National Pasta Day Recipe Roundup

Using a large pot, start 4 quarts of water boiling for the pasta. Spray a large casserole dish (i.e. 13"x9" or 10"x10" deep dish square) with cooking spray and set aside. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large sauce pan (at least 3 quarts), melt butter until bubbly. Add flour, stirring with a whisk for 2-3 minutes, until it has a thick pasty consistency.

Slowly add milk, 1 cup at a time, stirring well in between cups. Next, add nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Cook on low heat until the sauce has thickened (about 5-10 minutes). 

Once the water is boiling, add pasta and 1 tsp. of salt to water. Cook the pasta for 1-2 minutes less than listed on the box/package to avoid mushy pasta. It will continue to cook during baking.  

Stir in 2 cups of the cheddar and the gruyere cheese to the sauce, allowing cheeses to melt. Continue stirring until they are completely melted and the sauce is thickened. 

When the pasta is ready, drain the pasta. Shake the colander well to remove any leftover water, as it will thin the cheese sauce. Add drained pasta to back to the pot it was cooked in. Pour the cheese sauce over it and stir, then add to the casserole dish. Sprinkle the last cup of grated cheese on top (I usually add a little more cheese). 

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, or until golden and bubbly on top. 

Pour tomatoes into a large bowl and crush with your hands. Pour 1 cup water into can and slosh it around to get tomato juices. Reserve.

In a large skillet (do not use a deep pot) over medium heat, heat the oil. When it is hot, add garlic.

As soon as garlic is sizzling (do not let it brown), add the tomatoes, then the reserved tomato water. Add red pepper flakes, oregano, and salt. Stir.

Place basil sprig, including stem, on the surface (like a flower). Let it wilt, then submerge in sauce. Simmer sauce until thickened and oil on surface is a deep orange, about 15 minutes. (If using oregano, taste sauce after 10 minutes of simmering, adding more salt and oregano as needed.) Discard basil.

If you are using fresh tomatoes instead of canned, follow the instructions at the end of this recipe.

Heat oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat until oil shimmers. Add onion and mushrooms, stirring frequently, until vegetables browned and dark bits form on pan bottom (about 6 to 12 minutes). Stir in garlic, tomato paste, and pepper flakes; cook until fragrant and tomato paste starts to brown, about 1 minute. Add reserved tomato juice and oregano), scraping up any browned bits. Add meat mixture and cook, breaking meat into small pieces with spoon, until beef loses its raw color, 2 to 4 minutes, making sure that meat does not brown.

Stir in crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes and bring to simmer. Reduce heat to low and gently simmer until sauce has thickened and flavors have blended, about 20minutes. Stir in Parmesan, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Prepare pasta according to directions on box. Mix with sauce and serve.

To prepare the Chili Cheese Mac: Saute ground beef, onions, and bell pepper until almost browned (about 5 minutes), Add garlic, chili powder, and cumin. Saute until fragrant (about 1-2 minutes). Stir in canned tomatoes and puree, water, and pasta. Add lid, close sealing lever, and select high pressure at 5 minutes. 

Use quick release once cooking cycle is done. Be sure the venting steam is pointing away from you. With the Instant Pot in “keep warm” mode, stir in sugar and cheese, and let melt for about 5 minutes. Serve warm with extra grated cheese and sour cream. 

Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot for the fettuccine. While the water is coming to a boil, simmer the cream in a large skillet (at least 12 inches wide) over medium heat until it’s thickened slightly and has reduced to approximately 1.5 cups. This will take about 8 minutes. Cover with a lid and keep the cream warm (a very gentle simmer is okay).

Add 1 Tablespoon of salt to the water when it's reached boiling and add the pasta. Cook, stirring often, until it's al dente (following time listed on bag of pasta). Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining the pasta. Return drained pasta to the pot.

Whisk the butter, parmesan cheese, and nutmeg to the warmed cream, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Add the sauce to the pasta, tossing to coat. Add the reserved pasta water a little at a time to allow the sauce to cling better to the pasta. Serve right away.

Set Instant Pot to sauté. Add meat and Italian seasoning. Sauté until just brown. Add pasta, sauce, and water. Ensure you do not exceep the max volume setting on the inside of your Instant Pot liner.

Press cancel, add lid and twist to seal, close sealing lever, and cook at high pressure for 5 min. When pressure cycle is over, use a quick release to release pressure immediately.

Add ricotta cheese, and mozzarella, stir until melted. 

Optional broiling: reserve 1 cup of mozzarella cheese, spread lasagna into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle cheese on top and broil in oven for 3 min or until browned.