Favorite Pasta Recipes

I’m currently brainstorming new recipes. Anything you’re looking for that I can help you with?

Right now I wanna make a pasta dish with a ton of vegetables. One that I can give my family but when I serve myself a portion, it’s light on the pasta and dense in the vegetable department. Leftovers that reheat well are a huge plus! If you’ve got one that you’re loving right now, shoot it over my way. I’m all ears.

I figured it’s best to look back and see what I’ve done/LOVED so I may have a template for another game changer. Here are some of my Favorite Pasta recipes!

Creamy Mushroom + Sausage Orecchiette

Perfect for the cold winter nights.

Quite a few of you have made my cousin’s pasta!!! YAY!! Keep tagging me in your Instagram stories, I LOVE IT.

Baked Ziti with Creme Fraiche and Spinach

Make this for company. It is so indulgent and DELICIOUS. HOST OF THE YEAR. Get used to that title.

Orzo with Pancetta and Pine Nuts

My mom used to make this for us and it’s incredibly comforting. I forget that orzo is pasta sometimes!

Quick Tomato Basil Pasta

This is a great one to have in your back pocket. Especially if you find yourself with too many tomatoes to be used up.

I can’t wait for tomato season…

And while we are lusting for summer, this is a good way to get vegetables in…

Zucchini Carbonara

Yum yum. Gimme some.

Penne with Mint-Pistachio Pesto

This is an excellent dish to save for the Spring months coming up soon.

Sausage + Kale Stuffed Shells

If you stash some of these in your freezer, your future self will thank you!

Baked Spaghetti with Meat Sauce

I’ve been making this for company this past year (mostly to make my life easy) and it’s been a real hit. I think people really just want permission to eat a whole bowl of pasta. When they’re at your house you’ve given them permission to! I bet you too will be pleased when people go back for seconds.

Marsala Meatballs with Egg Noodles

Dude. Egg noodles. I LOVE EGG NOODLES. Also, this reminds me of my favorite Lean Cuisine dinner (Swedish Meatballs) but waaaaaay better.

Like something I wish I grew up eating, good.

Lemon Dill Salmon Capellini

Protein and carbs. Do it.

Creamy Goat Cheese and Spinach Pasta

If you have some goat cheese sitting around in the fridge with no purpose, make this!

Angel Hair Pasta with Lemon + Arugula

I love reading old posts. They feel like a diary page at times. This was a good recipe!

Creamy Corn Basil Pasta

I bet this would work with frozen corn if you’re in the mood for corn right now. It’s soo good with that bacon!

Sriracha Mac + Cheese

For all you sriracha lovers…..

10 Ways to Enhance a Box of Mac & Cheese

Speaking of Mac & Cheese, I wrote a post on how to shapeshift your favorite boxed Mac & Cheese! Check it out if you love food alterations and hacks.

Let’s carry this whole noodle thing a bit further…

Spicy Coconut Noodles

This recipe was a revelation. Think of it as Thai alfredo noodles. Serve it up with your favorite protein.

Asian Salmon Noodle Salad

So good for work lunches and light dinners.

Cold Sesame Noodles

A great way to convince yourself to eat cucumbers. Mix noodles with them!

Mediterranean Pasta Salad

I almost always make sure I have these ingredients on hand because this is one of my meal prep staples!

Cold Soba Noodle Salad

Another great lunch situation. I think we get the point that I love arugula by now, right?

So, yeah what kind of pasta/noodle dish are we in the mood for? What should I make that I’ve never made before??!

Smithereens February 6, 2019

Since you’re asking and brainstorming, I’d love any new chicken / one-pot idea that could be prepared in advance for weekday dinners when we have little time and hungry kids.

Reply
Amy February 6, 2019

I’d love to see your take on a Bolognese!

Reply
Marcia February 6, 2019

I’m transitioning to vegetarian/vegan/cruelty-free lifestyle and I thought your soba noodles is a fantastic idea! As a brain storming, I’d love to see more meat-free recipes here if possible.

Reply
- Tracy February 6, 2019
  
  Got it! Thanks, Marcia! You’ll love Soba Noodles. It’s one of my favorites.
  
  Reply
- Priya February 7, 2019
  
  Yes please! I was going to say the same- more veggies ones please! I see the pictures first and I’m usually most excited by the meaty ones as they tend to look more cosy and comforting- like a hug in a bowl!
  
  Reply
Diane Micklin February 6, 2019

I have a recipe originally from Better Homes and Gardens called “Healthy Baked Cavatelli”. I’ve adjusted it to use a marinara sauce instead of plain tomato sauce. Another great substitutions is to use a vegan Italian sausage.

Reply
Daniela February 6, 2019

I’ve been craving pho, ramen or any kind of soupy Asian noodle concoctions!

Reply
Erica February 6, 2019

My husband and I love to make rigatoni with mushrooms, peas, and leeks. Finished off with lemon zest and parmesan, it’s a definite winner!

Reply
Mary February 6, 2019

I second the wish for more meat-free recipes!

If you’re looking for something absolutely delish and heavy on one particular vegetable you must try the Minimalist Baker’s Garlic Chili Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower. It’s so good!
https://minimalistbaker.com/garlic-chili-pasta-with-roasted-cauliflower/

Reply
Sara February 6, 2019

Oooo last year we had dinner at Barbuto in Manhattan – Deb of Smitten Kitchen’s favorite restaurant! – and we got a gnocchi with roasted broccoli and cauliflower and olives and it was amazing …

Reply
Lauren February 6, 2019

Yes! More vegan and meat-free recipes. Some of these look SO GOOD…will be veganizing in my kitchen. Have you had the new-ish Beyond Meat Sausages? I think you’d really like!
As for ideas, what about a Shutterbean spin on Spaghetti al Limone? Yum. I’m thinking herbed breadcrumbs on top…

Reply
Michelle February 7, 2019

I’ve been making this sauce for a while now with rave reviews from my boyfriend! I cook skinless boneless chicken thighs in a deep skillet with olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic with lid off. Remove the chicken and throw in a chopped shallot, eggplant pieces, baby spinach leaves, white wine, grape tomatoes, and mushrooms. Sauté until the veggies are done. Add some half and half or heavy cream or milk or cream cheese (whatever dairy you have!) and some grated parmesan. Stir until thick. Add the chicken back in and toss in some cooked pasta. We love farfalle but any will work. You could substitute your veggie of choice! We’ve had green peas, roasted corn, broccoli, cauliflower, and even carrots in this! Roasted veggies work too when you have leftovers!

Reply
Amy February 7, 2019

We just discovered baby corn in pasta. So good! The most recent version was baby corn, carrots, broccoli, with sun dried tomatoes and marinated feta. It’s summer down under…

Reply
Chris Rishardson February 7, 2019

Tracy, you should try Trader Joes Lemon Parpadalle pasta. I saute zucchini, mushrooms, artichoke hearts, and sun dried tomatoes together in some fresh herbs and some olive oil. Meanwhile as the pasts is cooking I grate some fresh parmesean cheese. Drain the pasts and save some pasts water to help make a sauce.Mix the veges with the pasta, some parsley and fresh parmesean. So delicious. You can add chicken or shrimp if you like. That lemon pasts is amazing.

Reply
Candice February 7, 2019

Hi tracy! Long time reader here- read your blog before I had kids and now I have three (eek!) I just want to say that I love how you always change things up flavourwise bouncing from Asian flavours to Italian, etc… Please keep posting a little bit of everything and especially meals that you can tweak to please various family members to keep everybody happy without making five separate meals. ♥️

Reply
amy February 10, 2019

Would love to see some chicken curry bowl, thai chicken recipes that aren’t too spicy for kids! Love your recipes, really want to make those chicken parm meatballs soon! Thanks Tracy!

Reply
Vanessa February 11, 2019

Always looking for recipes for dinner salads.

Reply
- Tracy February 11, 2019
  
  Good to know!
  
  Reply
Ashley V February 11, 2019

Saw this post last week and had company coming Sunday, so made the Baked Spaghetti. There were 12 of us, so I did one regular version, and one gluten free/meat free and everyone was happy! Thank you for the suggestion to serve it for company.

Reply
Marie Noelle February 13, 2019

You should try to do a dessert pasta (like my wildest dreams are made of).
Lasagna for dessert would be a must!

Reply
Eveline February 13, 2019

I usually make a bolognese sauce full of veggies, based on my mothers recipe. It’s usually onion, garlic, carrot, zucchini, capsicum & mince with a full bottle of tomato passata & some (dried) italian herbs, but you can definitely vary the veggies and use whatever you like (add mushrooms or cherry tomatoes etc). When serving I love lots of sauce and just a little pasta while my husband loves more pasta and not as much sauce. But always a winner and definitely great to freeze too.

Also, with any of your own recipes you could use zucchini pasta for yourself and normal pasta for the guys? Or 50/50 for your own portion? 🙂

Reply