10 Complicated Italian Dishes Not Worth Making At Home, According To Chefs

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10 Complicated Italian Dishes Not Worth Making At Home, According To Chefs By Holly Riddle Oct. 11, 2025 1:40 pm EST

For the average home cook, making Italian on a weeknight might include boiling a pot of water with salt, tossing in some boxed spaghetti, and then smothering the cooked pasta in a jar of marinara. That kind of meal definitely does have its appeal, food snob or no; the meal's simplicity, convenience, budget-friendliness, and, for some, nostalgia factor, all work in its favor. However, if we're talking authentic Italian cuisine, a box of Barilla and a jar of Prego are a long way off.

Luckily, if you have more time on your hands, plus a little patience, there are plenty of traditional Italian dishes you can make at home. A nice lasagna recipe is somet