5 Italian Weeknight Dinner Ideas

Monday: Bacon-Arugula Sheet-Pan Pizza

Sheet-pan pizza is the way to go for quick weeknight dinners. Start the week off right by adding ricotta, rosemary, and arugula to a pie. 

Recipe: Try our Bacon-Arugula Sheet-Pan Pizza

Tuesday: Pasta Pinwheels

Tuesday is for this cute and tasty twist on lasagna!

Recipe: Try our Pasta Pinwheels

Wednesday: Spicy Italian Grilled Cheese

Hot soppressata on a sandwich? Yes please! Especially when cheese and broccoli are involved!

Recipe: Try our Spicy Italian Grilled Cheese

Thursday: Crisp Gnocchi Pesto with Tomatoes & Goat Cheese

Ever try pesto with gnocchi? This classic Italian sauce works just as well with the tiny potato dumplings as it does with pasta.

Recipe: Try our Crisp Gnocchi Pesto with Tomatoes & Goat Cheese

Friday: Pasta e Fagioli with Sausage

This Italian soup-pasta hybrid will send your Italian Week celebration out with a bang!

Recipe: Try our Pasta e Fagioli with Sausage

Shopping list:

For the bacon-arugula sheet-pan pizza:

• 14 ounces pizza dough
• 1/2 cup marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup ricotta
• 6 bocconcini
• 3 slices bacon
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 cup baby arugula

For the pasta pinwheels:

• EVOO
• 8 dried lasagna noodles
• 1 5 ounce bag baby spinach
• 1 15 ounce container ricotta
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup finely grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 2 1/2 cups marinara sauce
• 4 sticks string cheese

For the spicy Italian grilled cheese:

• 8 oz. chopped broccoli rabe
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
• 4 tbsp. olive oil
• 8 slices rustic bread
• 1/4 cup sun-dried tomato pesto
• 8 oz. shredded Italian cheese blend
• 3 oz. sliced hot soppressata

For the crisp gnocchi pesto with tomatoes & goat cheese:

• 4 cups (about half a 5-oz. pkg.) baby spinach
• 1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/2 lemon
• 1/3 cup plus 1 1/2 tbsp. EVOO
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper
• 1 package (16 oz.) gnocchi
• 1/2 pint grape tomatoes
• 1 package (3.5 oz.) goat cheese

For the pasta e fagioli with sausage:

• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), plus more for drizzling
• 1 1/2 pounds sweet or hot bulk Italian sausage or links
• 1 large carrot
• 2 - 3 ribs celery from the heart
• 1 onion
• 3 - 4 cloves garlic
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 sprigs rosemary
• 3 - 4 sprigs thyme
• Salt and pepper
• 1 32 ounce container (4 cups) chicken broth
• 1 18 ounce can cannellini beans
• 1 cup ditalini pasta
• Grated pecorino-romano or parmigiano-reggiano cheese
• Crusty bread