Traditional Neapolitan Main Courses

Meat, Fish, Seafood, and Festive Main Dishes

In traditional Naples cuisine, thesecondo piattois the heart of the main meal.
It may be humble or festive, simple or elaborate, but it always reflects the deep relationship between Naples, the sea, the countryside, family rituals, and the culture of long shared lunches.

Meat Dishes

Beef and Veal

  • Braciole
  • Meatballs in tomato sauce (“Polpette al sugo”)
  • Veal cutlets
  • Breaded veal cutlets (“Cotoletta”)
  • Beef stew Neapolitan style
  • Stuffed meat rolls
  • Slow-cooked beef in ragù
  • Roasted beef with potatoes
  • Veal with peas

Pork Dishes

  • Pork ribs in ragù (“Tracchie”)
  • Sausage and friarielli
  • Grilled sausages
  • Pork chops
  • Pork rind with beans (“Cotiche e fagioli”)
  • Neapolitan soffritto (“Zuffritto”)
  • Roasted pork shoulder
  • Stuffed pork roast

Chicken and Rabbit

  • Chicken cacciatore style
  • Oven-roasted chicken with potatoes
  • Fried chicken Neapolitan style
  • Rabbit Ischia style (“Coniglio all’ischitana”)
  • Rabbit with tomato and herbs

Seafood and Fish Dishes

Mussels, Clams, and Shellfish

  • Impepata di cozze
  • Mussel soup (“Zuppa di cozze”)
  • Stuffed mussels
  • Clams sautéed with garlic and parsley
  • Seafood stew

Octopus and Squid

  • Octopus Luciana style (“Polpo alla luciana”)
  • Grilled octopus
  • Fried calamari
  • Stuffed squid
  • Squid in tomato sauce

Fried Seafood

  • Fried anchovies
  • Fried cod
  • Mixed fried seafood (“Frittura di paranza”)
  • Fried shrimp and calamari
  • Salt cod fritters

Fish Main Courses

  • Acqua pazza fish
  • Sea bass baked in salt
  • Baked sea bream
  • Anchovies in casserole
  • Stuffed anchovies
  • Tuna with onions

Egg and Cheese Dishes

  • Frittata
  • Macaroni frittata
  • Mozzarella in carrozza
  • Stuffed mozzarella
  • Ricotta-based savory dishes
  • Eggplant parmigiana as a main course

Vegetable Main Courses

  • Parmigiana
  • Stuffed peppers
  • Stuffed zucchini
  • Escarole pizza
  • Gattò di patate
  • Cauliflower casserole
  • Artichokes stuffed Neapolitan style

Festive and Sunday Main Courses

  • Mixed meat ragù meats served after pasta
  • Easter lamb
  • Christmas baked fish
  • Stuffed turkey or chicken
  • Holiday seafood platters
  • Large Sunday roasts

Street and Popular Traditions

  • Per e muss
  • Tripe Neapolitan style
  • Octopus broth kiosks
  • Fried street fish
  • Sausage sandwiches

These dishes reflect the full spectrum of Neapolitan life:
from aristocratic banquets to humble workers’ meals, from seaside kitchens to crowded family Sundays, from sacred holidays to everyday survival transformed into cuisine.