What to make with pasta
With pasta and a few pantry staples you can make garlic butter pasta, pasta with tomato sauce, baked ziti, tuna and lemon pasta, pesto pasta, pasta e fagioli or a creamy one-pot pasta. Save a cup of the starchy cooking water; it turns any sauce glossy and helps it cling.
pasta
9 easy ideas with pasta
Family-tested favorites. Tap one to get the full recipe, scaled for your table.
Garlic Butter Parmesan Pasta
15 minButter, garlic, parmesan and pasta water. The 15-minute dinner every kid loves.
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One-Pot Creamy Tomato Pasta
25 minPasta cooks right in the sauce with a splash of cream. One pot to wash.
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Baked Ziti
50 minPasta, marinara, ricotta and mozzarella baked until bubbling. Make it ahead or double it for the freezer.
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Lemony Tuna Pasta
20 minCanned tuna, lemon, capers and parsley tossed with spaghetti. A real pantry hero.
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Pasta e Fagioli
35 minA hearty Italian soup of small pasta, beans and tomato.
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Pesto Pasta with Peas
15 minJarred or homemade pesto with frozen peas tossed in during the last minute of boiling.
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Homemade Mac and Cheese
25 minA smooth stovetop cheese sauce that comes together while the pasta cooks.
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Pasta Primavera
25 minWhatever vegetables are in the crisper, sautéed and tossed with olive oil and parmesan.
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Cacio e Pepe
15 minPecorino, black pepper and pasta water. Three ingredients, done right.
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Kitchen notes on pasta
Salt the water
About 1 tablespoon of salt per 4 quarts of water seasons the pasta from the inside. Salting the sauce alone never quite catches up.
Save pasta water
Scoop out a mug of cooking water before draining. A splash emulsifies butter, cheese or oil into a silky sauce.
Finish in the pan
Pull the pasta a minute early and let it finish cooking in the sauce. It absorbs flavor instead of just sitting in it.
Storage
Cooked pasta keeps 3 to 5 days in the fridge. Toss it with a little oil so it does not clump.
Questions about pasta
How much pasta per person?
Plan on 2 ounces of dry pasta per adult for a side or 3 to 4 ounces as a main. One pound feeds four to six people.
Should you rinse pasta after cooking?
No, except for cold pasta salad. Rinsing washes off the starch that helps the sauce cling.
Can I make pasta ahead of time?
Yes. Cook it 2 minutes short, drain, toss with a little oil and refrigerate. Reheat it in boiling water for 1 minute or directly in the sauce.
