As a Tasty contributor, I write test-driven stories about grocery store staples, viral recipes, and cozy comfort foods, focusing on what’s actually worth making at home.

I love Pasta e Fagioli so much. It’s a classic Italian dish that’s inexpensive, delicious, and so easy to throw together. This recipe uses pancetta, though you can easily omit it to keep the dish vegetarian.

Recipe: Pasta e Fagioli (Italian Pasta and Beans)

This luscious pot of creamy pesto pasta comes together in just 25 minutes, so it’s perfect for weeknights. You can even brown the chicken in butter to add extra flavor to the sauce.

What’s not to love about the ever-nostalgic SpaghettiOs? Lately, I’ve been longing for these cozy little circular noodles (anellini pasta, they’re called) covered in marinara, and I’m excited to try this version with the addition of meatballs.

We make a substantial amount of turkey Bolognese in our household, and I love how this one-pot version cooks the pasta directly in the sauce for a rich dish sans the extra cleanup.

I love that this one (in all its one-pot glory) is actually a full meal, with crumbled Italian sausage, leafy greens, marinara sauce, and Parmesan all in one bite. Feel free to use spinach, kale, collard greens, Swiss chard, or arugula for the greens.

This dish combines all the best Mediterranean flavors, like shrimp, fresh tomatoes, artichokes, Kalamata olives, and spinach, topped with a creamy roasted red pepper sauce. Garnish with parsley and red pepper flakes, and dinner is served.

This one requires no chopping, no heavy cream, and no straining. Just toss it all in and let the beautiful simplicity of an easy dinner unfold. 

Ahhh…chicken, garlic, mushrooms, parmesan, and a splash of white wine? Bliss. This one’s a little lighter than some of the options (but in no way less delightful).

This one had me at Cajun cream sauce. It's creative, cooks up in 30 minutes, and gets some extra oomph from a few added handfuls of spinach.

Recipe: One-Pot Cajun Chicken and Spinach Pasta

At first, I was a taco spaghetti skeptic, but once I accidentally had it as a leftover mashup, I was hooked. This dish is super quick to throw together, and the kiddos will love it.

I’m very intrigued by this 25-minute “meaty” recipe, especially with the idea of serving some vegan garlic bread on the side to soak up the extra sauce. Side note: Lately, we’ve been using Beyond Beef as a plant-based ground beef alternative for burgers, which we’re loving.

I don’t know why I always forget that I can combine two of my all-time favorite foods (pizza and pasta), but I appreciate how fun and easy this dish is. It’s topped with fresh parsley, though I’m eager to try it with fresh basil, too.

With sun-dried tomatoes, fresh lemon, and basil, this one is a lovely ode to the end of summer. Eat it outdoors while the sun sets.

Recipe: Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta with Whipped Ricotta

Comfort food plus Italian flavors? Say no more. You simply cannot go wrong with Italian sausage, tomato, basil, and pasta. (Better make a double batch for leftovers.)

Recipe: Italian Sausage and Tomato Basil Pasta

If it’s a little Tex-Mex you’re after, do yourself a culinary favor and try this pasta. A hearty stir of pepper jack cheese at the end is an extra treat.

If zucchini have been overtaking your garden this past month, as they have mine, this is a beautiful way to use them up. It’s nice and fresh and takes just 20 minutes to throw together.

I’ve been trying to remember to buy shrimp lately because it’s so good and versatile, yet I often forget about it in our weekly rotation. In this dish, it’s cooked in a creamy tomato sauce and given a little kick with red pepper flakes and garlic.

I’m all about chicken enchilada casserole as an easy weeknight favorite, and this one combines all of those flavors I love, plus pasta. Add a splash of broth if the mixture gets too thick.

There’s something sublime about a warm bowl of French onion soup as we head into fall. This recipe takes all those flavors and gives them a creative pasta twist. Plus, the flavors deepen as it sits (aka, very good leftovers).

Cooked in a milk- and broth-based sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, garlic, and shallots, have a bite and let your mind drift to the sun-soaked September landscape of Tuscany.

Has anyone else been craving mac 'n' cheese lately? Perhaps it’s my memories of back-to-school nights, but it’s been on my to-make-for-dinner radar this past week, and I’m all for the idea of making it in one pot.

When I’m on the hunt for both comfort and spice, Cajun seasoning does the trick. Top it with fresh herbs and, of course, a billowy pile of freshly shaved Parm for serving, please.

As the days get shorter and the evenings get chillier, this is a great transitional dish from summer to fall. I’ll be making two batches: one for dinner and one for lunch.

Decadent, cheesy, and pretty much guaranteed to hit the spot on any given evening, there’s just something about the combination of hearty fettuccine noodles, fresh lemon and garlic, ricotta, and Parmesan cheese.

Oh, another classic favorite. This is an easy one for when you’re short on time and tired. If you have them on hand, sliced green onions on top are a nice addition, too.