
19 of Our Favorite Pasta Recipes
The most delicious way to carbo-load
There are certain nights when nothing but a heaping bowl of pasta will do. So channel your inner nonna this National Pasta Day (October 17, in case you’re wondering) and whip up one of these delicious pastas-–from spaghetti to linguine to gnocchi.
And the best part? Most of these make for wonderful leftovers.
Spaghetti Recipes
Spaghetti Carbonara
Silky with egg and melted cheese, freshened with parsley, and spiked with black pepper, spaghetti carbonara brings intense flavors into balance. We also love this dish for its short cooking time.
Gnocchi Recipes
Butternut Squash Gnocchi
These little butternut squash gnocchi are ever so slightly sweet. Dress the dumplings with melted butter and parmesan cheese to add a rich flavor.
Molten Cheese Gnocchi
Stuff homemade potato gnocchi with creamy gouda cheese for a to-die-for appetizer that’s worth every minute it takes to prepare.
Sweet-Potato Gnocchi with Mushrooms and Spinach
Serve tender sweet potatoes with a mixture of spinach and mushrooms, flavored with broth and Parmesan cheese, for a meatless holiday main dish.
Lasagna Recipes
Lasagna with Sausage Ragù
Layers of ragù and creamy, nutmeg-scented béchamel are a subtle departure from the familiar cheese-laden lasagna favored by many Americans; our version is actually closer to authentic Italian lasagna. However, we streamlined the ragù by using sweet Italian sausage instead of the traditional beef, pork, and/or veal blend.
Linguine Recipes
Spicy Linguine with Clams
If you love heat, go for the full amount of chile flakes in this take on pasta alle vongole from Sunset reader Gail Lively, of Tucson. We suggest serving warm, crusty bread on the side to sop up the juices.
Ravioli Recipes
Cherry Brown Butter Ravioli
The cherries’ bursts of sweet juice offset the richness of the pasta.
Herb Ravioli Soup
This pretty soup takes on an added delicacy if you use ravioli made with thinly rolled pasta, but it’s good with the sturdier type too.
Parsley Ravioli with Brown Butter Sauce
Won ton wrappers make a great substitute for homemade pasta, so you can whip up these tasty ravioli on a weeknight. They’re made with flat-leaf parsley, also called Italian parsley, which tastes much more robust than the curly variety. Parsley is a great source of vitamins A, C, and K, so use it generously, as this recipe does.
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