Italian Christmas dinners are more than just meals—they’re cherished traditions that bring family and friends together around a table overflowing with flavor, warmth, and love. From rich pastas to perfectly roasted meats, every dish reflects the heart of Italian cooking: fresh ingredients, bold flavors, and a deep sense of togetherness. These 11 easy traditional Italian Christmas dinner recipes will help you create a holiday feast that’s both authentic and approachable, so you can enjoy the magic of the season without spending all day in the kitchen.
Christmas in Italy varies from region to region, but certain dishes are universally loved. A meal might start with antipasti, such as cured meats, cheeses, marinated vegetables, and fresh bread. This is not just a way to begin the meal—it’s an invitation for guests to slow down, savor, and enjoy each other’s company.
Pasta is often the star of the Italian holiday table. Lasagna Bolognese, layered with rich meat sauce and creamy béchamel, is a hearty classic. In southern regions, baked ziti or manicotti stuffed with ricotta are popular festive choices. For seafood lovers, especially in coastal areas, linguine with clams or seafood risotto might make an appearance, honoring Italy’s Christmas Eve tradition of serving fish instead of meat.
The main course often includes roast meats such as arista di maiale (Tuscan-style roast pork loin) or braised lamb shanks slow-cooked until tender. In the north, bollito misto—a selection of boiled meats served with flavorful sauces—is a wintertime favorite. These dishes are often accompanied by roasted potatoes, seasonal vegetables, and fresh salads dressed simply with olive oil and vinegar.
Bread plays a big role as well, from crusty Italian loaves to festive breads like focaccia with rosemary or olives. And of course, no Italian Christmas dinner would be complete without dessert. Panettone and pandoro, sweet yeast breads filled with dried fruits or dusted with powdered sugar, are holiday staples. Other sweets like struffoli (honey-coated fried dough balls) or tiramisu add a celebratory finishing touch.
The beauty of these easy traditional Italian recipes is that they allow you to embrace authentic flavors while keeping preparation manageable. Many dishes, like lasagna, roast meats, and certain desserts, can be prepared ahead of time, giving you more freedom to enjoy the festivities.
Whether you’re hosting a big gathering or an intimate dinner, these recipes capture the warmth and generosity of an Italian Christmas. They’re not just about the food, but about creating an atmosphere of joy, connection, and celebration.
From antipasti to dessert, these 11 easy traditional Italian Christmas dinner recipes will help you set a holiday table full of classic flavors and heartfelt traditions. With a mix of make-ahead options, crowd-pleasers, and regional specialties, your guests will leave feeling full, happy, and ready to make it a yearly tradition.
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
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
Italian savory crepes, known asare filled and baked in a béchamel sauce and 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,” says recipe contributor ELEANOR1052.
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!
