My 5 Favorite Pasta Dinners

I take my pasta very seriously. Maybe it was because i studied abroad in Rome or maybe it’s because pasta is just the best food group... Either way I have a few recipes that I keep on rotation in our home. Jonah and I love all of these pastas and I hope you all do as well! I should say, all of these noodles are not fresh* they are dried noodles you get in a box. We get the fancy durum semolina noodles from our co-op but you could really use whatever noodles you want. 

PS. enjoy my crappy phone pics of delish pasta

1. Cacio e pepe

It doesn't get more simple for a pasta, just add cheese and pepper. Yes, this is a grown-up version of macaroni and cheese, but that doesn't mean it isn't elegant and delicious. My little cheat is that I use a ceramic non-stick pan so the cleaning is way easier*! THIS is my favorite cacio pepe recipe. 

mix it up!

Sometimes we cook this with broccolini or add proscuitto on top.

2. Kale + Pistachio Pesto

Another Bon Appetit recipe, and maybe the one I could eat every day. Its healthy y'all! Made with whole wheat pasta, parmesan, tuscan kale, and pistachio. All the greens in this pasta.

Mix it up!

top this with maldon salt for a little something extra. If you wanted meat you could add chicken.

3. Carbonara

Another Roman classic, this one is a little more savory from all the pancetta and pairs great with a red wine like Chianti.  This sauce is made from eggs and parmesan, that's it! I have tried several carbonara recipes and this is by far my favorite. 

Mix it up!

You can use bacon if you can't get pancetta at your grocery store, sometimes I prefer that more for a different texture. You can even add peas!

4. Pan Seared Salmon with Sun-Dried Tomato Cream Sauce

This one is a little more than just pasta, obviously. So it isn't a weekly thing for us but more of something we do on special occasions or a snow day. We already mixed this one up by adding some fettucine noodles to the creamy sauce. Highly recommend this favorite of ours! 

Mix it up!

Do a little less salmon than the recipe calls for and add in the noodles.

5. Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Cherry Tomatoes

This was a good Pinterest find and we enjoy this especially in the summer when cherry tomatoes are in season. Enjoy this fresh and light pasta!

mix it up!

We use mozzarella more than ricotta for this but you can do either. don’t forget to top with maldon salt!