Giada De Laurentiis has built her career around Italian comfort food, and that’s why she’s almost always our first stop when we’re looking for cozy, satisfying meals that don’t take all day to make. The Emmy Award–winning Food Network star, cookbook author, and restaurateur is best known for her pasta dishes—but her repertoire goes far beyond noodles.
And this roundup of De Laurentiis’ weeknight-friendly favorites proves it. Each dish is quick enough for a busy schedule, yet packed with flavor so dinner never feels boring.
Giada De Laurentiis’ Sheet Pan Lasagna
Sara Haas/Allrecipes
You’ve probably had (or made) lasagna dozens of times before, but we bet you’ve never had one quite like this. In this variation, De Laurentiis skips the careful layering and instead tosses bite-sized lasagna noodles directly into the meat sauce, then spreads everything out onto a sheet pan.
The result is a thin, easy-to-serve pasta bake loaded with all the flavors you love from classic lasagna—but with extra crispy edges in every slice.
Giada De Laurentiis’ Lemon Spaghetti Soup
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Citrus might not be the first flavor that comes to mind when you think of comfort food, but De Laurentiis’ chicken spaghetti soup will change that. Her bright, lemony twist on chicken noodle soup is, in her words, the “ultimate feel-good recipe.” While she opts for spaghetti here, the chef says, “You can use any pasta shape in this soup.”
Whether you’re easing from summer into fall or welcoming spring from a long winter, this bowl strikes the perfect balance between light and cozy.
Giada De Laurentiis’ Tomato Soup Risotto
Bailey Fink
As you can probably tell, De Laurentiis has a way of putting her own spin on classics. So, when she wants tomato soup, instead of making a simple bowl, she levels it up into this spoonful-of-heaven Tomato Soup Risotto.
Cheesy, silky, and hearty, this is the one-pot comfort food crossover you didn’t know you needed—and one you’ll want to keep on rotation, especially in cooler months.
Giada De Laurentiis’ Pasta alla Vodka (Shortcut)
Dotdash Meredith Food Studios
Something else we love about De Laurentiis’ cooking style is that she isn’t afraid of a shortcut. Her original Pasta alla Vodka is worth the time, but for busy nights, she pulls out a trick for a quicker version: blending a quality jarred marinara, then simmering it with vodka and cream.
The quick fix still gives you all the luxurious flavor of the Italian-American favorite—minus the wait time.
Giada De Laurentiis’ White Pesto
Allrecipes / Qi Ai
Calling all Alfredo fans: De Laurentiis’ no-cook white pesto is ready to blow your mind. Made with just five ingredients—walnuts, ricotta, lemon zest, Parmesan, and garlic—it has the creamy look of Alfredo but with a fresher, nuttier flavor.
Of course, it’s fantastic on pasta, but it can also be spread over a crostini for an interesting appetizer or tossed with roasted veggies for a simple side. Suddenly, pesto’s got a whole new personality.
Giada De Laurentiis’ Egg Crepes
Ashia Aubourg
When your fridge looks bare but you still need to come up with something hearty, De Laurentiis’ egg crepes are the solution. The thin, tender wraps can be filled with whatever you’ve got on hand—fresh veggies, cheese, or last night’s roasted chicken—and suddenly you’ve got a dish fit for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Filling and flexible? That’s a thing of weeknight genius.
Giada De Laurentiis’ Artichoke and Arugula Pesto
To round out the week, De Laurentiis offers us another no-cook sauce: Artichoke and Arugula Pesto.
Creamy, tangy, and vibrant, this five-ingredient recipe is so flavorful, she often just scoops it up with chips. But add a splash of pasta water, and it quickly transforms into a silky, savory sauce that works with any pasta shape. Double the recipe, and you’ll have enough to do both.
Dining and Cooking