Pasta recipes

Pasta e fagioli with pinto beans, pork chops, elbow macaroni, and tomatoes in beef broth. Half the beans get pureed to thicken the broth into a hearty Italian soup.

Pasta e ceci, the classic Roman comfort dish. Ditalini and chickpeas in garlicky tomato-basil broth. Pure cucina povera, ready with seven pantry ingredients.

Artichoke heart pasta sauce with marinated artichokes, Roma tomatoes, Parmesan, and fresh parsley. The reserved artichoke marinade adds tangy depth to every spoonful.

Room temperature pasta primavera with green and white fettuccine, prosciutto, snow peas, and a raspberry vinegar dressing. Finished with Parmesan and citrus zest.

Slow-simmered Italian tomato sauce with whole garlic cloves, beef bouillon, and optional bacon. This classic Pasta Pomodoro cooks for 2 hours until thick and rich, tossed with elbow macaroni and Parmesan.

Cajun shrimp pasta with linguine tossed in a slow-simmered tomato sauce spiked with cayenne, thyme, Worcestershire, and hot sauce, finished with Parmesan.

This was very good. I had a 26 ounce jar of salsa and used almost all of it. I used the last 6-8 ounces at the end right before I served it.

Crisp cucumbers and juicy tomatoes coat tender penne in a tangy dill-lemon dressing that gets better as it sits in the fridge.

Pasta Napolitana with a quick homemade tomato sauce from plum tomatoes, garlic, oregano, and a touch of honey to cut the acidity. Simple Italian comfort ready in 20 minutes.

Pasta with grilled turkey or chicken sausages, fresh tomatoes, roasted peppers, and saffron vinegar. A light, Mediterranean-style pasta toss ready in 30 minutes.

Pasta alla checca, a Roman no-cook summer pasta sauce of ripe tomatoes, kalamata olives, capers, fresh basil, and garlic steeped in olive oil for hours. No stove needed for the sauce.

Holiday pasta bake layers penne with eggplant tomato sauce, creamy ricotta, mozzarella, and Parmesan. A make-ahead crowd-feeder that bakes into a bubbling, cheesy, eggplant-rich casserole. Serves eight from one dish.

Pasta Mexicana: a cold spinach-spaghetti pasta salad tossed with diced tomato, cucumber matchsticks, sliced avocado, salsa, and fresh cilantro. A Tex-Mex twist on summer pasta salad.

Mexican pasta casserole with chicken, jalapeno, olives, and Monterey Jack cheese in a cumin-chili tomato sauce baked with rigatoni. A spicy, cheesy one-dish dinner.

Kroger's seafood pasta: a quick weeknight tomato-crab sauce with red pepper, onion, garlic, and oregano spooned over pasta. Ready in about 35 minutes, budget-friendly comfort.

Pasta con il tonno is the classic Italian pantry pasta with canned tuna, garlic, dried chili, and tomato. A 40-minute weeknight dinner from the cupboard.