Italian Christmas dinners are more than just meals—they’re heartfelt celebrations of family, tradition, and incredible food. Rooted in regional flavors and centuries-old customs, these festive feasts bring people together over dishes that are as beautiful as they are delicious. From seafood specialties in the south to rich, comforting pasta dishes in the north, these 12 easy traditional Italian Christmas recipes let you enjoy authentic flavors without the stress.
Start the celebration with an Easy Antipasto Platter, filled with cured meats, cheeses, marinated vegetables, and olives. It’s quick to assemble, beautiful to serve, and always a crowd-pleaser. Another must-have is Baccalà (Salted Cod), cooked with tomatoes, olives, and capers. Using pre-soaked cod saves time and keeps the flavor traditional.
For pasta lovers, Easy Lasagna alla Bolognese is a holiday favorite, with layers of pasta, rich ragù, béchamel, and Parmesan cheese. If you prefer something lighter, Tortellini in Brodo can be made with store-bought tortellini for a quick yet authentic Italian starter. In southern Italy, Pasta con le Sarde—with sardines, fennel, and pine nuts—adds a festive touch and can be prepared in under 30 minutes.
Main courses shine with Easy Arrosto di Vitello (Roast Veal), seasoned simply with herbs and roasted to perfection, or Porchetta, which can be prepared ahead and roasted on the day for stress-free cooking. Seafood lovers can try Stuffed Calamari, made easy with pre-cleaned squid.
For sides, Rosemary Roasted Potatoes are a simple yet classic choice, while Insalata di Rinforzo, a colorful pickled vegetable salad, brings a refreshing balance to the rich dishes.
And of course, no Italian Christmas is complete without dessert. Serve Panettone or Pandoro with a dusting of powdered sugar, or whip up Struffoli—tiny honey-coated dough balls—for a sweet, festive finale.
These easy Italian Christmas dinner recipes let you bring the warmth, tradition, and flavors of Italy to your table without spending hours in the kitchen. Perfect for both small family gatherings and big holiday feasts, they’ll make your Christmas meal feel authentically Italian—without the fuss. Buon Natale! 🎄
Swordfish a la Siciliana
A rich, sweet tomato, onion, raisin, pine nut, and olive sauce is spooned on top of swordfish steaks and baked for a very elegant fish dish that’s perfect for a special occasion like Christmas dinner. “This is the best baked swordfish, or any fish, I’ve eaten!” says home cook JBALESTER. “It is truly an authentic Italian recipe, even better than what I’ve enjoyed there over the years!”
Sandy’s Chicken Saltimbocca
Christmas but this version uses boneless chicken breasts. They are stuffed with fresh sage leaves and wrapped in slices of prosciutto, then pan fried in a delicious butter and white wine sauce. Serve this simple, yet elegant dish as part of your Italian Christmas feast and you’ll hear no complaints!
Zuppa di Pesce e Frutti di Mare
Italians love to serve a warming seafood soup for dinner on Christmas eve. Use your favorite selection of fish and seafood in this recipe, and add cognac instead of white wine for a Christmas treat! Serve with toasted garlic bread and top with parsley. You can use any remaining fish stock for a seafood risotto on Christmas day.
Christmas Eve Manicotti
Traditionally served as a main dish on special occasions, including Christmas. In this version, the homemade crepes are filled with a vegetarian spinach and ricotta mixture, but you can easily vary the filling.
Calamari with Tomato Sauce
This pasta dish with fresh squid cooked in a red wine and tomato sauce is very popular in Italy over the festive period. You’ll need to use a thicker pasta like linguine or tagliatelle to scoop up the delicious sauce. “Our family always has this on Christmas Eve as one of the seven fish dishes typically served,
Italian Romanesco Cauliflower Salad
“This is a traditional salad from Naples, known as Insalata di Rinforzo, which is typically served at Christmas time,” explains recipe submitter linacavezza. “It’s lovely and colorful as it uses cauliflower, lime green Romanesco, and dark green broccoli and is jazzed up with olives and red pickled peppers. It is served with a lemon-based vinaigrette and sometimes anchovies and capers.” Add bell peppers instead of the pickled peppers if you prefer.
Sweet and Sour Sicilian Tuna
Seared tuna steaks are served with caramelized onions with a light sweet-sour sauce in this incredibly simple but sophisticated fish dish with minimal ingredients to boot. “My grandmother made this recipe every Christmas Eve as part of the Feast of the Seven Fishes,” says recipe contributor JoAnna. “We still make it today and it is my all time favorite!”
Chef John’s Porchetta
Chef John shows you how to make a simpler version of the classic Italian pork roast called ‘porchetta’ for a mouth-watering and incredibly tasty Christmas dinner. A pork shoulder is generously seasoned with herbs, orange zest, and garlic before it’s roasted and served with an anchovy, vinegar, and parsley sauce. Serve with roasted apples and potatoes. “Amazing!!!” says Allrecipes Allstar tcasa. “I made this for Christmas dinner. I looked like a cooking super star!”
Sicilian Spaghetti
Lots of Sicilian families celebrate Christmas with their own version of this national dish ‘pasta con le sarde’, so if you love anchovies and pasta, this recipe is perfect as part of your Italian Christmas menu! This recipe brought back happy memories for reviewer Jacqueline Brown: “My mom is Italian and makes this same recipe every Christmas Eve! This dish should be pleasantly oily with a light, anchovy flavor mixed with the buttery, garlicky bread crumbs.”
Italian Shrimp and Scallop Risotto
This authentic risotto is made with shrimp and scallops but you can use other types of shellfish, such as calamari, clams, or mussels. As long as you use the freshest seafood you can get your hands on and good quality fish stock, your Christmas guests will be in for a treat with this sensational Italian risotto!
Quaglie Alla Melagrana
Quails are marinated in a sweet pomegranate, orange, Marsala wine, and fresh mint mixture, then wrapped in pancetta and roasted. Serve the quail with reserved sauce, orange segments, and a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds for a delectable Christmas dinner, Sicilian style!
Tortiera di Alici
Every family in Naples has there own version of this iconic Italian dish that encompasses layers of baked anchovies that are arranged in a circular pattern with a mix of bread crumbs, capers, garlic, and parsley. “You can add tomatoes to the mix, as well as olives or different herbs,” suggests recipe contributor Gabriella.
