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Italian Dinner Party

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An Italian Dinner Party theme will create a festive memorable dinner party. Learn how to throw an easy dinner party using traditional Italian decor and authentic Italian recipes.

Italian Dinner Party
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What is an Italian dinner party?

A traditional Italian dinner consists of many courses, starting with antipasti, pasta (primi), meat (secondi), salad, soup, fruit and cheese, and dessert (dolce). When hosting your own dinner, set the tables with traditional Italian decor, and choose recipes from each course to serve.

Italian dinner music ideas

Create a playlist on Amazon Music or Spotify. Italian-American flair would be hit by Dean Martin and Rosemary Clooney. You could add classical opera by Puccini, or a more contemporary sound with Eros Ramazzotti or Lucio Battisti.

Italian Dinner Party Music CD

How to host the party

First, choose a theme. This will help narrow down what recipes you plan on serving. Next, scroll through the decorating ideas. Pull out any items you might have on hand that will suit the theme. If you need a few ideas for more items you can quickly order some supplies from the links under the party photos below.

What is a typical Italian dinner?

The website SpeakItalian.com has a wonderful list to help you break down the sections of an Italian Dinner Menu.

Aperitivo: A small glass of liqueur enjoyed before the meal, like Prosecco or Campari.

The antipasto: A traditional Italian meal starts with something to nibble on, called an antipasto, which translates into English as “before the meal.” Can include hot and cold appetizers like cheese, sopprasatta, bread, and dressed vegetables.

The primo: In Italy, pasta is a first course, or primo, served as an appetizer, not as the main event. Soup, rice, and polenta are the other options for the primo.

The secondo: The main course is called il secondo, or the second course. Chicken, meat, or fish are the usual choices, and portions are generally small. These main courses are usually fairly simple, especially if a rich pasta or rice dish precedes them.

The contorno: A platter of vegetables usually accompanies the main course. This side dish highlights the simple goodness of the vegetable.

The dolce: A dolce (or sweet) ends a traditional Italian meal.

Caffe: coffee and its permutations. A must with the dolce.

Digestivo: a “digestive” or after dinner liqueur like grappa and limoncello.

Party planner check list

Get this Free Printable Party Planner to help you easily throw a fun and memorable party. This planner will keep the process of planning a party easy.

  • Brainstorming and party details sheet
  • Guestlist
  • Menu
  • Decorations
  • Entertainment
  • Day of the party schedule
  • Count down to-do checklist
  • Party space grid planner sheet
  • Free printable banner with letters

You can make these pdf pages into a party binder by printing all the pages, hole punch them, and place in a notebook.

What is an Italina appitizer called?

An appetizer in Italy is called an antipasto. It can be served hot or cold, cooked or raw. Antipasti (plural form) can be served on individual plates, in bite-sized pieces on a plate that is passed around the table or presented as an elegant centerpiece for everyone to share.

What is aperitivo in Italy?

 Aperitivo (or apéritif) is often described as being similar to the American happy hour. An aperitivo is more like a pre-meal drink specifically meant to whet your appetite. A few light snacks such as potato chips, cheese, hard meats, and crackers might be served with it.

Why not host an apitizo and cocktail party?

Mix up a batch of homemade Italian seasoned dip to serve with fresh vegetables. When I was in Italy they always served plain potatos chips at apitivo with dip.

Classica, Italian Potato Chips (1.7 oz) [Imported from Italy]

White Truffle Potato Chips

Italian appitizer recipes

Fresh Caprese Salad with Crispy Eggplant - Straight to the Hips, Baby
Crunchy, golden brown eggplant that isn’t greasy, sandwiched between tomato and mozzarella, then topped with syrupy balsamic & good olive oil!
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Caponata alla Siciliana
Caponata Siciliana is a traditional Italian eggplant stew from Sicily. It’s easy, versatile and great as a side dish, main or as an appetizer! Vegan.
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Roasted Garlic Grissini (Italian Breadsticks) - Three Olives Branch
These delicious Roasted Garlic Grissini (Italian Breadsticks) are classic thing and long breadsticks packed with garlic flavor.
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Fried Chickpea flour Sticks (traditional Italian recipe) Gluten Dairy Egg free
Fried Chickpea Flour Sticks (traditional Italian recipe), the perfect gluten free vegan appetizer to go with your aperitif!
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Italian table decorations

Italian dinner setting

This Vicarious Life sets the mood with a rustic Italian dinner theme. Natural elements such as wood placemats, dried leaf garlands on a simple white table cloth makes this an easy look to emulate. Use long thin breadsticks in a clear glass, sparkling natural mineral water and Moscow mule mugs for decorations. Fresh rosemary tied with twin to rolls will fill the table with a sweet Italian aroma as the guest begin to sit down.

Limonata Sparkling Lemon Beverage

Large Wood Slices for Centerpieces

Moscow Mule Copper Mugs 

Thin Breadsticks

vegetables used as a centerpiece

Inspired by This shows how to create a table centerpiece using the vegetables you will be serving in your menu. This tablescape is created with cabbage, eggplant, tomatoes, artichokes, fresh herbs, and Italian bread. They are all placed on a large piece of wood. Fresh flowers are then placed sporadically about and in empty wine bottles used as vases. Very simple to do but elegant.

Artificial Cabbage Plant

 Black Striped Table Runner

olive and olive oil on a board

Style Me Pretty has a beautiful picture teaching us how to set up an olive bar for our party. A variety of olive oils, bottles of vinegar, olives, and fresh cubes of bread give your guest delicious choices to fill their plates with.

Countertop cutting board with adjustable legs

Calabash Bowls 

Big Easy Chopping Block

Olive Oil Dipping Bowls

italian theme place setting

Cortney over at Pizzazzerie sets her tables with red checkered napkins, fresh herbs. She shares with us how to create a fun Italian word search name card as part of the table setting.

Gingham Plaid Check Fabric Napkins

Disposable Gold & White Silverware

tomato cans used for table decor

Wunderwieb has a cute idea that is budget-friendly for sure. Just save your tomato cans from the recipes you make. Rinse them out well then fill with water then add fresh herbs and flowers for table decorations.

Mutti 12 Pack of Tomato Sauce

 Italian Organic Peeled Tomatoes

italian themed dinner table

Fantabulosity shares with us a cute idea for an Italian dinner party table setting that uses the bread as decorations. In the background you can see she rolled brown paper bags and used them as serving bowls; what a cute idea!

Natural Kraft Paper Silverware Bags 

3x3x3 Brown Gift Boxes

Black and White Wovon Edge Gingham Ribbon

Rosemary Live Edible Aromatic Herb Plant-4 Pack

Summer Italian dinner party menu

Treat your guest by serving a traditional fresh tomato sauce dish. The rich, delicious flavor of this homemade Spaghetti Sauce with Fresh Tomatoes is amazing. It is like stepping into a sweet Italian grandma’s kitchen. The aroma of tomatoes and garlic roasting creates the anticipation for the delicious bowl of spaghetti you soon will be eating.

Italian Dinner Party of spaghetti with fresh tomatoes sauce
Low Carb Italian Kale Salad
Sweet creamy dressing tossed with toasted pecans, tomatoes and crunchy cabbage create this wonderful and surprisingly Low Carb Italian Kale Salad.
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Purslane Salad with Pomegranate, Fig, Walnut and Quince
This delicious purslane salad with pomegranate, fresh figs, toasted walnuts and baby quince celebrates the flavours of southern Puglia, Italy.
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What goes with pasta on a pasta bar?

How about having an Italian pasta bar meal? Serve different types of pasta shapes, spaghetti, cork, bow tie. Then, have several sauces for toppings. Just add a simple salad and bread and you have a wonderful Italian pasta bar meal.

Instant Pot Vegan Bolognese
This bolognese recipe is a hearty and healthy vegan bolognese sauce that is an easy, quick dinner using your instant pot.
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Instant pot vegan bolognese in a bowl
5-Minute Pesto
Pesto! This classic sauce from Genoa is an Italian classic. Blending the freshness of basil, the pungency of garlic, the buttery nuttiness of pine nuts, and of course some nice olive oil, this wonderful sauce will make you fall in love with Italian food all over again!
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Healthy Italian menu

Antipasto Salad - low carb, keto, gluten free | Peace Love and Low Carb
This antipasto salad recipe is loaded up with meat, cheese, and veggies - salami, goat cheese, mozzarella, artichoke hearts, olives, pickled red onions, pepperoncini, tomato, and roasted red peppers.
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Summer Farro Salad
Summer Farro Salad is a delicious and easy salad made with hearty and healthful farro, olive oil, lemon juice, zucchini, peas, pesto, and freshly chopped parsley.
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Elegant Italian menu

elegant italian dinner party roast menu idea

A traditional, slow-cooked roast that gives you time to invest in something else, maybe to knead bread or to make a batch of ricotta tortelli. Jul's Kitchen

Easy Homemade Ricotta Gnocchi with Lemon & Peas - Straight to the Hips, Baby
Bright, fresh, and layered with ‘soft as a cloud’ gnocchi, this recipe is fabulous as a quick meal or planned dinner party dish!
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Casual Italian party menu

Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs
If you need a quick and easy salad that reminds you of summer then try this Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs.
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If you need a quick and easy salad that reminds you of summer then try this Fresh Tomato Salad With Italian Herbs.

Your cheese-loving guest will flip for this crazy good and addictive, Italian Cheesy Pull-Apart Bread.  

Italian Cheesy Pull Apart Bread
Crazy good and addictive this Italian Cheesy Pull Apart Bread is sure to be a crowd pleaser. The loaf is filled with a buttery garlic, pesto and Italian herb mixture then generously stuffed with mozzarella cheese to create each perfect bite for this pull apart Italian bread.
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italian cheesy bread

Spagehtti dinner ideas

spaghetti in a bowl for an italian dinner party

Jul's Kitchen shares with us the simplicity of a great Italian sauce, cherry tomatoes, good extra virgin olive oil, a clove of garlic, thyme, and oregano. You don’t need anything else to make a healthy bowl of spaghetti with tomato sauce, with bold Mediterranean flavors.

Vegan Pasta Caprese (30-minute meal) Vegan Huggs
This Vegan Pasta Caprese takes 30 minutes to make and has a fresh taste of summer in every bite. Dairy-free & gluten-free option.
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If you love cheese then this is the Italian pasta dish for you! There a 6 kinds of cheese in this recipe, with fresh tomatoes and basil. It is one of my kid's favorite spaghetti dishes.

Ragu Bolognese
Ragu bolognese sauce in Italian is ragu alla bolognese, which is a meat based sauce originating from the area of Bologna, Italy.  Sitting down to a bowl of this brings visions of a sweet Italian grandma simmering up a batch for her loved ones, eating it just makes you feel good. 
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Ragu Bolognese

Italian comfort food ideas

tomato sauce on pasta for an italian dinner party

Jul's Kitchen shares an authentic, garlicky tomato sauce, a handful of pitted olives to stir in some bitterness, and strips of browned guanciale to coat a simple bowl of pasta, better if whole wheat. All you need is a sprinkling of cheese, a chair, and a fork to call this a meal.

Bread Salad
Easy Panzanella Bread Salad is loaded with crusty bread, cherry tomatoes, green olives, capers, fresh basil, then lightly tossed with a dressing of fresh garlic, olive oil, anchovies, and red wine vinegar.
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Stuffed Shells from A Cedar Spoon
Stuffed Shells are a comforting, filling meal that makes the perfect meal for a large group. Large pasta shells are stuffed with a lemony-chive cheese mixture and topped with tomato sauce. They are baked to perfection and will warm you right up!
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Baked Fazzoletti Pasta from Abruzzo (Fregnacce Abruzzesi). – The Pasta Project
Fregnacce Abruzzesi is a traditional baked fazzoletti pasta recipe from Abruzzo is made with handkerchief pasta squares filled with a meat and sausage ragu.
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Northern Italy dinner menu

Potato and Pancetta Pizza (Pizza Bianca)
This delicious pizza Bianca is topped with potato rounds, pancetta, mozzarella, and smoked Gouda and is flavored with rosemary. Give this authentic pizza recipe from the north of Italy a try. Trentino region.
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Creamy Asparagus Risotto – Awaken the Italian in You! (Vegetarian, 25 Min)
Creamy Asparagus Risotto: quick to make, really satisfying and actually healthy, when not drenched in butter and cheese. Unfortunately there is a drawback to risottos: basically, you’re not allowed to get it right unless you have an Italian grandma, and this is why I expect someone commenting that t…
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Tuscany dinner party menu

Tuscan Minestrone with Orzo Pasta. – The Pasta Project
Tuscan minestrone with orzo pasta has fresh seasonal veggies and greens, beans and pasta. A delicious and nutritious authentic Italian recipe
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Testaroli Pasta Recipe
Testaroli is a unique, tasty, & traditional Italian pasta that you should be trying. Make a from-scratch pasta that some believe to be the first pasta ever made. Give it a try!
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Peposo - Tuscan Red Wine Beef Stew - Inside The Rustic Kitchen
Peposo is a traditional Tuscan Beef Stew originating from Florence. It truly is the simplest stew you’ll ever make yet it has so much flavour. Made with garlic, lots of black pepper and a whole bottle of red wine, super delicious and perfect served with creamy polenta.
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Southern Italy dinner menu

Gnocchi alla Sorrentina - Inside The Rustic Kitchen
From Sorrento a costal town between the Amalfi coast & Naples (Campania region). Gnocchi alla Sorrentina is an incredible Italian comfort food dish made with soft and light potato gnocchi baked in a rich and delicious tomato sauce with bubbling mozzarella cheese and fresh basil.
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Sicilian Pasta alla Norma - this healthy table
Pasta alla Norma is a classic, Sicilian dish that is full of rich flavors.
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Vegan Italian Wedding Soup
Warm up on a chilly night with a bowl of this Vegan Italian Wedding Soup. It’s brimming with veggies, pasta pearls, and savory vegan meatballs.
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Eggplant Parmesan
Do you like Italian food? Do you like comfort food? This Eggplant Parmesan is the perfect combination of both! There are healthier ways to cook it, but why spoil perfection?
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Authentic Cacio e Pepe (Three Ingredients Only!) - Urban Farmie
Delicious, authentic, three ingredient cacio e pepe from Rome! Creamy, luscious pasta that's great for a weeknight dinner or date night anytime!
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Italian Christmas party menu

A traditional Tuscan menu for Christmas and a roast pork loin with pears - Juls’ Kitchen
Here it is a traditional Tuscan menu for Christmas, which includes crostini, lasagne, roast pork loin with pears and the typical Medieval Sienese sweets.
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Feast of 7 Fishes: Italian Christmas Eve
The feast of the 7 fishes is a tradition of celebrating Christmas Eve the Italian way. So here are 21 recipe ideas for a 3 meal course plus dessert.
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Italian dessert recipes

Italian dinner party dessert of strawberry pie

Strawberry tart with elderflower pastry cream has a buttery shortcrust shell. There is an elderflower pastry cream filling and plenty of ripe strawberries, simply dressed with lemon juice and sugar it is a dessert that is sure to wow your guest.

Biscotti on a saucer with coffee

Biscotti would be a wonderful after-dinner sweet to go with coffee and conversation.

When I was in Italy I spent some time with Giulia Scarpaleggia of Jul's Kitchen. She is a sweet chef that has a heart for teaching the world how to cook authentic Italian food. Her stories and recipes are a delight.

She also taught me while I was in Italy an authentic Italian recipe for a slightly sweet biscotti. It has hints of orange, almonds, and honey.

She has a wonderful Italian cookbook full of beautiful stories, pictures, and great recipes. I highly recommend adding I Love Toscana to your collections.

Italian Almond Cookies (Ricciarelli) - Inside The Rustic Kitchen
Siena Tuscany. The easiest Italian Almond Cookies also know as Ricciarelli will transport you straight to the rustic streets of Siena. Soft and slightly chewy bursting with almond and orange and dusted with powdered sugar. You won’t believe how low prep they are and how easy they are to whip up!
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Affogato Recipe - an Italian classic
A classic and delicious dessert. Our Italian Affogato is sure to delight. It doesn’t get easier than this! Your family and friends will love it.
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Free dinner party menu printable

Be sure and download your own free menu template. Place in a frame or as part of the table decorations. You can get yours in my free member's printable library.

To get your printable menu sign up below for my free member's library.

menu to print

I appreciate your shares! xox

About Gina

Hey y'all, I am here to help you build community and nurture faith around your table. You will find fun party ideas and delicious recipes for easy-to-make meals and party food. I want to help you create a table where people come together, enjoy a meal and linger with good conversation.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Marcia Wolff

    I would love to know where to get the elevated board tiu have the olive bar display

    Reply

    • Gina

      I just linked in the post a few that are similar to the original poster, Style Me Pretty.

      Reply

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