4,660 pasta recipes

Oxtail is one of the most economical and most flavorful cuts of meat, and one that takes well to marinating for days in a hearty mixture of red wine, herbs, and vegetables. The longer you marinate the mixture, the more flavorful it will be, but be sure it marinates at least 3 days. Oxtail is also a fatty cut -- give yourself plenty of time to allow the stew to cook and then cool, so all the fat can be skimmed off. Serve this with thick noodles in warmed soup bowls, accompanied by a tossed salad, and of course, a robust red wine.

Grilled portobello mushrooms over angel hair: meaty grilled portobello caps sliced over fresh angel hair pasta in a quick garlic cream sauce. A vegetarian main in about 45 minutes.

Southwest pasta salad with a creamy cilantro-lime-jalapeno dressing, fresh tomatoes, yellow bell pepper, and zucchini. A zesty make-ahead side that chills in an hour.

Manicotti shells stuffed with water-packed tuna, nonfat cottage cheese, lemon, and dill, topped with a creamy yogurt-cottage cheese sauce and Parmesan. A high-protein, low-fat spin on stuffed pasta that's ready in an hour.

OK Corral salad, a hearty cold pasta-and-tuna toss with pasta wheels, canned tuna, crisp radishes, and green bell pepper. Make-ahead potluck friendly.

Pistachio-lime chicken linguine: pan-seared chicken strips tossed with toasted pistachios, fresh lime juice, and butter, served over linguine with grated lime zest. Bistro-style 30-minute dinner.

Lemon orzo pilaf is a five-ingredient one-pot side of rice-shaped pasta simmered in chicken broth with basil and lemon zest. Ready in 30 minutes. Bright, simple weeknight starch.

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.

In my opinion, this is the most decadent, rich and scrumptious pasta dish and one of my all-time favorites (I originally got this recipe from a Bon Appetit magazine many, many years ago). Very easy to prepare and always a hit.

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.

Vegetable spaghetti with sauteed bell pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, and onion in jarred marinara over thin pasta. A 30-minute weeknight pasta the whole family will eat.

Baked mac and cheese with tomato sauce, sharp cheddar, and chicken broth soaked into the noodles before baking. A Southern-style casserole with no cream sauce needed.

Ramp ravioli pair grilled-wild-leek filling with tender one-hour slow-cooked calamari in olive oil. A springtime Italian pasta showcasing foraged ramps at their peak.

Whipped ricotta blended with Parmesan, lemon zest, nutmeg, and fresh herbs creates a velvety no-cook cream sauce for vermicelli. Light, fast, and on the table in 20 minutes.

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.

Low calorie macaroni bake uses skim milk, cottage cheese, and dill in a from-scratch white sauce topped with breadcrumbs and paprika. Creamy comfort food without the guilt.