19 Italian-American Dishes That Make Italians Shrug Shoulders

Get set, your go-to Italian-American dishes are pretty much a mystery in Italy, or at least they don’t get much love.

Take a look at this list of Italo-American Specialties and share your thoughts in the comments below.

Each dish gets a rating:
1 🤌 (kinda okay in Italy)
5 🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌 (not happening in Italy)

19. Chicken Parmigiana: A Party Without the Italian Invite

Chicken Parmigiana might be a staple in Italian-American kitchens, but in Italy, it’s practically unheard of! This American twist on eggplant parmigiana swaps eggplant for chicken, leaving Italians baffled. Want to know why Chicken Parm is a no-show in Italy and what Italians think about it?

• Inventor of the Dish: Italian-American chefs, early 20th century
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Melanzane alla Parmigiana
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌

18. Penne alla Vodka: The Dish Italians Rolled Their Eyes at from the ’90s Onward

“Penne alla Vodka: viral in America, but not in Italy” – this dish might be a hit in the US, but in Italy, it’s as rare as a unicorn. Despite its brief flirtation with Italian palates in the ’80s, it never really stuck. Click to find out why nowadays this creamy, tomatoey, vodka-infused pasta is more American than Italian!

• Inventor of the Dish: Ugo Tognazzi, 1974
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Penne all’Arrabbiata
• Non-Italian score: 🤌

17. Manicotti Mayhem: Italy’s Mysterious Pasta Enigma!

Manicotti, a creamy, cheese-filled comfort food in America, is a bit stranger in Italy. Stuffed with ricotta and baked in tomato sauce, this dish screams Italian-American! But in Italy, we’re more about cannelloni, rolled pasta sheets with a variety of fillings. Want to know more about this pasta plot twist? Dive into the full story here about Manicotti vs Cannelloni and unwrap the layers of these pasta cousins!

• Inventor of the Dish: Italian Immigrants in America
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Cannelloni
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌

16. Rainbow Cookies: Italy’s Flag, America’s Flavor Fiesta?

Rainbow Cookies may wear Italy’s colors, but you won’t find them in Italian bakeries. These three-layered sponge cakes, a visual homage to the Italian flag, are a pure American invention. Intrigued about how these colorful treats became a symbol of Italian pride in the U.S., despite being unknown in Italy? Click to unwrap the sweet story! Are Rainbow Cookies Truly Italian?

• Inventor of the Dish: Early 20th-century Italian-American communities
• Most Similar Italian Dish: I didn’t find it
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌

15. Marinara Everybody? Not a Pasta Sauce!

Pasta alla Marinara in America? A classic Italian dish, right? Wrong! In Italy, marinara is more about pizza than pasta. If you ask for it in Italy, you might just get a quizzical look or a pizza with no cheese. Dive into the world of Italian sauces and discover what marinara truly means in Italy, the land of pizza and pasta. Click to learn more about this saucy secret!

• Inventor of the Dish: Neapolitan fishermen, 18th century
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Pizza alla Marinara or Pasta al Pomodoro.
• Non-Italian Score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌

14. Spaghetti Meatballs Saga: Lost in Translation!

Spaghetti meatballs, an American icon, is practically a Hollywood star in Italy, but not on our dining tables! This Italian-American classic is more a movie star than a menu star in Italy. Curious why we’re not twirling this dish on our forks? Check out the full tale and explore what Italians think about these Spaghetti Meatballs!

• Inventor of the Dish: Italian Immigrants in America
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Meatballs (but not served with spaghetti)
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌

13. Baked Ziti Confusion: Oven Odyssey Across Oceans!

Baked Ziti, crunchy and cheesy, a star of the American family dinner, takes a different turn in Italy. Here, it’s all about cooking the pasta separately and then baking it. The American one-pot wonder has a richer sauce compared to the simpler Italian style. Intrigued by this oven odyssey? Learn more about the zesty journey of Baked Ziti from Italy to America!

• Inventor of the Dish: Joan Berchielli
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Baked pasta, like Sicilian ‘pasta ‘ncasciata’
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌

12. American Lasagna: A Tale of Two Far Countries

Lasagna, that layered delight, holds a different story in American and Italian kitchens. Stateside, it’s a cheese-laden, meat-packed dish. But in Italy? It’s all about the delicate balance of ragù and bechamel. Curious to see how the American version stacks up against its Italian cousin? Click to unravel the lasagna difference between the US and Italy!

• Inventor of the Dish: Italian Immigrants in America
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Lasagna al Ragù
• Non-Italian score: 🤌

11. Creamy Carbonara: Whipping Up Controversy

A dollop of cream in your carbonara might sound delightful, but in Italy, it’s a culinary faux pas! Traditional carbonara, a Roman classic, shuns cream for a more authentic blend of egg yolks, guanciale, Pecorino Romano cheese, and black pepper. Curious about why cream became a no-no in Italy’s beloved Carbonara dish? Click to unravel the creamy mystery!

• Inventor of the Dish: Gualtiero Marchesi (1989)
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Spaghetti alla Carbonara (without cream)
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌

10. Chicken Piccata: A Culinary Detective Story

“Chicken Piccata: French, Italian or American?” In Italy, chicken piccata is almost a culinary UFO, especially in the south. While the Italian version focuses on a simple, lemony sauce, the American adaptation is a whole different bird. Dive into the mystery of this dish’s origins and see why Chicken Piccata is so rare in Italy!

• Inventor of the Dish: Unknown (Sicilian origins theorized)
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Scaloppine al Limone
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌

9. Lobster Fra Diavolo: More Devilish Than Italian!

Ever heard of Fra Diavolo Lobster? It’s like an Italian masquerade ball for seafood lovers in America, but in Italy, it’s as rare as a quiet day in Venice. This spicy dish, named after an infamous brigand, is nowhere to be found in Italian eateries. Curious why? Dive into the spicy history of this American Lobster twist on Italian flavors!

• Inventor of the Dish: Italian immigrants in the 19th century
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Linguine with lobster
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌

8. Milanesa Napolitana: A Delicious Identity Crisis!

Imagine walking into a Milanese restaurant and asking for Milanesa Napolitana. You might as well ask for a pineapple pizza in Naples! This dish, with its confusing mix of Milanese and Neapolitan elements, is actually an Argentine creation. Want to uncover how this Italian-sounding dish is anything but Italian? Click here to unravel the tasty tale of not-at-all-Italian Milanesa Napolitana!

• Inventor of the Dish: Uncertain, possibly an Italian in Argentina
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Milanese cutlet
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌

7. Oven Baked Spaghetti: An Italian’s Pasta Nightmare!

Picture this: you’re in Italy, excited to try some authentic oven-baked spaghetti, only to be met with confused looks. This American kitchen classic is virtually unknown in Italy, where pasta is a sacred art form, not to be baked in an oven like a casserole. Want to dive deeper into why Oven Baked Spaghetti is a big ‘no’ in Italy?

• Inventor of the Dish: Unknown, possibly American (Bless their hearts)
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Spaghetti arrangiati
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌

6. Mac & Cheese Mix-Up: A Pasta Paradox

Incredibly, Mac & Cheese, a staple in American comfort food, is virtually non-existent in traditional Italian cuisine. In Italy, you’re more likely to find a unicorn than a plate of M&C! So, the next time you’re craving this cheesy delight in Italy, remember: you’re in for a culinary culture shock. Curious about what Italians really eat instead? Click here to uncover the cheesy substitute of Mac&Cheese in Italy!

• Inventor of the Dish: Anglo-American origin, popularized in the US in the early 1800s.
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Penne with four cheeses or Pasta Cacio e Pepe.
• Non-Italian Score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌

5. Fettuccine Alfredo: The Italian Dish That Italy Forgot?

Fettuccine Alfredo might seem like a creamy Italian dream, but in Italy, it’s more like a culinary ghost! Invented by an Italian restaurateur for his wife, this dish became an American icon thanks to Hollywood stars. But ask for it in Italy, and you might get puzzled looks. Curious about how this Italian creation turned into an American favorite? Click here to unravel the Alfredo Pasta mystery!

• Inventor of the Dish: Alfredo di Lelio, early 20th century
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Cacio e Pepe
• Non-Italian score: 🤌

4. Canned Pasta: Italy’s Culinary Faux Pas

Imagine telling an Italian about canned pasta – you’d get a reaction worth capturing! While canned pasta might be a quick fix in the U.S., in Italy, it’s a concept that’s hard to swallow. Italians cherish their freshly cooked pasta, making the canned version a culinary misstep. Intrigued by Italy’s strong aversion to this pantry staple? Click here to explore why canned pasta is a big no-no in Italy!

• Inventor of the Dish: American food industry, mid-20th century
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Freshly cooked pasta
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌

3. Veal Parmesan: The Italian Dish That Never Was

In Italy, the mere mention of Veal Parmesan often draws blank stares. This dish, stacked with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and ham atop veal, is a staple in Italian-American cuisine but virtually non-existent in Italy. Curious why? Check out the full story on how this dish became an American classic but remained a stranger to its supposed homeland: Veal Parmesan: Italy’s Missing Dish. 

• Inventor of the Dish: Italian-American immigrants
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Eggplant Parmigiana
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌

2. One Pot Pasta Perplexity: Stirring Up Confusion!

One Pot Pasta, a viral kitchen hack in the US, is practically unheard of in Italy. Think of it as the culinary equivalent of pineapple on pizza for Italians! Curious about why this dish doesn’t sizzle in the Italian kitchen? Click here to dive into the delicious details of what Italians think about this one-pot wonder.

• Inventor of the Dish: Modern culinary innovation
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Pasta Risottata (similar cooking method with rice).
• Non-Italian Score: 🤌🤌🤌

1. Chicken in Pasta: Italy’s ‘Not in My Kitchen’ Dish

The idea of mixing chicken with pasta might be a hit in the U.S., but in Italy, it’s a culinary no-go. This perplexing pairing is rarely, if ever, seen in traditional Italian cuisine. Wonder why chicken never made it into Italy’s pasta bowls? The answer lies in Italy’s unique culinary history and meal structure.

• Inventor of the Dish: Italian Immigrants in America
• Most Similar Italian Dish: Pasta with game bird ragù sauce
• Non-Italian score: 🤌🤌🤌🤌🤌

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