Easy Pasta Recipes

THE COOKING MAWMA

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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Find Your Perfect Pasta

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

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

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Spaghetti & Meatballs

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

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Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

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

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Bolognese Sauce

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

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Short Rib Pappardelle

Slow-braised short rib over wide, silky pappardelle.

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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.

Watch on Instagram

Or embed a specific pasta reel right here.

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, The Cooking Mawma, 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.

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Never Run Out of Dinner Ideas

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

My 5 Most-Loved Weeknight Dinners — yours when you join

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.