Classic Old Fashioned Recipe
Macaroni Salad
There are some pasta recipes that need no improvement, and this old-fashioned grandma’s favorite macaroni salad recipe is just that. See how simple this make-ahead side dish really is.
Easy Pasta Salad Recipes
But pasta isn’t just in salad recipes! Parmesan Orzo, Lasagna Soup, and Feta Pasta all go great on the dinner plate. Enjoy the perfect combination of fresh ingredients and flavorful dressings for a truly unforgettable experience. Pea Pasta Salad and Frog Eye Salad are deliciously reader-approved!
Pea Pasta Salad
A reader favorite, this pea pasta salad recipe provides fresh seasonal peas with tiny shell pasta in a creamy, delicious dressing. Add some cheddar cheese, bacon, and sliced onions and what you have is the best pasta side dish EVER!
Easy Pasta Dinner Recipes
There is no doubt that incorporating pasta with dinner makes it hearty, easy, and cost-effective. Here are three of our highly suggested recipes for the perfect pasta dishes for dinner tonight!
All Pasta Recipes
Important Pasta Tips to Remember
- Once pasta is added to boiling water, stir! Do not pour in the pasta and walk away. Instead, make sure pasta is given a stir to help prevent overall sticking (especially in long pasta pieces like spaghetti and fettuccini).
- Pick the right pasta: From curly Cavatappi in baked feta pasta to bowties in Pesto Pine Nut salad, picking the right pasta is important. Pasta tells a story, and the shape and texture pull the other combined flavors from the depths to grab onto sauces, proteins, and seasonings. If making every bite delicious is the goal, make sure to remember that pasta shape matters.
- Cool Pasta Down for Salads: Allow yourself enough time to cool pasta down before moving on to the full recipe to prevent too much moisture or curdling of dairy-based homemade dressings. Rinsing with cold water can speed up this process.
- Move quickly. If the pasta gets too dry, it will stick to the pieces next to it.
