Pasta/5 recipes

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.

Pesto pasta shells with sauteed leeks, sun-dried tomatoes, black olives, and chopped hard-boiled eggs topped with Parmesan. A quick vegetarian pasta dinner.

Rigatoni alla vodka with bacon, tomato sauce, heavy cream, and butter in a rich pink sauce. A creamy, smoky Italian-American pasta that comes together in under 45 minutes.

Broiled sweet potato slices with Parmesan and a brown sugar glaze served over spinach fettuccine. A sweet-savory pasta dish that's surprisingly light and comes together in under an hour.

Fettuccine Alfredo made lighter with evaporated milk instead of heavy cream, simmered with Parmesan, garlic and basil into a silky sauce right in the pot. A quick, creamy pasta with less fat than the classic.

Fettuccine with steamed sea scallops, fresh peas, and saffron butter sauce. An elegant seafood pasta where gentle steaming keeps the scallops tender and the saffron adds golden richness.

Spaghetti alla chitarra tossed with butter-sauteed mushrooms, garlic, crushed chilies, oregano, and freshly grated Parmesan. An elegant Italian pasta that comes together in under 45 minutes.

Pasta O'Doole is a three-ingredient pantry dinner: elbow macaroni tossed with great northern beans and tomato sauce. Cheap, filling, vegan, and ready in minutes from cans and a box.

Classic baked macaroni and cheese with American cheese, milk, and a paprika-dusted top. Simple, creamy comfort food that tastes like childhood in a casserole dish.

Rotelle with Smoked Turkey, Broccoli and Peppers recipe

Spinach and three-cheese stuffed manicotti with sautéed mushrooms, baked in spaghetti sauce until bubbly. No-boil shells make this Florentine-style pasta a breeze.

Stuffed shells florentine with jumbo pasta shells filled with spinach, mushrooms, cottage cheese, and garlic, baked in marinara. Lighter Italian comfort food.

Lightning-fast bay scallop saute with tri-color bell peppers, garlic, white wine, fresh basil, and toasted pine nuts over pasta. A low-calorie seafood dinner that's on the table in 20 minutes.

Penne with cauliflower, fresh and sun-dried tomatoes, basil, and Parmesan. A no-cook sauce tossed with hot pasta and cauliflower boiled together in the same pot. Ready in 30 minutes.

Penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, crushed dried chile, black olives, fresh basil, lemon zest, and Parmesan. A bold no-cook sauce that sits at room temperature to marry the flavors before tossing.

Cannelloni stuffed with chicken, spinach, ricotta, and toasted almonds, blanketed in a Swiss cheese cream sauce and baked until bubbly. A showstopper for Sunday dinner or date night.