71 simple Italian recipes you'll want to eat every single night

You can't go wrong with a classic cheese pizza or spaghetti and meatballs, but you can do better. These simple Italian recipes are quick and easy-to-make, and will totally blow your tastebuds.

The key is to use fresh ingredients—the freshest you can find actually. Italian dishes are generally simple, so Italians rely on fresh produce, spices and herbs to speak for themselves. If you have crummy produce, your dish will taste like it.

While some of these Italian recipes are more traditional, some only take inspiration from Italian cuisine. (Don't worry, there's still cheese (a lot of it!) and sauce involved.) Think wild herb ravioli, caprese mac and cheese, moscato meatballs, pistachio-cheese arancini and sweet potato gnocchi.

Take a look at our favorite simple Italian recipes in the gallery above and pick one or more to make this week.

Pro tip: Many of these recipes use the same ingredients, so if you have leftover produce or uncooked pasta, use it to make another one of these dishes. You'll avoid food waste and save money!

Hungry for more pasta? Say no more! Check out these delicious pasta recipes below: