Tess Rose Lampert is a New York City-based writer, beverage educator, and lover of savings. With over a decade in the alcoholic beverage industry, she strives to enhance consumers' everyday experiences with food and beverage through dynamic and interactive writings, educational seminars, and events.
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Pasta is widely considered the ultimate comfort food. Even gluten-sensitive stomachs can now enjoy gluten-free rice- and quinoa-based pastas of all varieties. Aside from being delicious and easy to prepare, pasta is also inexpensive and shelf stable, making it a good item to buy in bulk. Boxes of pasta that easily contain four servings can cost as little as $1. These dishes highlight some favorite ways to use pasta.
Pasta may be the star of many dishes, but sauces and dressings tend to steal the show. When a craving is for the noodle itself, use garlic and oil to envelope fettuccini without masking the flavor of the pasta. The pungent flavors make a simple and delicate seasoning.
While orzo looks like rice, it is part of the pasta family and lends itself to salads. A traditional Greek salad can become a satisfying main dish when tossed with orzo. Using orzo as a base is also a great way to add bulk to a dish for large parties. It works well served warm, room temperature, or chilled.
Recipe: Allrecipes
This classic Jewish dish combines pasta bowties with tender buckwheat for a flavorful dish. It can serve as a side dish, a snack, or the focus of a meal when made with egg and topped with onion and mushroom gravy. The recipe is simple, using a few household staples such as salt, pepper, and onion.
Recipe: Epicurious
The best versions of this family favorite are rich with a mixture of fine cheeses and bathed in a béchamel sauce, then topped with crispy breadcrumbs. Whether you opt for a fancy, lobster-infused version or familiar yellow-powdered cheese sauce, the building blocks remain the same: pasta and cheese — always delicious.
Recipe: Food Network
Most everyone celebrates the marriage of long noodles with tangy, sweet tomato sauce rich in garlic, onion, and herbs (there's even a National Spaghetti Day on Jan. 4). Personalize this classic American-Italian dish with homemade sauce and additions of your choice, such as sausage, meatballs, roasted mushrooms, or baked fennel.
Of all the pasta shapes, pappardelle is the one most commonly paired with ragù. The wide, flat noodles make a good companion to the hearty sauce. A wine and mushroom ragù takes on impressive depth of flavor, elevating dinner parties or even a low-key night.
Recipe: Eataly
One of the best aspects of lasagna is the creativity it allows. This layered casserole can be built with classic meats or just as easily with roasted vegetables. Similarly, you can change the sauce from classic marinara to a creamy béchamel for a white lasagna. Combine with noodles and cheese and bake to hot, bubbly perfection.
Recipe: Taste of Home
This light, vegetarian pasta dish works beautifully as a side or as the primary plate. Combine 1 pound of cooked fusilli with a quarter cup toasted pine nuts, a small handful of golden raisins, a head of cauliflower cut into florets and roasted with salt and pepper, the zest of half a lemon, and a quarter cup grated Parmesan cheese. Dress with olive oil, salt, and pepper to taste and optional chili flakes.
This simple dish is a favorite during childhood and then tends to fade from the menu. While the humble yet ubiquitous combination of mild cheese, tender noodles, and tangy tomato sauce may not be the height of sophistication, this home-style dish deserves a spot in every home cook's repertoire. Consider a crowd-pleasing version for a family potluck.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Especially good for picky vegetable eaters, pasta salad is a way to incorporate veggies such as tomatoes and bell peppers into dinner. Sliced deli meats and cheeses such as salami and provolone are other possible additions to a basic pasta salad, as are more veggies such as blanched broccoli or asparagus for a more substantial dish.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Perhaps the most famous stuffed pasta, ravioli come in many different shapes and flavors. Surprisingly simple to make from scratch, ravioli are a fun way to enjoy pasta. The sauce on the outside is usually light, such as olive oil or classic marinara.
Recipe: Epicurious
The name of this pasta means "little ear," and the slightly curved shape helps it scoop up sauce. The classic combo for orecchiette is bold and bitter broccoli rabe with tangy Parmesan cheese and a hint of spice from red chili. The rich flavors make this dish filling and satisfying yet incredibly simple.
Recipe: Martha Stewart
This kid-approved dish is perfect for birthday parties and picnics. Baked ziti has become so popular that it has even become pizza topping. Build on a simple version by adding roasted vegetables, different cheeses, or sautéed meats to make it your own.
Recipe: Allrecipes
Commonly mistaken for a grain, couscous is actually a pasta that comes in varieties such as whole wheat, multicolored, and a larger shape commonly called Israeli couscous. It's quick to cook and works with nearly any flavor combination. A recipe for Persian-spiced couscous salad combines nuts and fruit for a complex layering of flavors.
Recipe: Food.com
Bucatini may be the most indulgent pasta shape with long, hollow tubes that get filled with sauce for an explosion of flavor in every bite. A simple yet decadent sauce recipe gets its big flavor from cured pork like bacon or pancetta, although mushrooms and capers would make a zesty vegetarian option.
Recipe: Bon Appetit
Something of a sophisticated macaroni and cheese, this dish is all about the combination of creamy cheese and fragrant black pepper. Typically spaghetti is used for this sauce, although other shapes could also be substituted. The main thing is to keep it simple, so the cheese and pepper are the stars.
Recipe: Bon Appetit
This comforting one-dish meal is a crowd-pleaser that's simple to make. The recipe uses a base of tube-shaped pasta, like rigatoni or penne, covered in a creamy Alfredo sauce and studded with chicken to make a balanced meal. Substituting or adding more vegetables is a way to sneak some more nutrition into this heartwarming dish.
Recipe: The Cooking Jar
Angel hair pasta gets its name from its ultra-thin, almost silky noodles and is commonly paired with seafood. The recipe uses lemons, garlic, and shrimp to create a light sauce to brighten the pasta. The zest of the lemon is where most of the essential oils are, so be sure to include it in the dish for maximum flavor.
Recipe: Delish
The oddly shaped pasta ditalini looks like small rings and is most commonly used in soups. A pasta e fagiole (pasta and beans) recipe is a classic combination of ditalini and chickpeas. The small size of the pasta allows plenty in each spoonful.
Recipe: Family Style Food
Rigatoni is one of the most recognized and commonly used pasta shapes, and sausage is a classic accompaniment. A tasty take on the dish coats the pasta and savory sausage with a mild tomato cream sauce. This quick meal can be served any night of the week for a casual dinner or easily made in a large batch for a party.
Recipe: Food & Wine