Pasta recipes

Light linguine with white clam sauce made with canned clams simmered in their own briny liquid with onion, parsley, and Parmesan. A low-fat Italian pasta that lets the clean ocean flavor of the clams shine through.

Sopa seca turns crumbled vermicelli into a dry Mexican noodle dish with onion, garlic, green chiles, and tomato. Vegetarian and oil-free, the broth cooks down so every strand soaks up flavor.

Roman Holiday Soup: a low-fat Italian minestrone with white beans, green beans, macaroni, and a tomato-garlic-basil swirl stirred in at the end. Ready in 40 minutes, topped with Parmesan.

Hearty Italian bean soup with dried navy beans, tomato sauce, basil, oregano, and whole wheat macaroni. A filling, budget-friendly one-pot meal that's naturally vegan.

Easy spaghetti tosses al dente noodles with a quick onion-garlic-tomato sauce simmered in a single skillet. Pantry weeknight pasta in 35 minutes, no jar required.

Microwave macaroni sauteed in oil with onion, green pepper, and garlic, then cooked in tomato juice with Worcestershire sauce. A one-dish pasta, no boiling needed.

Classic Italian minestrone loaded with great northern beans, spinach, cabbage, zucchini, potatoes, tomatoes, and elbow macaroni in a herb-scented broth. The ultimate hearty vegetable soup.

The fresh coriander and cooked vermicelli add an interesting touch to this version of lentil soup.

Very great orzo and toasted barsley, light and healthy.

New York cupboard soup made entirely from pantry staples: canned chicken, black beans, corn, mushrooms, roasted red peppers, and orzo in chicken broth. A filling 25-minute soup from the shelf.

Lighter fettuccine Alfredo with turkey Italian sausage, evaporated skim milk, and Parmesan topped with fresh tomato. A lower-fat spin on the classic pasta dish that still delivers creamy, cheesy satisfaction.

Vegan tofu manicotti stuffed with mashed tofu, spinach, garlic, and lemon juice, baked in spaghetti sauce. A dairy-free, plant-based take on classic stuffed pasta shells.

Cajun shrimp macaroni salad with a zesty mayo dressing spiked with hot sauce, Worcestershire, lemon juice, mustard, and ketchup. A big-batch Southern potluck favorite.

Spinach ricotta stuffed shells with a cabbage twist, baked in tomato-broth sauce with nutmeg. A lighter Italian-American main with hidden-vegetable smarts.

Plain Italian minestrone with potatoes, celery, green beans, peas, and ditalini pasta in a simple broth, finished with Parmesan and parsley. No tomatoes needed.

Low-calorie broccoli soup blended smooth with carrots, celery, and herbs, studded with whole broccoli buds and elbow macaroni. Creamy comfort without the cream.