15 spaghetti boil recipes

Boiled spaghetti squash for a low-carb pasta substitute. Cut, simmer 30 minutes, scrape out the noodle-like strands. Diabetic-friendly side or pasta swap.

Put down the take-out menus, and make this Chinese favorite in the comfort of your home.

Beef lo mein: a takeout-style stir fry with thin-sliced flank steak, cabbage, carrot, and soy-ginger marinade tossed with noodles. Home cooking that matches the takeout in under 45 minutes.

Stir-fried flank steak with ginger and scallions tossed with noodles, bean sprouts, shredded carrots, and celery in a light soy sauce. Better than takeout beef lo mein in 40 minutes.

The Cincinatti Chili is, would you believe, an alternative to spaghetti sauce. It's mild and sweet (the cinnamon does that), and won't burn anyone's mouth unless you serve it boiling.

Southern-style chicken spaghetti with boiled chicken, Velveeta with peppers, red bell pepper, and celery. The spaghetti cooks directly in the chicken broth for maximum flavor.

Italian spaghetti with sauteed shrimp, white wine, fresh basil, mint, and cherry pepper. A light, herb-bright coastal pasta that comes together in 45 minutes.

No-boil lasagna with ground beef, ricotta, mozzarella, and jarred spaghetti sauce. Uncooked noodles soften right in the dish with a simple water trick.

Lazy day lasagna uses uncooked noodles that soften in the oven with water poured around the edges. Layered with cottage cheese, mozzarella, and a beefy spaghetti sauce, no boiling required.

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.

Spicy spaghetti salad tosses kamut pasta with navy beans, tomatoes with green chilies, bell pepper, scallions, cilantro, and cumin. A vegetarian, no-cook-after-boiling dinner.

Light basil pesto pasta with toasted pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and reduced chicken broth instead of heavy oil. Fresh, bright, and ready in 20 minutes.

Quick beef spaghetti sauce with ground beef, tomato sauce, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, and a glug of white wine stirred in near the end. Ready while the pasta boils.

Old-fashioned chicken spaghetti casserole made from scratch with a whole stewing hen, creamy mushroom roux, hard-boiled eggs, and melted cheddar. Makes two casseroles so you can freeze one for later.

One dish microwave spaghetti for two with ground beef, onion, and Italian tomato sauce cooked together in a single casserole. A quick weeknight pasta dinner with no pots to boil and minimal cleanup.