Pasta recipes

Baked stuffed manicotti the old-school way: pasta tubes packed with a beef and mozzarella filling, blanketed in a homemade tomato sauce simmered an hour with fennel seed and herbs, then baked bubbling under more cheese.

A classic béchamel sauce enriched with Parmesan and a hint of nutmeg becomes this lightened Alfredo where low-fat milk and minimal butter create creamy pasta indulgence you can actually feel good about.

A savory pasta dish that can be served by itself or with succulent meat balls or steak.

Turkey breasts, bell pepper, chickpeas and tomato sauce make this delicious yet nutritious meal.

Potato and chive tortelli tossed in brown butter with fried sage leaves and lemon. Handmade Italian stuffed pasta filled with chive-spiked mashed potato in a classic noisette sauce.

New Orleans garlic rosemary shrimp sauteed with a whole head of garlic, white wine, lemon, and a dash of nutmeg, served over buttered fettuccine. Ready in 30 minutes.

Creepy cheese-stuffed rigatoni shaped into slithering snakes with BBQ sauce markings and peppercorn eyes. A kid-friendly Halloween party snack that's equal parts gross and genius.

Ham and vegetable linguine with asparagus, mushrooms, zucchini, and peas in a Parmesan cream sauce. A loaded one-skillet pasta dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Penne pasta with sun-dried tomatoes, capers, fresh thyme, tarragon, and green peas in a broth-based sauce. Low-fat, full of flavor, and loaded with six cloves of garlic.

A chilled shrimp and vermicelli salad loaded with peas, green onions, dill pickles, hard-boiled eggs, and bell pepper in a tangy sour cream and mustard dressing. A hearty make-ahead salad that feeds a crowd.

Julia's manicotti, shells stuffed with ricotta, mozzarella, Parmesan and Romano, baked in a slow-simmered wine-laced tomato sauce. A family-style Italian-American bake with deeply seasoned red sauce.

Peanut butter noodles toss cooked linguine with a quick peanut sauce of soy, sesame oil, garlic, and a touch of vinegar. Cold or room temperature, ideal for lunchboxes and picnics. Ready in 15 minutes.

Authentic Italian trenette pasta tossed with fresh basil pesto, tender potatoes, and crisp green beans. A Ligurian classic using one pot for everything, ready in 40 minutes.

Mom's baked macaroni and cheese with cheddar, eggs, milk, butter, and bread crumb topping. A custard-style mac and cheese that bakes up creamy with a golden crust.

Fettuccine topped with a spicy Mexican bean sauce made from kidney beans, stewed tomatoes, green chiles, and cilantro. A hearty vegetarian pasta dinner ready in 30 minutes.

Kasha Rustica with toasted buckwheat groats, bow-tie pasta, sauteed onions, and browned mushrooms in vegetable stock. A hearty vegetarian take on classic kasha varnishkes.