Pasta recipes

This fiery Cajun chicken pasta smothers spaghetti in a spicy triple-pepper tomato sauce loaded with butter-sautéed chicken. A bold Louisiana-style feast for heat lovers.

Fresh tomato pasta toss simmers blanched and peeled tomatoes with garlic, basil, parsley, and oregano, finished with a splash of cream over penne. A high-summer pasta sauce when tomatoes are at their peak.

The sauce was too much like spagetti sauce. I cooked the pork chops in the sauce for hours and it was tender, but the pork flavor was diminished; I would prefer to taste the pork more.

Spinach spaghetti tossed in a creamy white bean and roasted red pepper sauce with steamed broccoli, asparagus, and sun-dried tomato garnish. Vegetarian, vibrant, and satisfying.

Cubed turkey and elbow macaroni tossed with bell peppers, celery, and onions in a basil-spiked mayonnaise dressing, then baked warm. A quick 30-minute leftover turkey meal the whole family will love.

Fresh green pasta salad tosses spinach spaghetti with asparagus, zucchini, snow peas, mushrooms and cherry tomatoes in a curry-spiked mayo dressing. A vegetable garden in a bowl.

Pasta with beans, the Italian-American take on pasta e fagioli, with elbow macaroni tossed into a brothy tomato base loaded with cannellini beans, garlic, and Parmesan. Rustic one-pot comfort food.

Pasta alla carrettiera is a no-cook Italian sauce of raw tomato, garlic, fresh basil, and red pepper flakes pounded into a rough paste with olive oil, then tossed with hot spaghetti. Bright, raw, summer-perfect.

Grilled shrimp tossed with penne, fresh Roma tomatoes, diced mozzarella, basil, and Italian parsley in a simple olive oil dressing. This no-cook pasta sauce comes together while the penne boils.

Jumbo pasta shells stuffed with ricotta, Parmesan, and egg, baked in a homemade basil tomato sauce and topped with melted mozzarella. Classic Italian comfort food.

Garlicky pasta chicken salad made with 6 whole heads of garlic slow-cooked in olive oil and puréed with basil and rosemary. Tossed with rotini, Parmesan, and toasted walnuts.

Fresh pesto pasta with basil, sauteed garlic, pine nuts, miso paste, and lemon juice. A dairy-free, vegan pesto that gets its umami depth from miso instead of Parmesan.

Chicken and broccoli pasta with garlic, white wine, and chicken broth tossed with bow-tie pasta. A quick one-skillet weeknight dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Sun-dried tomato pasta sauce with no canned tomatoes. Dry-packed tomatoes rehydrate in boiling water, then split between a blended puree and chunky halves for real texture. Vegan, 20 minutes.

Tri-color pasta with a simple tomato sauce simmered with garlic and onion, tossed with fresh basil, olive oil, and Parmesan. Italian comfort food from pantry staples.

Lentil pasta soup with orzo, Italian green beans, tomatoes, and four dried herbs in a chicken broth base. A hearty one-pot soup finished with vinegar and croutons.