Pasta recipes

Baja chicken pasta salad pairs poached chicken breast and orzo with crunchy jicama, dried fruit, and a chile-spiked mayo-sour cream dressing. Sweet-savory chilled salad with a Southwest twist for picnics or weekday lunches.

Vanilla is the secret ingredient in this cross-cultural sauce, which is also delicious served with grilled or roasted meats, poultry or seafood.

Classic Mexican sopa de pasta: noodles toasted golden in oil, then simmered in a savory tomato and chicken broth. Everyday comfort food ready in 30 minutes.

Creamy cheddar pasta tossed with herb-seared chicken breast, sautéed zucchini and yellow summer squash. A hearty skillet dinner that hits comfort-food notes without drowning in heavy sauce.

Angel hair pasta tossed with Mexican turkey picadillo, garlic, jalapenos, and tomato sauce, finished with fresh green onions. Weeknight Mexican-Italian mashup ready in under 30 minutes.

Roasted tomato and red chile arrabiata sauce with New Mexico chile, garlic, oregano, and cilantro over pasta. A Southwestern twist on Italian arrabiata with fire-roasted depth.

An easy "al forno" (from the oven) baked gnocchi recipe with a spicy rosé gnocchi sauce and Manchego cheese. On the table in 20 minutes, simple and delicious.

Mexican fideo is the classic toasted-noodle soup-pasta: thin vermicelli coils browned in oil, then simmered in tomato sauce and water with onion and garlic. Comforting 30-minute Mexican kitchen staple.

Easy garlic jalapeño cream sauce that's ready in minutes. Tangy with a bit of heat, this sauce makes a great substitute for Alfredo sauce atop a quick pasta for a delicious no-fuss weeknight main dish.

A delicious lasagna dish that's packed with fresh spring vegetables. Use corn tortillas instead of the traditional lasagna noodles to make it a healthy yet tasty meal.

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.

Fajita-style orzo tossed with grilled red peppers, charred red onion, a fresh jalapeno-lime salsa and a dollop of sour cream. Tex-Mex flavors in a pasta bowl, perfect for summer grilling.

Wok-seared chicken in a smoky tomatillo-mole sauce with roasted garlic, chipotle, and coffee. Served over egg noodles with jalapeño Jack cheese and a fresh platter of jicama, cucumber, and radishes.

A cold tuna pasta salad with green chiles, horseradish mayo, green olives, and avocado tossed in shell pasta. Let it sit 2 hours for the flavors to meld.

Linguine with avocado pesto: creamy no-cook sauce of ripe avocado, basil, parsley, garlic, and pine nuts blended over al dente linguine. Dairy-light, oil-light, flavor-heavy.

A quick but scrumptious recipe that uses ground beef, sweet bell peppers and a bit of chili powder.