10 Quick and Easy Pasta Recipes

I never seem to have the right shape of pasta on hand. How do I know what to substitute?

Different pasta shapes are suited to different types of sauce. Some pasta recipes work best with long strands so that they are fully coated in sweet tomato sauce, while other pasta shapes have nooks and crannies to capture bits of ground beef or sausage.

However, within those categories, you can easily swap in different shapes of pasta. Check out this guide on How to Choose the Best Pasta Shape for Your Sauce.

What’s the best way to reheat leftover pasta?

Our preferred method is to reheat leftover pasta gently in a saucepan over low heat. When you’re making pasta, save some of the pasta water and stash it in the fridge with your leftovers. It works miracles in loosening up pasta sauces that have turned too thick and clumpy.

How do I avoid making mushy pasta?

There are three important things to remember when cooking pasta. First, undercook it slightly. You want it to be just al dente which is usually about 1 minute less than the box suggests.

Second, save some pasta water before you drain the noodles. That starchy liquid will help bring your sauce and pasta together.

Lastly, finish cooking your pasta in your sauce. The flavors will meld together and the pasta will absorb some of the sauce as it finishes cooking. For more details, read this article on How to Cook Perfect Pasta.