Food

22 Great Pasta Recipes

By: CanadianLiving.com / Recipes by The Canadian Living Test Kitchen

Pasta: Perfection on a Plate

Why is pasta so popular? So many reasons! First, it’s fast and easy to cook, and when you’re trying to get dinner on the table quickly, that’s a huge plus. Second, it’s super-versatile—delicious tossed with a myriad of sauces to create a multitude of different dishes. Third, it’s egalitarian, so it works just as well presented as fancy food for friends as it does for weeknight suppers with the family. Fourth, it’s inexpensive, which makes it perfect for every budget. Fifth, it offers sublime taste and undeniable comfort, no matter the season, weather, or surroundings.

Bacon, Broccoli & Four Cheese Macaroni Bake

Get the recipe: Bacon, Broccoli & Four Cheese Macaroni Bake

Braised Short Rib Ravioli with Porcini Mushroom Jus

Tender beef, sharp cheese and fresh herbs elevate simple pasta dough into elegant ravioli that are packed with flavour.

Get the recipe: Braised Short Rib Ravioli with Porcini Mushroom Jus

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Simple, economical and delicious, spaghetti with garlic and oil is an Italian specialty from the Naples region. We added bread crumbs for extra crunch and Parmesan to taste. You can also incorporate vegetables, such as broccoli, kale or mushrooms.

Get the recipe: Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Cacio E Pepe

This classic Roman dish is typically made using tonnarelli or pici pasta, which are slightly thicker versions of spaghetti

Get the recipe: Cacio E Pepe

Quick Baked Sausage and Mushroom Ziti

We've achieved a faster weeknight-friendly version of this classic Sunday casserole by keeping the ingredients simple and baking the pasta at a high temperature for less time.

Get the recipe: Quick Baked Sausage and Mushroom Ziti

Creamy Kale and Sun-Dried Tomato Carbonara

This carbonara is made extra-creamy by the addition of goat cheese, which melts into the egg-based sauce.

Get the recipe: Creamy Kale and Sun-Dried Tomato Carbonara

Artichoke, Leek and Mushroom Cannelloni

Fresh homemade cannelloni are a cinch to make—all you need to do is cut, fill and roll!

Get the recipe: Artichoke, Leek and Mushroom Cannelloni

Mediterranean Chicken and Spinach Pasta

Reserving some of the pasta water to toss with the whole dish helps distribute the ingredients and loosen up the pasta without adding extra oil.

Get the recipe: Mediterranean Chicken and Spinach Pasta

Creamy Broccoli Rotini

The addition of healthy broccoli makes this creamy dish feel slightly more virtuous.

Get the recipe: Creamy Broccoli Rotini

One-Pot Pasta with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Feta

This fresh meal packs all the flavour of Greek salad into a hearty pasta. Be sure to keep some of the cooking water before you drain the spaghetti—the starchy liquid helps create a luscious sauce when you stir it into the pasta at the end.

Get the recipe: One-Pot Pasta with Shrimp, Tomatoes and Feta

Creamy Shells With Ham and Peas

If you're a fan of creamy pasta, this twist on spaghetti carbonara will not disappoint. Using raw eggs might seem strange, but cooking the mixture just slightly on the stove top right before serving thickens and cooks the eggs into a lovely, creamy sauce (with no lumps).

Get the recipe: Creamy Shells With Ham and Peas

Penne with Anchovies and Rosemary Cream Sauce

Anchovies can be polarizing, but they seamlessly melt into the cream sauce, adding umami flavour without any of the fishiness you might expect.

Get the recipe: Penne with Anchovies and Rosemary Cream Sauce

Garlic Scape and Zucchini Blossom Pasta

This simple, gourmet pasta is so quick to make that it's perfect for busy nights. Zucchini blossoms are very delicate, so it's best to add them at the very last minute.

Get the recipe: Garlic Scape and Zucchini Blossom Pasta

Chorizo and Asparagus Pasta

A simple mix of olive oil, garlic, hot pepper flakes and oregano makes for a light, zesty and speedy pasta sauce. Make sure to snap off and discard the woody ends of the asparagus stalks.

Get the recipe: Chorizo and Asparagus Pasta

Zucchini Ribbon and Caper Pasta

Serve this impressive pasta, made with pantry staples and a few garden-fresh zucchini, as a light main course, or offer up smaller portions for an easy appetizer.

Get the recipe: Zucchini Ribbon and Caper Pasta

Sautéed Mushroom Linguine

This indulgent pasta can be thrown together even on the busiest weeknight. Mushrooms cook faster when spread over a large surface, so choose your largest nonstick skillet.

Get the recipe: Sautéed Mushroom Linguine

Creamy Turkey Penne With Brussels Sprouts

Make some room in your post-holiday fridge by transforming multiple leftovers into one comforting pasta. If you don't have brussels sprouts, substitute shredded cabbage.

Get the recipe: Creamy Turkey Penne With Brussels Sprouts

Chicken Parmigiana with Spaghetti

A super-quick tomato sauce made using bottled passata does double duty in this restaurant favourite, acting as a sauce for both the chicken and pasta.

Get the recipe: Chicken Parmigiana with Spaghetti

Broccoli and Brown Butter Fusilli with Toasted Almonds

Brown butter makes an easy yet indulgent sauce for this elegant pasta. Swap the fusilli for any other short pasta—penne or orecchiette are great options.

Get the recipe: Broccoli and Brown Butter Fusilli with Toasted Almonds

Penne With Jerusalem Artichokes and Crispy Chorizo

Jerusalem artichokes, also known as sunchokes, are subtly flavoured, with a texture somewhere between that of a potato and a water chestnut.

Get the recipe: Penne With Jerusalem Artichokes and Crispy Chorizo

Chicken Penne With Peas and Mint

Who doesn't love an all-in-one comfort food dish? Served warm or cold, this pasta is excellent year-round and is a terrific way to use up leftover cooked chicken.

Get the recipe: Chicken Penne With Peas and Mint

Tomato and Seafood Penne

Whole wheat penne boosts the fibre in this chunky veggie and tomato sauce dish. Because whole wheat pasta has more of a bite than white, you may want to cook it just beyond the al dente stage for a softer texture.

Get the recipe: Tomato and Seafood Penne

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