12 Best Italian Tagliatelle Recipes (2024)


Tagliatelle pasta ribbons are a favourite type of long pasta noodle both here in Italy and in other countries. Certainly, there are many Italian tagliatelle recipes, particularly in the Northern and Central regions of the country.

This pasta is traditionally paired with meat sauce like Bolognese, with vegetables such as porcini mushrooms, with fish and with legumes. Below are some of the best tagliatelle recipes we know. If you love tagliatelle, you’ll want to try a few of these out!

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What does ‘tagliatelle’ mean?

The name ‘tagliatelle’ comes from the traditional way of making this pasta. ‘Tagliare’ means to cut in Italian and tagliatelle is traditionally made by rolling out soft wheat flour and egg pasta dough into fairly thin sheets and then cutting it into ribbons. In the past, these ribbons were usually only cooked fresh.

Nowadays, you can find dried tagliatelle to buy. Normally, the dried version is made with durum wheat (hard wheat) instead of soft wheat. This is because according to Italian law all dried pasta must be made with hard wheat flour.

Different types of tagliatelle.

In a number of Italian regions, they make tagliatelle with other types of flour, not just wheat flour. You can find this pasta made with rye flour, hazelnut flour, chestnut flour and more. Very often they mix the two flours together. There are also different coloured tagliatelle, green made with spinach in the dough and even red made with wine in the dough!

In southern Italy where egg pasta isn’t as traditional as in the North, there are types of pasta very similar to tagliatelle but the dough is just flour and water. Examples of this pasta are sagne from Abruzzo (shorter than tagliatelle) and lagane from Basilicata which is a little wider than tagliatelle.

12 Best Italian Tagliatelle Recipes

Click the recipe name to learn more and get ingredients and instructions.

Tagliatelle bolognese

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Did you know that Bolognese is traditionally served with tagliatelle and not spaghetti in Italy? This world-renowned sauce comes from Bologna in Emilia-Romagna, where it is also simmered for at least 2 to 3 hours.

This allows the Bolognese ingredients to develop and infuse while tenderizing the meat. If you're an Italian food lover and have yet to try tagliatelle bolognese, it should be a must on your bucket list!

Tagliatelle with porcini

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The deliciousness of pasta with porcini mushrooms can only be understood by those who have had the pleasure of eating it. This classic Italian tagliatelle dish with porcini is easy to make and packed with umami-rich flavors.

Tagliatelle with chicken liver

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If you're a pasta and liver lover, you're bound to love this recipe. It's a classic Italian pasta dish from Emiliga-Romanga, and when I first tried it, I was amazed. It's rich, savory and surprisingly easy to make!

Italian salt cod (baccalà) and porcini tagliatelle

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This recipe was my first time using baccalà with porcini (ceps), but it won’t be the last.

This dish is fantastic! The recipe uses cloves, nutmeg and lemon zest, all of which give this taglitatelle recipe from Abruzzo an exceptionally unique rich flavor profile.

Tagliatelle with peas and pancetta

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This pasta with fresh peas and pancetta is a traditional spring dish in Veneto. It only uses a handful of ingredients which surprises you due to the amount of flavor this recipe has.

Sausage and cabbage tagliatelle

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Sausage and cabbage pasta is a traditional and popular recipe in Northern and Central Italy. This hearty and rustic version with tagliatelle comes from Trentino-Alto Adige in North Italy, bordering both Austria and Switzerland.

Tagliatelle with rabbit

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This classic tagliatelle with rabbit ragu comes from the Marche region in Central Italy. It's one of my favorite ways to cook rabbit meat and has a ton of flavor. A truly authentic Italian tagliatelle recipe!

Tagliatelle with fresh tuna

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A fresh tuna pasta recipe to bring Southern Italian flavors to your table. This traditional recipe comes from the Aeolian Islands off the coast ofSicily. It calls for local ingredients that are typical of Mediterranean cuisine.

Creamy Pork Fillet Tagliatelle alla Castellana

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This creamy pork fillet tagliatelle recipe from Trentino-Alto Adige reminds me of an Italian version of a pork stroganoff. It's rich and creamy with a savory mushroom flavor that combines amazingly with the pork and pancetta.

You'd be surprised how much flavor one recipe can have in just 25 minutes.

Cinnamon spiced pork ragu

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Cinnamon spiced pork ragu sounds a bit strange, doesn't it? I thought this at first, but after trying it… It's outstandingly delicious!

You can find the origin of this recipe in Friuli Venezia Giulia. In this Italian region, the cuisine is much influenced by neighboring Austria and Slovenia.

Tagliatelle pasta muffin nests

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Did you know that you can turn tagliatelle into a delicious hand-grabbing party food? These tagliatelle 'sformatini', which translates to pies, have started becoming popular in Italy as little bites and party food.

They aren't the most traditional recipe, but they are definitely fun and something the kids would enjoy.

Homemade chestnut tagliatelle with pork and cabbage

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This is a traditional autumn/winter dish from the Italian mountains. It uses homemade chestnut pasta with pork and cabbage. This tagliatelle recipe is so flavorful and surprisingly easy to make.

You can find many similar dishes here in the Italian Alps, where they love rustic and hearty flavors.

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Let me know what you think.

If you make any of these Italian tagliatelle recipes, I’d love to hear how it turned out and if you liked it. Please leave a comment here on the blog or onThe Pasta Project Facebook page.

Looking forward to hearing from you!

Buon appetito!

If you are interested in learning how to make homemade pasta and different types of gnocchi, check outmy shop pagefor some great video online courses from my friends in Rome! Nothing beats learning to make pasta from Italians!Pluswhile you’re there why not order a copy of one of my pasta recipe cookbooks or checkout some recommended pasta making tools?


12 Best Italian Tagliatelle Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What do the Italians eat with tagliatelle? ›

Ragu is a common name for the traditional Italian meat sauce. Pair ragu with your favourite pasta and enjoy the delicacy of this classic dish.

What is the most traditional pasta dish in Italy? ›

Top 5 of the most traditional pasta from Italy
  • Spaghetti Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino. Originated in the Abruzzo region in central Italy, this is a classic dish with a very basic composition. ...
  • Fettuccine Carbonara. ...
  • Lasagne al ragú ...
  • Ravioli. ...
  • Cacio y Pepe.
Nov 11, 2021

What is tagliatelle best for? ›

Generally speaking, tagliatelle is used for dishes with sauce. Fresh tagliatelle has a porous surface and is wider than spaghetti, making it particularly well suited to sauce. Tagliatelle goes brilliantly with sauces of any style with fish, meat and vegetables.

How many tagliatelle nests per person? ›

Boil 1 litre of salted water per 100g of pasta. 2. Add 5 nests (roughly 125g) per person and return to gentle boil. Simmer for 3 minutes.

What does tagliatelle mean in Italian? ›

Tagliatelle is a type of pasta with wide, flat noodles made with wheat flour and egg. Tagliatelle is popular in the Emilia Romagna and Marche regions of Italy. Tagliatelle comes from the Italian word “tagliare,” which means "to cut." It is classically served with bolognese sauce, a popular meat sauce.

What is the rule for pasta in Italy? ›

Al dente is king. . . everywhere. Even if the sauce will change from town to town in Italy, there is one constant for pasta – mushy noodles are a big, big no-no. Al dente – signifying “to the tooth” in Italian” – is Italians' preferred pasta texture.

What are 4 famous Italian pasta dishes? ›

There are four classic Roman pasta dishes: cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana, and alla gricia. Each one is a variation on the other — alla gricia is cacio e pepe plus guanciale, carbonara is gricia plus egg, and so on. These four dishes are famous in all of Italian cooking, not just in Rome.

What is eaten before pasta in Italy? ›

Antipasto. This traditional Italian meal starts with something to nibble on before the main courses commence. These appetizers can include cold and hot dishes like cheese, soppressata, and bread.

What town in Italy is famous for pasta? ›

FUN FACT. Gragnano is actually known as The City of Pasta! Since the late 1700s, the tiny town of Gragnano has been famous for its pasta.

Should you rinse tagliatelle? ›

Do Not Rinse. Pasta should never, ever be rinsed for a warm dish. The starch in the water is what helps the sauce adhere to your pasta. The only time you should ever rinse your pasta is when you are going to use it in a cold dish like a pasta salad or when you are not going to use it immediately.

How do you eat tagliatelle? ›

Your fork is your best friend. Use it to gather a few strands of tagliatelle and separate them from the rest on your plate.

Why does tagliatelle come in balls? ›

2 Answers. To prevent it from adhering together in undercooked bundles when boiling. For long pasta noodles, the wider the noodle, the more issues one has with them sticking together on the "flat" sides.

Why is tagliatelle sold in nests? ›

Tagliatelle is often packaged as nests. Tagliatelle is often dried in portioned piles of noodles that resemble small birds' nests. This helps protect the pasta for transport since the long, thin strands have a tendency to snap when packaged flat. It also allows for easy portioning and serving (less sticking).

How long should tagliatelle boil? ›

How to cook tagliatelle. Cooking tagliatelle is a simple and speedy process. For the perfect al dente bite, we recommend boiling fresh tagliatelle in generously salted water for approximately 3-4 minutes, remembering to taste a piece before removing from the water.

What length should tagliatelle be? ›

You will now have one long, thin sheet of pasta, ready for cutting. Cut the sheet to your preferred length – 40 – 50cm is about right – then dust lightly with flour and pass through the pasta machine using the tagliatelle attachment.

What do Italians eat alongside pasta? ›

In Italy, pasta is a first course like risotto, soup, paella… It's not typically served alongside a side dish. Although there are some dishes of pasta that are dressed with vegetables ( such as aubergines, zucchini, broccoli…); this occurs more often in the South.

How is tagliatelle served? ›

Tagliatelle can be served with a variety of sauces, though the classic is a meat sauce or Bolognese sauce. Long and thin. Can be served with a creamy sauce and cheese. Tagliatelle are traditionally made with egg pasta.

How do you eat tagliatelle pasta? ›

To avoid any strands dangling from your mouth a la Cthulhu, twirl them carefully around your fork so you have a small, compact amount wrapped neatly around the prongs.

What do Italians eat beside pasta? ›

In Italy pasta is considered a first plate that will never be eaten with vegetable, salade, meat or fis beside. As first dish can easly find soup, rice (mosltly they serve "risotto" - something to try expeccially "risotto with scampi" , if you like seafood) and some cassrole.

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