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A wholesome and comforting rigatoni bolognese! Ground beef, sautéed veggies, red wine, tomatoes, and classic Italian seasoning. This delicious meal comes together in one pot, in under 30 minutes!

overhead image of rigatoni bolognese on a plate with red wine and chopped parsley on the side.

What You’ll Need to Make Rigatoni Bolognese

Ground Beef – I recommend a lean ground beef for this recipe! Also, remember to season it with plenty of salt in the first step.

Italian Seasoning – If you don’t already have Italian seasoning in your pantry, you MUST go get some. It’s a staple in my Italian home, and adds the perfect blend of dried herbs to whatever I’m cooking. Italian seasoning is essential in this rigatoni bolognese, so don’t even think about going without it!

Red Wine – A touch of dry red wine contributes tons of depth to this dish. However, if you don’t like or have red wine, you can use 1/2 cup of beef broth instead.

Rigatoni Pasta – Rigatoni is the perfect pairing to this homemade bolognese sauce! Its wide opening allows plenty of room for the sauce to fully wrap around each noodle. Though if you don’t have any rigatoni, feel free to use whatever pasta you have on-hand! Spaghetti bolognese is always delicious, too.

rigatoni bolognese on a plate with a fork and spoon.

Tips and Tricks

  • Want to make this rigatoni bolognese in the Instant Pot? Follow my Instant Pot bolognese recipe, then serve over rigatoni!
  • The longer you let the sauce simmer, the more flavorful it’ll be. This recipe requires just 15 minutes of simmering, but if you have the time – leave it to simmer even longer! You can simmer this sauce for up to an hour for TONS of flavor.
  • Prep a double batch of this bolognese and store half in the freezer for a later date! To freeze this sauce, let it cool completely then store in an airtight container. It stays fresh in the freezer for up to 3 months!
rigatoni bolognese on a plate with red wine and cheese on the side.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan/Vegetarian: For a vegetarian rigatoni bolognese, replace the ground beef with two cans of drained lentils!

Make it Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free rigatoni, I love this brand.

Classic Rigatoni Bolognese

4 from 3 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

10

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

25

minutes

A wholesome and comforting rigatoni bolognese! Ground beef, sautéed veggies, red wine, tomatoes, and classic Italian seasoning. This delicious meal comes together in one pot, in under 30 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 pound ground beef

  • salt, to taste

  • 1 onion, finely chopped

  • 1 celery stalk, finely chopped

  • 1 large carrot, finely chopped

  • 3 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

  • 1/2 cup dry red wine, or beef broth

  • 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes

  • 1 pound rigatoni pasta

  • fresh grated parmesan cheese, for serving

Directions

  • Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add in the ground beef and a big pinch of salt. Cook until beef is no longer pink, breaking the beef apart with a spoon as it cooks.
  • Once beef is cooked through, add in the onion, celery, carrot, and garlic. Cook until veggies are soft, about 3 minutes.
  • Add in the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, black pepper, and red wine. Cook for about 5 minutes, using your spoon to scrape up any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.
  • Pour in the jar of crushed tomatoes with its juices, reduce heat to a simmer, and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
  • While the bolognese simmers, cook rigatoni pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain pasta from water.
  • Remove bolognese sauce from heat, add in cooked pasta, and stir to coat pasta in sauce. Serve warm with fresh grated parmesan cheese on top.

Recipe Video

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Easy, healthy, and extra delicious Italian stuffed zucchini boats! This low-carb meal comes together in under 30 minutes, with only 5 (!!!) ingredients. The ultimate lazy, yet super healthy dinner recipe.

overhead image of zucchini boats on a plate with white wine on the side.

What You’ll Need to Make Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Zucchini – This summer vegetable is super cheap and easy to find! Start by slicing a zucchini in half, then removing the seeds and some of the flesh from inside. You’ll be left with two zucchini “boats,” ready to be filled with our delicious Italian sausage in sauce.

Italian Sausage – Feel free to use whatever kind of Italian sausage you’d like! Though make sure it’s uncooked and removed from its casings before cooking. As it cooks, break the sausage up with a wooden spoon until no longer pink. Italian sausage is packed with herbs and spices, adding even more flavor to this already super flavorful dish.

Marinara Sauce – I use and love Rao’s marinara sauce for when I don’t feel like making it myself. Rao’s is perfectly tangy, has tons of flavor, with just a hint of sweetness. However, you can totally use your favorite jarred marinara sauce for this recipe. Or, if you have some time to spare, go ahead and throw together a homemade sauce to use instead.

Dried Italian Seasoning – The final step before cooking these zucchini boats is sprinkling them with a little bit of dried Italian seasoning. I love the flavor this packs, but it’s totally optional if you’re not feeling up to it or don’t have any on-hand.

overhead image of zucchini boats in a baking dish.

Tips and Tricks

  • Finish off these Italian stuffed zucchini boats with fresh-grated parmesan cheese! It rounds out the Italian flavors in this dish, and make it that much more delicious. Also, who doesn’t love a little bit of cheese?!
  • You can easily prep-then-freeze this dish ahead of time! To do this, follow each step of the recipe, up to cooking it. Then, cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil, before freezing for up to three months. When ready to eat, simply defrost, then bake as instructed.
  • This is a great, healthy meal to prep for a crowd! Simply double or triple the amounts listed in the recipe below, and you can feed a whole army (ok …maybe not an entire army, but you get the point). I love throwing this quick and easy zucchini recipe together for friends and family, it’s a total crowd-favorite!
close-up image of zucchini boat being cut into with a fork.

Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs

Make it Gluten-Free: These zucchini boats are already gluten-free! However, to be absolutely certain they don’t contain any traces of gluten, check your sausage and marinara sauce packaging to make sure those ingredient are entirely gluten-free.

Make it Dairy-Free: For a dairy-free version of this recipe, replace the parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast!

Make it Vegan: Replace the sausage with your favorite vegan meat substitute, and cook it with an additional teaspoon of dried Italian seasoning. Then, similar to the dairy-free version, top with nutritional yeast instead of parmesan cheese.

Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

25

minutes
Total time

30

minutes

Easy, healthy, and extra delicious Italian stuffed zucchini boats! This low-carb meal comes together in under 30 minutes, with only 5 (!!!) ingredients. The ultimate lazy, yet super healthy dinner recipe.

Ingredients

  • 2 large zucchini, cut in half lengthwise

  • salt and black pepper, to taste

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil

  • 1 pound sweet or spicy Italian sausage (casings removed)

  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, optional

  • grated parmesan cheese, for serving

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400° Fahrenheit.
  • Using a spoon, scoop out and remove the seeds and a little bit of the flesh from each zucchini half.
  • Sprinkle zucchini with salt and black pepper, then place inside a large baking dish and set aside.
  • Heat avocado oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add in the Italian sausage and cook until no longer pink. Break up the meat as it cooks, should take about 5 minutes.
  • Add marinara sauce to the skillet, reduce heat to low and simmer sausage in sauce for 2-3 minutes.
  • Spoon the sauce mixture into the cavity of each zucchini half, then evenly sprinkle with Italian seasoning. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until sauce is bubbly and zucchini is tender. Serve warm with parmesan cheese and fresh basil.

Recipe Video

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This antipasto salad comes together in just 5 minutes! Quick, easy, and exploding with flavor. Loaded with healthy ingredients, and finished off with a 3-ingredient dressing. It’s also entirely gluten-free, with a dairy-free option!

close-up overhead image of antipasto salad on a plate with tomatoes on the side

What You’ll Need To Make Antipasto Salad

Romaine Lettuce – Fresh, crisp, and extra crunchy romaine is the perfect base to this Italian salad. Romaine is hearty, yet super mild, and won’t take away from all the other flavors we have going on in this dish. However, if you don’t have romaine, you can certainly use any other kind of lettuce you’d like. Some fresh arugula would also taste great!

Olives – Feel free to use a variety of your favorite olives in this antipasto salad! I used a combo of green and black olives, which were perfectly briny and delicious. I’ve also made this salad with marinated green olives and it was nothing short of exceptional! Also, if you don’t like olives (first of all, how?!), you can definitely leave them out of this salad altogether.

Salami – I added this Applegate Genoa Salami to my salad, but any brand/type of salami will work here. Smoked salami, spicy salami, thinly sliced salami, etc. will all taste amazing. You can even swap the salami for prosciutto, if that’s more your thing!

Red Wine Vinegar – Either red wine vinegar or white wine vinegar will blend perfectly into our 3-ingredient dressing. The tangy, sour vinegar brings out the abundance of savory flavors in this salad recipe. However, if you don’t have any vinegar on-hand, a tablespoon of lemon juice makes for a great substitution!

fork and spoon lifting antipasto salad out of a bowl

Tips and Tricks

  • This antipasto salad is basically a charcuterie board, served over lettuce. It’s got all the charcuterie things from cured meats to marinated veggies. Therefore, throw any and all of your favorite charcuterie fixings into this simple salad!
  • Make this an Italian-style pasta salad by replacing the lettuce with your favorite cooked pasta! And for a gluten-free pasta salad, use your favorite gluten-free pasta instead.
  • Because this salad holds up so well in the fridge, it’d make a great addition to your weekly meal prep! Simply portion out this salad into four servings, then store the dressing on the side. When ready to eat, remove your pre-portioned salad from the fridge and then dress- that’s it!
close-up image of antipasto salad

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Vegan: For a vegan meal, leave out the pepperoni, salami, and mini mozzarella balls. You can also replace these three ingredients with your favorite vegan protein, such as chickpeas, white beans, or even lentils.

Make it Dairy-Free: Easily make this antipasto salad dairy-free by leaving out the mini mozzarella balls. I personally took this option and my salad was still insanely flavorful and delicious!

5-Minute Antipasto Salad

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: MainCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

0

minutes
Total time

5

minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 cups romaine lettuce, chopped

  • 12 ounces jarred artichoke hearts, quartered

  • 1 cup mixed olives, halved

  • 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

  • 1/2 pound salami, thinly sliced

  • 1/2 cup pepperoncini, drained and sliced

  • 4 ounces sliced pepperoni

  • 1/4 cup jarred roasted red peppers, chopped

  • 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced

  • 8 ounces fresh mini mozzarella balls, optional

  • For the dressing:
  • 1/4 cup olive oil

  • 1 tablespoon red wine or white wine vinegar

  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

Directions

  • Add all salad ingredients to a large bowl or serving platter.
  • Make the dressing by whisking together all dressing ingredients in a small bowl, then pour over salad. Serve immediately.

Recipe Video

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Sautéed in olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and red pepper, this easy-to-make Italian Green Beans recipe is a perfect side dish to any meal and is ready to eat in just 5 minutes!

Italian Green Beans

Are green beans good for you?

Yep! Green beans are a great option for a side dish because they are low calories, packed full of Vitamin C and K, fiber and folate.

Should I use frozen, canned or fresh green beans?

Green beans is widely available fresh, frozen or canned. So, which do you choose? Well, of course fresh is the best option and the one I recommend and use in this green beans recipe. There’s nothing better! But, if you can’t get your hands on those, frozen is your next best bet. Usually limp, overcooked and colorless, canned green beans are just sad to look at, let alone eat, so that should be your last option.

How Should I Select Fresh Green Beans?

Fresh green beans should be firm and should snap when bent in half. You’ll want to trim off the tough ends before cooking them.

MAIN INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO MAKE THESE Italian Green Beans

  • Green Beans – I suggest grabbing some fresh green beans, but frozen works too.

  • Olive Oil

  • Garlic Cloves

  • Italian Seasoning

  • Salt

  • Red Pepper Flakes

Italian Green Beans

5 from 1 vote
Recipe by Samantha Course: SidesCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

5

minutes
Total time

10

minutes

Sautéed in olive oil, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and red pepper, this easy-to-make Italian Green Beans recipe is a perfect side dish to any meal and is ready to eat in just 5 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 12 ounces frozen or fresh green beans

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

  • 3-4 garlic cloves, minced

  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

  • Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes

Directions

  • Cook green beans according to package instructions.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add in the garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and red pepper. 
  • Sauté for 1 minute before adding in the green beans, cook for 2-3 minutes and serve warm.

Recipe Video

Notes

  • Storage: Properly stored, cooked green beans will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator. Make sure to use an airtight container.

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More Quick Recipes

This vegan tomato soup is velvety smooth and loaded with fresh flavor. Incredibly rich and creamy, though completely dairy-free. Enjoy a nice big bowl of this soup with a vegan and gluten-free grilled cheese for the ultimate comfort meal.

Vegan Tomato Soup with Grilled Cheese

Most tomato soups are loaded with heavy cream and butter. Making them delicious, but also a nightmare for an IBS-sufferer like me. So in my recipe, I use coconut milk instead! Which still yields that thick and rich tomato soup we all know and love, just without the dairy. This was also one of those recipes that just so happened to be vegan. Like totally unintentional but happy it happened! I found myself cooking up a vegan and gluten-free grilled cheese every time I ate this soup. So it seemed a little unfair of me to share this recipe without also sharing my vegan and gluten-free grilled cheese recipe. The best part is, this recipe takes just 20 minutes to make (grilled cheese included)!

What You Need To Make This Vegan Tomato Soup

Whole Peeled Tomatoes – The most flavorful of all canned tomatoes! If you’d like, you could use fresh tomatoes in this recipe instead. Simply drizzle 2-3 pounds of tomatoes with some olive oil and salt, and roast at 400° Fahrenheit for 45 minutes, let cool and then use in this recipe. And to all my gardeners out there, keep this vegan tomato soup recipe in mind when your tomato plants are flourishing this summer!

Coconut Milk – Don’t worry, it doesn’t make your tomato soup taste like coconut. The tomato flavor is so strong that it covers up any coconut flavor in the coconut milk. The coconut milk gives this recipe its creamy qualities without taking away from the delicious taste of the tomatoes.

Honey or Maple Syrup – A little sweetness always helps curb the acidity of a tomato-heavy recipe. Just one tablespoon of honey or maple syrup make this soup totally irresistible. You could also use a tablespoon of sugar, if you’d like.

Gluten-Free Bread – Use your favorite gluten-free bread to make the grilled cheese! A few brands I enjoy are Canyon Bakehouse and Base Culture. And if I’m feeling up to it, I make my own gluten-free bread using this recipe from The Loopy Whisk.

Vegan Shredded Cheddar Cheese – Same goes for the vegan cheese, use your favorite in this recipe. I used the Violife Cheddar Shreds and had amazing results, I also love Miyoko’s and Daiya’s Vegan Cheddar “Cheeses.”

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

  • Add Dairy: If you’re not vegan or dairy-free, you can use butter instead of olive oil and heavy cream instead of milk.
  • Make it Sugar-Free: You can either leave out the honey/maple syrup, or use a teaspoon of stevia to make this recipe completely sugar-free.

Vegan Tomato Soup + Vegan and Gluten-Free Grilled Cheese

0 from 0 votes
Recipe by Samantha Russo Course: MainCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

5

minutes
Cooking time

15

minutes
Total time

20

minutes


This vegan tomato soup is velvety smooth and loaded with fresh flavor. Incredibly rich and creamy, though completely dairy-free. Enjoy a nice big bowl of this soup with a vegan and gluten-free grilled cheese for the ultimate comfort meal.

Ingredients

  • For the soup:
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

  • 1 Yellow Onion, chopped

  • 3 Garlic Cloves, chopped

  • 1 28oz Can Whole Peeled Tomatoes

  • 1 Tablespoon Honey or Maple Syrup

  • 1 13.5oz Can Coconut Milk, see NOTES

  • 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning

  • 1 Teaspoon Salt

  • 1/4 Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes, optional

  • For the grilled cheese:
  • 1 Tablespoon Olive Oil

  • 8 Slices Gluten-Free Bread

  • 2 Cups Vegan Shredded Cheddar Cheese

Directions

  • Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add in the onions and garlic, cook for 5 minutes or until onions are soft.Vegan Tomato Soup Process Photo 1
  • Add in the remaining ingredients, then bring to a boil before reducing to a simmer. Let simmer covered for 10 minutes.Vegan Tomato Soup Process Photo 2
  • Make your grilled cheese by heating the olive oil in a small skillet over medium-low heat. Place one slice of bread in the skillet, top with cheese, and then the other slice of bread – cook for 3 minutes per side.
  • Turn off the heat, let the soup cool then either transfer to a blender to blend or puree with an immersion blender until completely smooth.Vegan Tomato Soup Process Photo 3
  • Carefully ladle into bowls, top with more coconut milk and serve alongside your warm and toasty grilled cheese – YUM!Vegan Tomato Soup Process Photo 4

Notes

  • Coconut Milk: You can use heavy cream, or 1 1/2 cups of your favorite non-dairy milk. If using a different non-dairy milk, I recommend something a bit richer such as cashew milk or macadamia nut milk.

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