eggplant parm or lasagna — all the flavor, none of the heaviness ✨🍽️.
European Sea Bass (aka Branzino) takes me right back to growing up by the Black Sea and the Mediterranean 🌊🐟. It’s unbelievably easy to make, and this method makes it totally non-intimidating — promise!
Savory, light, and totally comforting — this soup is a must for your weekly rotation during the chilly months 🥣❄️. The boiled chicken and veggies load the broth with flavor, while the Stracciatella mix adds a fluffy, dreamy texture you’ll be obsessed with 💛🍗.
This soup is a deconstructed twist on the classic Italian favorite we all love 🍲🇮🇹. On a chilly fall or winter day, it’s my go-to way to warm up and feel cozy from the inside out ❄️❤️.
This Pastina Soup is pure comfort and healing in a bowl 🍲💛 — the ultimate Italian cozy food. It’s also picky-eater approved 🙌, since all the veggies are blended right into the broth — no weird textures, just deliciousness!
This 🇮🇹 Italian Chopped Salad comes together in minutes and is seriously satisfying 🥗✨. If you’re obsessed with the Italian Chopped Sandwich, you’re gonna love this salad version — all the flavor, none of the bread (unless you want it 😏).
This seafood salad is a total showstopper for any seafood lover 🦐💫 — giving you that restaurant-quality Italian vibe right at home 🇮🇹✨. The tender seafood melts in your mouth, and the combo of sweet tangerine + zesty lemon takes it to a whole new level.
These stuffed artichokes are loaded with Parmesan and breadcrumbs — finger-licking good 🤤. Dip the leaves in melted butter and scrape with your teeth for the perfect bite 🧄🧈🌿.
This Prosciutto & Melon antipasti is a show-stopping appetizer — perfect for guests or any occasion 🍈🍖✨. It serves 2 generously or 4 as a light starter, and looks just as good as it tastes!
This is my lightened-up, seasonal spin on the viral fave 🥗🌟 — perfect for a gathering or as the ultimate side dish if you're hosting. It’s practically begging for a picnic invite 🧺☀️!
Bruschetta is one of the most beloved appetizers worldwide 🌍🍅 — and also one of the easiest to make. It shines brightest in summer, when tomatoes are at their peak — think cherry, heirloom, sungolds, and more 🍒☀️.
This no-knead focaccia is perfect for even the most beginner bakers 🍞🙌. If you can stir a few ingredients, you can make one of Italy’s tastiest breads — no sweat, all flavor 🇮🇹✨.
I gave the classic Italian Panzanella Salad a little Modern Nonna twist 🥖🍅✨. Traditionally made with stale bread, this Tuscan "peasant" salad gets an upgrade with charred crostini, juicy tomatoes, onions, and a simple dressing that soaks in beautifully.
These cookies are crispy on the outside, chewy on the inside, and super easy to make 🍪✨. They’re also gluten-free and dairy-free — no yolks, milk, butter, or flour — making them a cleaner, more inclusive treat 💛🌿.
Whether it’s dessert, a mid-day pick-me-up, or a luxurious start to your day, gelato + hot espresso is a match made in heaven ☕🍨💫. With just two ingredients, quality is key — so go for the good stuff!
My Easy Tiramisu is a classic Italian treat with a creamy mascarpone filling that’s pure decadence 🍰☕✨. The coffee-soaked ladyfingers melt in your mouth, and a dusting of cocoa takes it over the top — and looks just as dreamy as it tastes 💫🍫.
You’re going to fall in love with these Pignoli Cookies 🍪🌰 — they’ve got minimal ingredients, easy prep, and the perfect balance of rich almond paste and crunchy pine nuts. Simple, stunning, and so addictive ✨💛.
I am more commonly known as “The Modern Nonna” on social media where I create easy home cooked meals with a modern twist. I was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria and learned how to cook at the best culinary school in the world – my grandma’s kitchen. I lived in Greece on the Island of Crete with my parents for a while and then moved to Toronto, Canada when I was in grade 5. I started to really cook and experiment with food 11 years ago when I was 21 years old. Everything I currently know is a reflection of some part of my life…
This post is a Master Class in Italian cooking! Thank you for the recipes!!!🙌🥰
I love your recipes! They are perfect! Easy to follow and the results are unsurpassed. Thank you for all you share!!!
Such a kind thing to say. Thank you Susie ❤️