THE COOKING MAWMA

Easy Pasta Recipes

Creamy, comforting, crowd-pleasing pasta the whole family asks for — most on the table in about 30 minutes, the Mom & Nonna way.

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Browse by style: Creamy & Cheesy · Tomato & Red Sauce · Baked Pasta · 30-Minute

One Pan, Easy Cleanup

Most of these come together in a single pan or pot.

Ready in ~30 Min

Weeknight-fast comfort, no fussy techniques required.

Mom & Nonna Approved

Real Italian-American family recipes made with love.

Most-Loved Pastas

Start here — the pasta nights my family (and yours) asks for on repeat.

Cheesy Beef Shells

Cheesy Beef Shells

Saucy beef-stuffed shells under a blanket of melty cheese.

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Spaghetti & Meatballs

Spaghetti & Meatballs

Mom & Nonna’s Sunday classic — tender meatballs, rich sauce.

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Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

Garlic, good olive oil, and a little heat — done in 20 minutes.

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Bolognese Sauce

Bolognese Sauce

Mom & Nonna’s slow-simmered meat sauce, made with love.

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Short Rib Pappardelle

Short Rib Pappardelle

Slow-braised short rib over wide, silky pappardelle.

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One Pan Mac & Cheese

One Pan Mac & Cheese

Creamy stovetop mac — no draining, all comfort.

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Watch Pasta Night Come Together

Quick, cozy, and impossible to mess up — see how these come together, then grab the recipe.

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Check out Blue Apron and use my code MAWMA to save on your first orders today! 

Get more info here: https://dlink.blueapron.com/0bOvOzDeV5b

Dinner in 20 minutes with basically ZERO mental load? Thanks to @blueapron 🩵 As we get back into the school, sports and work routine, figuring out what’s for dinner every single night is one more thing taking up space in my brain. 😂 I made their Bang Bang Chicken from their 20 Minute or Less meals, and everything I needed was delivered right to my door with easy-to-follow instructions. No meal planning, no last-minute grocery store run (which, believe it or not, I actually hate 😂), and dinner was on the table in 20 minutes. #BlueApronPartner

If you’re a busy parent looking for an easy weeknight dinner hack, THIS is it.

#EasyDinnerIdeas #20MinuteMeals #BusyMomMeals #thecookingmawma
Follow @thecookingmawma (so I can DM you!) and Comment RECIPE for the full recipe with tips and FAQ’s sent directly to you!

Find the recipe on my website: https://thecookingmawma.com/slow-cooker-creamy-white-chicken-chili/

NEW SERIES ALERT! 🙌🏼 Slow Cooker Saves is officially here because busy days call for dinners that basically cook themselves.

Episode 1 is Crock Pot Creamy White Chicken Chili 🤍🌶️ Tender shredded chicken, cannellini and pinto beans, corn, green chiles and plenty of seasoning are slow cooked together, then finished with cream cheese and sour cream for the creamiest, coziest bowl. It’s an easy slow cooker dinner with minimal prep, tons of flavor, and plenty of protein for a meal the whole family will love.

Throw everything in the Crock Pot, go live your life, and come back to dinner DONE. 👏🏼 Top it with avocado, cheese, sour cream, cilantro, tortilla chips and a squeeze of lime.

Come back for Episode 2 to see how we’re saving dinner next. Until next time… this is how the slow cooker saved dinner. ❤️

#SlowCookerRecipes #WhiteChickenChili #CrockPotRecipes #EasyDinnerRecipes #thecookingmawma
Follow @thecookingmawma (so I can DM you!) and Comment RECIPE so I can send you the full recipe with tips and FAQ’s!

Full recipe is on my website (link in bio): https://thecookingmawma.com/mini-crunchwrap-supremes/

MINI CRUNCHWRAP SUPREMES 🌮🔥 Taco Bell, respectfully… I’ve got this one. 👀

My homemade Mini Crunchwrap Supremes are loaded with seasoned beef, melty cheese, a crispy tostada, sour cream, then wrapped up and pan-seared until golden and crispy. They’re fun, family-friendly, and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner, Taco Tuesday, game day, or school lumches.  And because they’re mini, you can definitely eat six. I don’t make the rules. 😂

#CrunchwrapSupreme #SchoolLunches #EasyDinnerIdeas #GroundBeefRecipes #thecookingmawma

Pasta Night, Sorted

When you need dinner on the table fast and everyone happy, pasta never lets you down. These are the ones I reach for again and again.

Reader Favorite: Boursin Salmon Pasta →

From the Kitchen

A little visual taste — straight from my kitchen.

One Pan Mom & Nonna’s Tomato Pastina (20 Minutes)
Italian Penicillin — Mom & Nonna’s Healing Pastina Soup
Viral Boursin Salmon Pasta (One Pan, 20 Minutes)
Caterina Cosentino, The Cooking Mawma, laughing in her kitchen

Hi, I’m Caterina

I grew up in an Italian-American kitchen where there was always a pot of sauce on the stove and a Nonna telling you to eat. Pasta, in our house, was love you could twirl. I share the cozy, family recipes I was raised on — the ones that turn any night into a good one. Pull up a chair.

More about me & my kitchen →

Never Run Out of Dinner Ideas

One new family-favorite dinner in your inbox each week, made with love.

My 5 Most-Loved Pastas, yours when you join

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Pasta Questions, Answered

How do I keep pasta from sticking?

Use a big pot of well-salted boiling water, stir in the first minute, and toss with sauce right after draining. Don’t rinse it — that washes away the starch sauces cling to.

Can I make pasta sauce ahead?

Most sauces are even better the next day. Make the sauce ahead, then cook the pasta fresh and toss them together so it doesn’t go gummy.

How do I reheat creamy pasta?

Gently, with a splash of milk, cream, or pasta water to bring the sauce back together. Low and slow keeps cream sauces from splitting.

What pasta shape is best for cream sauces?

Short shapes with ridges or curves — rigatoni, penne, farfalle, orzo — catch and hold creamy sauces beautifully.

Come Hang Out in My Kitchen

Follow along for new recipes, behind-the-scenes, and all the cozy. Tag me @thecookingmawma when you make one.

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