Fettuccine Alfredo is only the beginning. With mac and cheese, lasagna recipes, spaghetti carbonara, baked pennes, and zitis, these classic Italian pasta dishes will be ones you’ll turn to time and again. Start with a salad, pop open a bottle of vino, and whip up one of these traditional Italian pasta recipes and you’ll feel as if you’re dining in a cozy trattoria.
Baked Ziti with Three Cheeses
A cheesy baked ziti recipe is a must in your pasta dinner repertoire. This meatless casserole can be assembled up to two days ahead, so on a busy weeknight you just have to pop the pan in the oven. No ziti? No sweat. This is also terrific as a baked penne, if you have that cut of pasta on hand.
Fettuccine Alfredo
“Hands down, the very best Alfredo recipe I have tried,” raves one BHG.com home cook. You’ll agree and will never turn to the jarred variety again after taking a single bite. Especially after you see how simple it is to stir up your own creamy fettuccine Alfredo in just about 30 minutes!
Pasta Puttanesca
Like your sauce salty and loaded with flavor? Give this big-batch puttanesca—studded with garlic (24 cloves!), anchovies, olives, and capers—a try. This traditional Italian pasta dish is the perfect way to use up a bumper crop of tomatoes.
Shrimp Scampi
If you have 20 minutes, you have more than enough time to toss together this elegant and easy pasta recipe. A hint of lemon zest and a small handful of parsley freshen things up. Pair the angel hair shrimp dish (or shrimp linguine, if you prefer) with a side salad and some warm bread, and dinner is done.
Best Four-Cheese Macaroni and Cheese
When you’re ready for an upgrade from the boxed mix, try this cozy, comforting, and outrageously cheesy casserole. Once you’ve mastered the classic macaroni and cheese, try our truffle, bacon, butternut squash, and pumpkin variations.
Test Kitchen Tip: For the creamiest texture, buy blocks of Gouda, cheddar, Swiss, and Parmesan, and grate it yourself rather than using preshredded bags of cheese.
Classic Lasagna
Can’t choose between white sauce and red sauce? We won’t make you. Both star in this sausage lasagna recipe. In addition to the tomato and creamy béchamel, this comforting casserole features ricotta, mozzarella, and Parm for the ultimate cheese pull.
One-Pot Spaghetti
This crowd-pleasing classic spaghetti recipe has become a staple in many BH&G reader (and editor!) kitchens. Why? You only need one saucepan, 40 minutes, and a handful of freezer and pantry staples to get this classic Italian pasta dish on the table any night of the week.
Homemade Noodles
Any sauce tastes better when paired with fresh pasta. So skip the dried, boxed variety and try this classic pasta recipe next time. The easy Homemade Noodle recipe calls for two yolks for every whole egg to create a super-silky texture.
Fettuccine alla Carbonara
Carbonara is traditionally made with egg, bacon, and Parmesan. We take a few delicious liberties by tossing in some prosciutto and mixing in a creamy white wine sauce. While it tastes like you stressed over this sauce all afternoon, fettuccine carbonara is actually a surprisingly doable weeknight dinner idea—this entire entrée takes just 35 minutes.
Pasta Fagioli
Any dish that starts with pancetta, onion, garlic, and red wine can’t be bad. Those ingredients set the flavor base for this cozy tomato and pasta soup that’s perfect for warming up a cold day. If you know traditional Italian pasta fagioli recipes from Olive Garden, then it’s almost a must to pair this homemade soup with unlimited salad and breadsticks. (We always do!)
Turkey Manicotti
Stuff tubes of pasta with four types of cheeses, then spread a hearty ground turkey-tomato mixture on top and sprinkle on a bit more cheese. (Why not?) Chill for up to a day, bake, then enjoy this classic manicotti pasta casserole that will have everyone fighting over the last piece.
Potato Gnocchi
If you like mashed spuds, you’ll fall for these fluffy little potato pillows. They’re like a mash-up of a pasta entrée and your favorite starchy side dish. Coat in browned butter and Parmesan for a comforting, hearty traditional Italian “pasta” recipe.
