Pasta recipes

OK Corral salad, a hearty cold pasta-and-tuna toss with pasta wheels, canned tuna, crisp radishes, and green bell pepper. Make-ahead potluck friendly.

In my opinion, this is the most decadent, rich and scrumptious pasta dish and one of my all-time favorites (I originally got this recipe from a Bon Appetit magazine many, many years ago). Very easy to prepare and always a hit.

Chicken and zucchini soup built from scratch: a whole chicken simmered with parsnip, turnip, and lemon, then enriched with browned Italian sausage, pasta shells, and grated zucchini stirred in at the end.

Mac and cheese loaded with chopped ham, crushed pineapple, green bell pepper, and onion in a creamy American cheese sauce. Hawaiian pizza flavors in pasta form.

Rich fettuccine Alfredo with lump backfin crabmeat folded into a butter, cream, and Parmesan sauce. A luxurious Chesapeake-meets-Italian pasta in just five core ingredients.

Rigatoni al Gorgonzola with crumbled Gorgonzola melted into warm cream with nutmeg and Parmesan. A rich, velvety Italian blue cheese pasta sauce that comes together in the time it takes to boil the noodles.

Fettuccine Alfredo with butter, cream, and Parmesan tossed into a silky sauce in 20 minutes. A splash of Romano adds sharpness to the classic.

Only 5 ingredients and very quick and easy to prepare chicken soup that's suitable for chicken dinner.

Pistachio-lime chicken linguine: pan-seared chicken strips tossed with toasted pistachios, fresh lime juice, and butter, served over linguine with grated lime zest. Bistro-style 30-minute dinner.

Greek-style vegetarian pastitsio with spiced lentils, fettuccine, and a fluffy egg white topping. Comfort food without the meat.

Southwest pasta salad with a creamy cilantro-lime-jalapeno dressing, fresh tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, and zucchini. A zesty make-ahead side that chills in an hour.

Bow tie pasta and tender broccoli bake in creamy Alfredo sauce with roasted red peppers and basil. Parmesan browns on top for a bubbly, golden crust.

Vegetable spaghetti with sauteed bell pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, and onion in jarred marinara over thin pasta. A 30-minute weeknight pasta the whole family will eat.

Make-ahead Italian pasta salad with rotini, crisp vegetables, and tangy garlic vinaigrette that gets better overnight for easy potluck and picnic perfection.

Baked mac and cheese with tomato sauce, sharp cheddar, and chicken broth soaked into the noodles before baking. A Southern-style casserole with no cream sauce needed.

Penne with bacon, peas, and ricotta is a creamy 5-ingredient pasta ready in 20 minutes. Smoky bacon fat coats the penne while ricotta melts into a silky sauce.