Pasta recipes

Reduced-fat macaroni and cheese made creamy with blended cottage cheese and skim milk, topped with sharp cheddar and broiled Parmesan. All the comfort with less fat, ready in 45 minutes.

Straw and Hay pasta combines regular and green fettuccine with mushrooms, peas, ham, and a light Parmesan cream sauce. A classic Italian dish named for its two-toned pasta, made lighter with skim milk.

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.

Fettuccine with fresh artichokes, prosciutto, and pesto cream sauce finished with toasted pine nuts and Parmesan. A rich Italian pasta made from scratch.

My Italian husband uses this filling to make tortellini at home, and it's by far the most delicious filling. He does change the meat around, and we love them all! It's freezer friendly, so we usually make a bunch.

Linguine tossed with artichoke hearts, capers, Parmesan, and prosciutto in a buttery lemon-garlic sauce. A 35-minute Italian pasta that feels special.

Penne alla malefemmina, a no-cook Southern Italian pasta sauce of raw tomatoes, kalamata olives, capers, and garlic marinated in olive oil. Tossed with hot pasta or served cold as pasta salad.

Cheesy turkey and tomato pasta bake with cottage cheese, cheddar, and a buttery breadcrumb crust. Smart leftover-turkey casserole that feeds 12 from Thanksgiving's spoils.

Creamy Cajun fettuccine with shrimp, smoked sausage, carrots, and zucchini tossed in a Parmesan half-and-half sauce. A one-skillet weeknight pasta ready in 40 minutes.

Cheeseburger macaroni copycat made from scratch in one skillet with ground beef, elbow pasta, ketchup, mustard, and Velveeta. A nostalgic, kid-pleasing weeknight dinner that beats the boxed version on every score.

Fresh steamer clams cooked in white wine with shallots and herbs, then tossed with linguine in a garlicky, reduced clam broth sauce. Light, briny, and naturally diabetic-friendly with just one tablespoon of olive oil.

Wine country fettuccine alfredo with marinated sun-dried tomatoes, cream, Parmesan, and fresh chives. A Sonoma twist on the Italian classic, ready in 40 minutes.

Elbow macaroni bakes with tomato sauce, sharp cheddar, and chicken broth in this Southern-style casserole. The standing time lets the broth soak into the pasta for creamy texture without a béchamel.

Skillet macaroni barbecue: elbow pasta simmered one-pot with stewed tomatoes, barbecue sauce, sweet corn, peppers, onions, and melted cheddar on top. A vegetarian weeknight skillet dinner that tastes like a cowboy diner plate.

Sautéed mushrooms with garlic and lemon zest toss with bow-tie pasta and Parmesan for a simple Italian dinner that's elegant enough for company in 45 minutes.

Fresh morels braised in butter with shallots, garlic, sherry, and brandy, finished in heavy cream and tossed with pasta. A luxurious wild mushroom dish that freezes beautifully.