Skip to content

Top Navigation

EatingWell EatingWell
  • Healthy Recipes
  • Special Diets
  • Diabetes
  • Healthy Meal Plans
  • Healthy Eating
  • Healthy Lifestyle
  • Healthy Cooking
  • Shop
  • News
  • Videos
Log In Account Details

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Pin FB

Explore EatingWell

EatingWell EatingWell
  • Explore

    Explore

    • What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Avocado Every Day

      What Happens to Your Body When You Eat Avocado Every Day

      Can an avocado a day keep your health at bay? What does the research have to say? Read More
    • 7-Day No-Sugar High-Protein Meal Plan

      7-Day No-Sugar High-Protein Meal Plan

      Skip the added sugar and bump up the protein to keep yourself full on this 7-day meal plan. Read More
    • 20 Low-Carb, High-Protein Dinners Ready in 3 Steps or Less

       If you're looking for low-carb, high-protein dinners that don't require cooking for hours, these recipes got you covered. These dinner options are ready to serve in 3 steps or less so you can meet your nutrition goals easily. Each recipe l meets our nutrition parameters, with less than 14 grams of carbs and more than 15 grams of protein, without wasting on flavor. Recipes like 20-Minute Chicken Cutlets with Creamy Pesto Sauce and Cheesy Ground Beef Cauliflower Casserole are delicious options for you to get a healthy meal on your table in no time.  Read More
  • Healthy Recipes

    Healthy Recipes

    See All Healthy Recipes
    • Healthy Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
    • Healthy Lunch Recipes
    • Healthy Dinner Recipes
    • Healthy Snack Recipes
    • Healthy Dessert Recipes
    • Healthy Soup Recipes
    • Healthy Salad Recipes
    • Healthy Smoothie Recipes
    • Healthy Quick & Easy Recipes
    • Healthy Slow-Cooker & Crockpot Recipes
    • Healthy Kids Recipes
    • Healthy Holiday Recipes
    • Healthy Vegan Recipes
    • Healthy Vegetarian Recipes
    • Healthy Mediterranean Diet Recipes
    • Healthy Diabetes-Friendly Recipes
    • Healthy Low-Calorie Recipes
    • Healthy Weight Loss & Diet Recipes
    • More Lifestyle Diet Recipes
    • More Health Condition Recipes
    • More Dietary Restriction Recipes
    • More Nutrient Focused Recipes
  • Special Diets

    Special Diets

    See All Special Diets
    • Clean Eating Diet Center
    • Mediterranean Diet Center
    • Low-Carb Diet Center
    • Weight Loss Center
    • Dairy-Free Diet Center
    • Gluten-Free Diet Center
    • High-Fiber Diet Center
    • Vegan Diet Center
    • Vegetarian Diet Center
    • Heart-Healthy Diet Center
    • Cholesterol Diet Center
    • Diabetes Diet Center
    • High Blood Pressure Diet Center
    • Low Sodium Diet Center
    • Healthy Aging Diet Center
    • Pregnancy Diet Center
  • Diabetes

    Diabetes

    See All Diabetes
    • Meal Plans for Diabetes
    • Diabetes-Friendly Recipes
    • Diabetes Diet Center
  • Healthy Meal Plans

    Healthy Meal Plans

    See All Healthy Meal Plans
    • Meal Planning 101
    • Dinner Plans
    • Clean Eating Meal Plans
    • Mediterranean Diet Meal Plans
    • Low-Carb Meal Plans
    • Weight-Loss Meal Plans
    • Dairy-Free Meal Plans
    • Gluten-Free Meal Plans
    • High-Fiber Meal Plans
    • Vegan Meal Plans
    • Vegetarian Meal Plans
    • Heart-Healthy Meal Plans
    • Low Cholesterol Meal Plans
    • Meal Plans for Diabetes
    • Blood Pressure Meal Plans
    • Low Sodium Meal Plans
    • Anti-Aging Meal Plans
    • Pregnancy Meal Plans
    • Healthy Kids Meal Plans
    • ThePrep
  • Healthy Eating

    Healthy Eating

    See All Healthy Eating
    • Healthy Eating 101
    • Eat More Vegetables
    • 30-Day Challenges
    • Good Food Fast
    • Healthy Eating for Kids
    • Best Healthy Foods
    • Green and Sustainable Eating
    • The Beet
    • Transformed
  • Healthy Lifestyle

    Healthy Lifestyle

    See All Healthy Lifestyle
    • Wine, Beer & Spirits Guide
    • Entertaining
    • EatingWell in Real Life
    • Plant Your Plate
    • Healthy Pets
    • American Food Heroes
    • Future of Food
    • Food with Purpose
    • Obsessed
  • Healthy Cooking

    Healthy Cooking

    See All Healthy Cooking
    • Healthy Cooking How-To's
    • Ask the Test Kitchen
    • Budget Cooking Guide
    • Thrifty
    • Heritage Cooking
  • Shop

    Shop

    See All Shop
    • EatingWell Cookbooks & More
    • EatingWell Frozen Meals
  • News
  • Videos

Profile Menu

Join Now

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Your Account

Account

  • Join Now
  • My Profile
  • Email Preferences
  • Favorites
  • Newsletters
  • Manage Your Subscription this link opens in a new tab
  • Help
  • Logout
Login
Sweepstakes

Follow Us

  1. Home
  2. Healthy Recipes
  3. Healthy Regional Recipes
  4. Healthy European Recipes
  5. Healthy Italian Recipes
  6. 23 Italian Dinner Recipes in 30 Minutes

23 Italian Dinner Recipes in 30 Minutes

Alex Loh
Alex Loh Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD November 05, 2020
Reviewed by Dietitian Jessica Ball, M.S., RD
Skip gallery slides
Pin
Shrimp Scampi

Make a delicious, Italian-inspired dinner with these healthy recipes. These recipes take classic Italian flavors like bruschetta, caprese and more, and put a fun twist on them. Each dinner also takes 30 minutes or less to make, which is perfect for weeknights. Recipes like Shrimp Scampi and Chicken & Mushroom Marsala are satisfying and flavorful.

Start Slideshow

1 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Bruschetta Chicken Pasta

6569066.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy chicken pasta recipe is jazzed up with traditional bruschetta toppers, including cherry tomatoes, garlic and basil. Multicolored cherry tomatoes look pretty, but you can use all one color of tomato too. Either way, you've got an easy weeknight dinner that's ready in 25 minutes. We've called for spaghettini (thin spaghetti) in this recipe, but feel free to use your favorite shape of pasta.

1 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement

2 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Easy Italian Wedding Soup

Bowl of Easy Italian Wedding Soup on a gray cloth background
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Forget the marble-size meatballs you find in many versions of this soup. In this easy recipe, they're full-size, full-flavored and plenty filling.

2 of 23

3 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Grilled Chicken Breasts with Tomato-Caper Sauce

6598208.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy grilled chicken breast recipe--a twist on chicken piccata--features a creamy white-wine-and-caper pan sauce that gets a burst of summer flavor from fresh grape tomatoes and basil. Pounding the chicken prior to grilling ensures even cooking and makes this easy dinner even faster. The piccata sauce would also be great with shrimp, firm white fish or pork.

3 of 23

Advertisement

4 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Caprese Turkey Burgers

Caprese Turkey Burgers
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

If you're a fan of caprese salads, you'll love this healthy turkey burger recipe. The patties are seasoned with Italian spices, then topped with juicy tomatoes drizzled with balsamic, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella. We've doubled down on the basil in this recipe by mixing it into the mayo and using whole leaves to top the burger, but if you prefer less basil flavor, you can swap out the basil leaves for spinach or arugula. Serve this summery burger with a simple side salad for a healthy dinner that's full of fresh flavors.

4 of 23

5 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta

6417947.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This one-pot pasta with tangy tomato-basil sauce is a simple, fast and easy weeknight dinner. All of your ingredients go into one pot, and with a bit of stirring and about 25 minutes of cook time, you'll have a healthy dinner the whole family will enjoy.

5 of 23

6 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Spaghetti & Chicken Meatballs with No-Cook Tomato Sauce

6608286.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This crowd-pleasing and easy dinner recipe takes just 20 minutes to make, start to finish, so it's perfect for weeknights! When tomatoes are at their in-season best, just a quick chop and a few ingredients are all you need to make a spaghetti sauce in minutes. Store-bought chicken meatballs keep the low-effort theme going all the way to the table.

6 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

7 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Shrimp Scampi

Shrimp Scampi
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Shrimp scampi is a favorite dish at many Italian restaurants but our version takes just 20 minutes to prepare, so it's perfect for a weeknight dinner at home. Large shrimp are cooked with garlic and then served over linguine pasta with a buttery-wine sauce--it's so good your family may think you ordered takeout!

7 of 23

8 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chicken-&-Mushroom Marsala

6145906.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

For the best flavor in this classic one-pan chicken dinner recipe use real Marsala wine, not the cooking-wine kind. Serve with mashed potatoes.

8 of 23

9 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Whole-Grain Spaghetti with Italian Turkey Sausage, Arugula & Balsamic Tomato Sauce

7664162.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Total happiness in a bowl: pasta, sausage, tomatoes and herbs. The tomatoes get sweet and tender and turn into sauce with the stock and the pasta. Without ever adding any butter, the spaghetti sauce is rich and silky. Adding the herbs at the end gives the dish a fresh pop of color and flavor. This is one healthy pasta recipe we can definitely get behind!

9 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

10 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cacio e Pepe Pasta with Peas

7969228.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

The sauce for this pasta dish is just cheese and pepper (aka cacio e pepe in Italian). Try this with kids as a simple yet sophisticated alternative to standard mac and cheese. Lots of black pepper adds a touch of heat, priming picky palates for spicier food.

 

10 of 23

11 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Minestrone with Italian Sausage & Pesto

<p>With two convenience foods--precooked chicken sausage and refrigerated basil pesto--you can turn ordinary canned minestrone soup into a lunch or dinner that's satisfying and unique. While scanning the canned soup aisle, look for healthy soups that contain less than 450 mg sodium and more than 3 g fiber per 1-cup serving.</p>
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

With two convenience foods--precooked chicken sausage and refrigerated basil pesto--you can turn ordinary canned minestrone soup into a lunch or dinner that's satisfying and unique. While scanning the canned soup aisle, look for healthy soups that contain less than 450 mg sodium and more than 3 g fiber per 1-cup serving.

11 of 23

12 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Italian Penne with Tuna

Italian Penne with Tuna
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Need a quick pasta dish that's flavorful and colorful? This penne pasta dinner-for-two combines leeks, baby spinach, tuna and sun-dried tomatoes--and it's ready in just 20 minutes!

12 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

13 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Shrimp Oreganata Cauliflower Gnocchi

6249485.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This cauliflower gnocchi dinner is ready in just minutes on busy nights. A simple flavor-packed sauce marries the tender pasta with cooked shrimp. If you don't eat shrimp, use rotisserie chicken instead.

13 of 23

14 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara

Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Fresh pasta cooks up faster than dried, making it a must-have for fast weeknight dinners like this luscious yet healthy meal. Eggs are the base of the creamy sauce. They don't get fully cooked, so use pasteurized-in-the-shell eggs if you prefer.

14 of 23

15 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chicken Parmesan with Broccolini

<p>This delicious Chicken Parmesan dinner for two is ready in just 30 minutes!</p>
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This delicious Chicken Parmesan dinner for two is ready in just 30 minutes!

15 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

16 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

White Bean-Sausage Soup

6218805.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Make this heart-healthy main-dish white bean and sausage soup with fresh onions. If you're really pressed for time, look for frozen chopped onions, which can be added to soups and stews in seconds.

 

16 of 23

17 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chicken Pesto Pasta with Asparagus

one pot chicken pesto pasta
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

This healthy chicken pesto pasta is easy to make thanks to convenience ingredients like rotisserie chicken and store-bought pesto. The addition of fresh asparagus--which is cooked in the same pot as the pasta--brightens up the look and the flavors of this family-friendly and easy one-pot dinner. Fresh basil, if you have it on hand, is a nice finishing touch.

17 of 23

18 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Quick Shrimp Puttanesca

5691842.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Because refrigerated fresh pasta cooks much faster than dried pasta, this Italian pasta dish will be on the table lickety-split! Puttanesca, traditionally made with tomatoes, olives, capers, anchovies and garlic, gets a makeover with shrimp for extra protein and artichoke hearts to boost the vegetable servings (and the fiber!). If you can't find frozen artichoke hearts, sub in drained canned artichoke hearts.

 

18 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

19 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Cauliflower Gnocchi Carbonara

<p>Frozen cauliflower gnocchi is a time-saving, low-carb convenience food that works perfectly as a base for creamy, comforting carbonara.</p>
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Frozen cauliflower gnocchi is a time-saving, low-carb convenience food that works perfectly as a base for creamy, comforting carbonara.

19 of 23

20 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Chicken Florentine

6098307.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Classic chicken Florentine--creamy spinach served atop sautéed chicken cutlets--is a fast and easy meal. To keep calories lower, this recipe uses cornstarch to thicken the cream instead of cheese. This chicken recipe is simple enough for weekdays but also elegant enough for a dinner party.

20 of 23

21 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Hot Italian Beef Salad

<p>Steak slices and sweet pepper strips are quickly stir-fried and tossed with fat-free Italian salad dressing in this satisfying 20-minute dinner. It's a quick-and-easy option for any weeknight!</p>
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Steak slices and sweet pepper strips are quickly stir-fried and tossed with fat-free Italian salad dressing in this satisfying 20-minute dinner. It's a quick-and-easy option for any weeknight!

21 of 23

Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

22 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi

5568549.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Give buttery shrimp scampi a healthy update with delicately sweet spaghetti squash. The parsley-flecked squash "noodles" slash calories, add fiber and leave this classic dish still plenty decadent.

22 of 23

23 of 23

Pin
Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message

Red Pepper-Basil Raviolettis

5606416.jpg
View Recipe this link opens in a new tab

Ready in under 30 minutes, this weeknight meal will be a new family favorite.

23 of 23

Replay gallery

Share the Gallery

Pinterest Facebook

Up Next

By Alex Loh

    Share the Gallery

    Pinterest Facebook
    Trending Videos
    Advertisement
    Skip slide summaries

    Everything in This Slideshow

    Advertisement

    View All

    1 of 23 Bruschetta Chicken Pasta
    2 of 23 Easy Italian Wedding Soup
    3 of 23 Grilled Chicken Breasts with Tomato-Caper Sauce
    4 of 23 Caprese Turkey Burgers
    5 of 23 One-Pot Tomato Basil Pasta
    6 of 23 Spaghetti & Chicken Meatballs with No-Cook Tomato Sauce
    7 of 23 Shrimp Scampi
    8 of 23 Chicken-&-Mushroom Marsala
    9 of 23 Whole-Grain Spaghetti with Italian Turkey Sausage, Arugula & Balsamic Tomato Sauce
    10 of 23 Cacio e Pepe Pasta with Peas
    11 of 23 Minestrone with Italian Sausage & Pesto
    12 of 23 Italian Penne with Tuna
    13 of 23 Shrimp Oreganata Cauliflower Gnocchi
    14 of 23 Easy Pea & Spinach Carbonara
    15 of 23 Chicken Parmesan with Broccolini
    16 of 23 White Bean-Sausage Soup
    17 of 23 Chicken Pesto Pasta with Asparagus
    18 of 23 Quick Shrimp Puttanesca
    19 of 23 Cauliflower Gnocchi Carbonara
    20 of 23 Chicken Florentine
    21 of 23 Hot Italian Beef Salad
    22 of 23 Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi
    23 of 23 Red Pepper-Basil Raviolettis

    Share & More

    Facebook Tweet Email Send Text Message
    EatingWell

    Magazines & More

    Learn More

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Content Licensing
    • Recipe Index
    • Jobs
    • Accolades this link opens in a new tab

    Connect

    Subscribe to Our Newsletters
    Sign Up
    Meredith© 2023 EatingWell.com is part of the Allrecipes Food Group. EatingWell may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. All Right Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Privacy Policythis link opens in a new tab Ad Choicesthis link opens in a new tab Terms of Servicethis link opens in a new tab California Do Not Sellthis link opens a modal window Web Accessibilitythis link opens in a new tab
    © Copyright EatingWell. All rights reserved. Printed from https://www.eatingwell.com

    Sign in

    View image

    23 Italian Dinner Recipes in 30 Minutes
    this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines.