Pasta Dinner Recipes: Stovetop Sauces and Baked Shells
Pick the sort of pasta night you would like: a simple marinara, tomatoes with spinach, a creamy pesto sauce, or a dish of filled shells. There is a short-list spaghetti here as well as a baking project, so you can choose by both the food and the evening you have.
5 recipes · Ingredients
Illustrative serving idea.
A few ideas for the week.
Compare distinct pasta preparations and choose the sauce, shape and amount of assembly that suits your dinner plan.
Choose portions and review ingredients before confirming anything in your pantry.
Tomatoes, garlic and spinach form the sauce, with reserved pasta water used in the final toss.
The little job to plan for: Put a mug or measuring cup beside the stove before you start. Scoop out the cooking water where the method tells you to, then add it gradually when bringing the pasta and sauce together.
How it begins: Boil pasta in a large pot of water following the package time.
At the finish: Serve with Parmesan.
Check the list for: Pasta, Canned tomatoes, Spinach, Parmesan.
Prepared marinara and Parmesan offer a three-ingredient comparison with the more involved sauces here.
The little job to plan for: Put a mug or measuring cup beside the stove before you start. Scoop out the cooking water where the method tells you to, then add it gradually when bringing the pasta and sauce together.
How it begins: Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
At the finish: Toss spaghetti with sauce, adding cooking water if needed, and serve with Parmesan.
Check the list for: Spaghetti, Marinara sauce, Parmesan.
This version adds frozen meatballs to the spaghetti-and-marinara base, with a separate package-time heating step.
The little job to plan for: The method uses package directions for part of the cooking. Read those before choosing your start time, especially if you have a different brand or package size.
How it begins: Simmer frozen meatballs in marinara in a covered saucepan for the package time, stirring occasionally; check meatballs are heated to 165°F.
At the finish: Toss spaghetti with sauce and meatballs and finish with Parmesan.
Check the list for: Spaghetti, Marinara sauce, Frozen meatballs, Parmesan.
Ricotta and spinach fill large pasta shells before they bake with marinara and mozzarella.
The little job to plan for: Check the draining or squeezing instruction before combining everything. Finish that little preparation step first, so you are working with the ingredient in the form this recipe expects.
How it begins: Heat oven to 375°F.
At the finish: Cover and bake 25 minutes; uncover and bake 10 minutes until bubbling.
Check the list for: Jumbo pasta shells, Ricotta, Spinach, Mozzarella.
A milk-and-flour sauce with pesto, Parmesan and spinach gives the macaroni a different sauce preparation.
The little job to plan for: Check the draining or squeezing instruction before combining everything. Finish that little preparation step first, so you are working with the ingredient in the form this recipe expects.
How it begins: Thaw the spinach in the microwave, squeeze out the excess water, and set it aside.
At the finish: Add the thawed spinach and sauce, stir thoroughly, and serve immediately.
Check the list for: Uncooked macaroni, Whole milk, Grated Parmesan, Basil pesto.
Where the method asks you to save pasta water, have something ready before draining. That small handoff is easy to remember when the cup is already there.
Decide how much assembly you want
Stuffed shells need filling and baking after the pasta is boiled. A saucepan of marinara is a different kind of job.
Read the sauce finish
The tomato and creamy sauces follow different sequences. Keep the last additions in the order your recipe gives.
Before the shop
Check what is already in the kitchen
Use the pasta shape and package cooking directions in each recipe. The stuffed shells include a separate filling and oven stage; they are not interchangeable with a stovetop pasta method.
A couple of useful questions
How do I choose one for tonight?
Start with the ingredients and cooking job you want. The notes beside each recipe show the preparation to plan for; open that recipe for the complete method before getting started.
What should I check before shopping?
Choose the dinners you want to make, then compare their full ingredient lists with what is already in the kitchen. Keep different prepared products, sauces and ingredient forms separate when checking the amounts.
Make it your kind of week.
Review dates, portions and what is already in the pantry before saving your meals or grocery additions.
