3 Fast & Delicious Pasta Dishes With 5 Ingredients Or Less

When you think of pasta do you think of meat sauce bubbling away on the stove top all day? That's how my Italian grandfather made it; I remember visiting when I was a kid - you'd walk in the front door and the whole house would be filled with the mouthwatering scent of his family recipe for Sicilian spaghetti sauce....

I'd love to make it that way every time I make spaghetti, but sometimes we just don't have all day to simmer a sauce. The question is, can you create a tasty pasta dish without spending all day in the kitchen?

Luckily, the answer is: Yes!  Making a good pasta dish does not have to be difficult.  The wonderful thing about pasta is that you can use very few ingredients and make a ton of different dishes that the whole family will enjoy - and it doesn't have to take you all day.  Here are a few quick, delicious pasta dishes to try.

1. Pasta Bake

Baked rotini with tomato sauce, grated cheese (Parmesan and Romano), and dried parsley. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This is a super simple pasta dish that can be created in thirty minutes or less. "Pasta Bake" is a generic term I'm using here for any type of pasta, meat, sauce and cheese combination made exceptionally gooey and delicious by placing it in the oven to bake rather than cooking it all in a pot. The idea is that once you have your pasta cooked, pick a sauce, some cheese, maybe some veggies, and rather than just stir it all together, turn it out into a casserole dish and bake it.  Baking it just makes the dish look more appealing and taste better.  Let's just say it's more like dinner and less like something thrown together on a hotplate in a college dorm room. :-)

How easy is this dish? Just put any pasta you cook, ziti, rigatoni, spaghetti or whatever, in a buttered or oiled casserole dish, then add whatever sauce ingredients you have on hand. Grab some tomato sauce and even a little tomato juice and mix it in, along with some dried oregano. Stir in that last bit of muenster cheese and add a little yellow mustard for tangy goodness. Maybe a spoonful of sour cream, too. See what kind of sausage links you have left from breakfast. Top with shredded mozzarella or Parmesan. Experimenting with different ingredients is key, but what takes this dish from being just a mixed-up bunch of noodles to a delicious pasta dinner is that you baked it. Pulling a casserole out of the oven is so much nicer than just scooping noodles out of a pot.

2. Tortellini Soup

Most people don't automatically think of soup when thinking about how to make a simple dinner using pasta as the key ingredient.  But, tortellini soup is definitely one meal to keep in mind.  This soup is filling and light at the same time. Tortellini soup consists of chicken cut into chunks, chicken broth, a couple of carrots cut into rounds, either Swiss chard or kale depending on your taste for greens, and a package of tortellini.

Bring the broth and carrots to a rolling boil and let them cook for about seven minutes, just until the carrots are softened. Then add the chicken and simmer for just a minute, since it's already cooked.  Cut your greens up into small strips and add to the soup, then add in the tortellini and cook following directions on the package of tortellini. This is such a simple soup, but it tastes amazing, and is actually rather elegant. You can omit the chicken if you want and choose a meat stuffed tortellini. You could also choose cheese-stuffed tortellini and add a handful of diced tomatoes or some tomato juice to the broth. No matter what you add to this soup, it's never going to take very long to make, so you can have a delicious pasta dinner on the table in no time.

Tagliatelle carbonara with basil (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. Pasta Carbonara

For a meal with only five ingredients, pasta carbonara is one of the most delicious dishes you will make.  And, the best part is you probably have all of the ingredients in your fridge and pantry right now. You will need a box of spaghetti, about six strips of bacon, diced and fried crisp, four egg yolks, a cup of Parmesan cheese, and some frozen peas. Add some chopped parsley or basil on top and you have a pretty pasta dish that tastes better than many you will find in a restaurant.

When making this simple dish, it is important to have the egg yolks and Parmesan mixture ready before the pasta is done cooking. The heat from the pasta, after you drain it, is what cooks the egg yolks.  Just whisk together your egg yolks and Parmesan cheese in a big bowl. Then dump in your drained pasta and stir.  Add the peas and the bacon, and that's it. You have a pasta dish that is ready to serve in practically no time at all, and one that tastes as good as it looks.

A great pasta meal is only five ingredients away... or less.  All it takes to create simple pasta dishes is a bit of creativity and the willingness to experiment. Dig around in your kitchen right now and I'll bet you find the inspiration you need to throw together a fabulous pasta dinner with very little fuss at all.

And for more great recipes that are super simple and use just a few fresh ingredients for an amazingly delicious meal, be sure to pick up a copy of our FREE Recipe Book: Cooking with 3 Ingredients or Less!

Pasta & Wine Pairing Explained At Last

Being half-Italian, I'm a huge pasta fan - and any Italian knows that wine goes with pasta like the Leaning Tower of Pisa goes with Italy.  Of course, there are about as many varieties of pasta dishes as there are wines to choose from. Matching them up might seem a little overwhelming at first, but with a little deductive reasoning (and the fun part - tasting!), you can figure it out.

All you need to do in order to put together a great pasta dish with a fantastic wine is to think of the type of sauce you're using on the pasta. The sauce, for the most part, will determine the profile of wine you choose. Let's take a look at a few different types of sauce you would typically use on pasta, and which wines would pair well with each type.

1. Tomato-Based Sauce

Pasta with red sauce. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Tomato sauces are acidic and generally have a bold flavor that commands attention. While no two tomato sauces are the same, there are a few basic ingredients in common that help us choose a wine that will pair well. With the strong flavor of a tomato-based sauce (also called a "red sauce"), one thing to keep in mind is that you want a wine to stand up under the intensity of the dish without fizzling out.  In other words, you want to taste the wine as well as the dish.

With a bold tomato sauce, you want a wine that is lush and slightly thick on 'mouthfeel' but not overly acidic. These wines can include Chianti, Cabernet, and Sangiovese. Cherry is a prominent flavor in each of these wines which helps to balance out the acid of the tomato sauce.

2. Alfredo Sauce

Where the heavy acidic tomato sauce requires a bold wine, alfredo style sauces, also called white-sauce, are lighter in flavor and more elegant and smooth. Some are very light, while others are rich with cheesy goodness and can stand up to a slightly bolder wine. But, for any white-sauce, you don't want a brash wine, but something light and refreshing. White wines are typically the best to pair with these sauces.

Wines like Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay, and Riesling are great choices when it comes to alfredo sauce. These wines are crisp and usually have a citrus note to them to help cut through the richness of the alfredo sauce. If your pasta is on the lighter side, try a dry Riesling.  But if you like your white-sauce richer or more cheesy, go with a Pinot Grigio.

White wine. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

3. Pesto Sauce

Pesto is made mostly with basil, garlic, and some type of nut, either pine nuts or walnuts, then blended with olive oil, and sometimes with added Parmesan cheese. It seems like that would be too much flavor to stand up to a white wine, but pesto actually is considered to have a rather delicate flavor palate. Basil has a very distinct flavor that is on the earthier side, yes, but it is also a very fragile flavor which can be overtaken with a heavy, dark wine. A good wine pairing is a crisp white wine with mineral notes, such as a Cinque Terre or Sauvignon Blanc. This type of white wine will help cut through the earthy tones of the basil and nuts. Neither the pesto nor the wine will get drowned out with this pairing.

4. Alternative Sauces

There are some types of pasta that don't quite fall under these three categories, but also deserve a great wine to go with them. For instance, a fantastic wine to pair with a strong cheesy pasta, such as cheese ravioli with butter and Parmesan, is a Viognier (one of my new favorite whites!). This wine, with its honeysuckle and vanilla nose and peach and honey flavors goes great with seafood sauces, too. For the incredible gnocchi dishes, more like potato dumplings than pasta, a Nebbiolo with earthy truffle flavors makes a great combination.

We could go on and on, but really it's all about experimenting... of course with these few tips in the back of your mind. Picking a wine to go with your pasta dish is as easy as thinking about what sauce will go on the pasta. If you are still unsure or your head starts spinning when you're looking at all those bottles in the store, ask the person in charge.  Most good wine shops only hire people who know their business.  Get to know them and they will be more than happy to make a few suggestions. Then, before you know it, you'll be on your way home to enjoy the perfect wine with your delicious pasta dinner!  Yum - I'm hungry already! :-)

Italian Cooking: Crockpot Style

Italian cuisine is not nearly as difficult to master as some may believe. In fact, when you throw a crockpot in the mix, it becomes nearly effortless. There are many ways to create a delicious Italian meal with just a little organization and preparation. Here are a few tips and ideas that can turn your kitchen into an Italian bistro – crockpot style.

Get Ingredients Ready

Ravioli Marinara (Mangia Trattoria) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

One of the most important things to remember when using the crockpot is to have all the ingredients you need on hand. Having the right ingredients for a crockpot meal is very important since the reason for cooking in a crockpot is convenience. If you are trying to throw a meal together fast in the morning, you don't want to be running to the store when you are trying to save time. With a little bit of preparation you can have a stocked pantry and refrigerator in no time.

A few of the ingredients you want to stock would be fresh or frozen vegetables, especially onions, garlic, celery, tomatoes, and green bell pepper. Fresh or dried herbs such as basil and oregano should always be in the kitchen. Then of course you'll want meat, chicken, seafood or other protein of choice on hand. Frozen meat is fine as long as it's sized right and cooks long enough in the crockpot to cook thoroughly. Olive oil, pasta, cheese, and wine are a few other must-have’s when creating a delicious Italian feast.

Get Recipes Ready

Start searching for crockpot recipes now so you are ready when the time comes to cook something Italian style. You don't need a whole arsenal of recipes to get started. Here are just a few classic Italian dishes to keep in mind.

Cheesy Tortellini – There are some variations to this recipe but for the most part you can keep it as basic and simple as you want. You will need ground beef or Italian sausage, marinara sauce, and any vegetables you want to add to the slow cooker. A few favorites tend to be mushrooms and tomatoes. Once the sauce has been slow cooking all day, you can throw in the tortellini and some cheese to top it off. When the pasta is tender, you are ready to serve and enjoy.

Spaghetti all' arrabbiata (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Spaghetti with Meat Sauce – This is a true favorite that you really can’t go wrong with. You can combine ground beef with Italian sausage, onions, tomatoes, and seasonings of your choice such as garlic, basil, and oregano. Let this mixture cook all day in the crockpot to develop all that flavor. Then when it's dinner time, just cook the spaghetti pasta and you are ready to dig in.

There are a few things that you can do ahead of time that will ensure your meal has the best flavor. You can start my browning the meat before adding it to the crockpot. You can also saute the veggies in olive oil or butter before adding them to the crockpot. This will mean a little extra effort on your part but the end result is worth the trouble.

The crockpot has been a favorite tool for busy families and will continue to have a place in our homes, and our hearts. Pick out a few favorite Italian dishes and put your crockpot to work for you. With just a little preparation and a few simple steps, you can create an Italian meal in your crockpot that will draw everybody to the dinner table with a smile on their face!

Recipe: Fresh Tomato & Zucchini Turkey Stew

This healthy recipe works great as a one-pot meal, and includes lots of tasty veggies, plus brown rice and turkey, with flavors of the Southwest. Prepare the rice and chop the veggies ahead of time, and it's extra-easy to throw together a fast, healthy dinner in a jiffy.

Fresh Tomato Zucchini Turkey Stew
(Serves 4-6.)

Ingredients:

1 lb organic ground turkey
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp cumin
1 small onion, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 can (6 oz) tomato sauce
1 tomato sauce can of water
6 small zucchini, rough chopped
6 Roma tomatoes, diced
2 cups cooked brown rice
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

• Put a large pot on medium heat, add the turkey and olive oil, breaking the turkey up as it cooks. When turkey is no longer pink, add the oregano, cumin, and onion and cook until onion is just softened, then add the garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute.
• Add the tomato sauce to the pot plus the same can filled with water, stir to combine, then add the remaining ingredients, stir to combine, then turn heat to low, cover pot, and simmer gently for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Taste and add more salt and pepper if desired.
• Serve hot in big bowls.

Recipe: Quick & Easy Spaghetti Dinner In A Pot

Check out this one-pot version of an old-fashioned favorite. It's super simple and easy, and the kids will love it! It's nothing fancy, but it's perfect for a quick dinner when you are pressed for time - and with everything in one pot, cleanup will be a snap too. (To fancy it up a bit and add some veggies, add one diced green, red, or yellow bell pepper with other ingredients after the beef is browned.)

Spaghetti And Meat Sauce Dinner In A Pot
 (Serves 4.)

Ingredients:

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 lb ground beef
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
2 Tbsp grated onion
1 Tbsp grated garlic clove
1 can (6 oz) tomato paste
1 cup tomato juice
5 cups water
8 oz spaghetti pasta, uncooked
Parmesan cheese (for topping)

Directions:

• In large pot over medium-high heat, put the oil and ground beef, browning the beef until no pink remains.
• Add next 6 ingredients, stir to combine, then cover the pot, turn heat to low, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
• Add the uncooked spaghetti pasta, stir to combine, cover the pot, and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until spaghetti pasta is cooked tender, stirring occasionally.
• Serve immediately, sprinkled with Parmesan cheese.

Recipe: One-Pot Meal: Turkey Black Bean Chili

This tasty recipe is simple to cook and clean up after - it only takes one pot! It's full of healthy fiber and hearty flavors, and makes a great meal to fight off the winter chill.

Turkey Black Bean Chili
(Serves 4-6.)

Ingredients:

(Photo credit: dejahthoris)

1 1/4 lb ground turkey (organic is best)
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 cup whole kernel corn, canned or frozen
1 can (15 oz) black beans, rinsed and drained well
1 (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes
1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
1 Tbsp chili powder or chili seasoning mix (more or less to taste)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a big pot over medium heat, put ground turkey and olive oil. Cook, breaking up the turkey, until the turkey is no longer pink.
2. Add the onion and green pepper and continue cooking until the both are softened, then add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more, stirring steadily.
3. Add remaining ingredients to pot, stir to combine, then slightly cover pot, turn heat down to low, and simmer slowly for 20 to 30 minutes or until flavors combine.
4. Serve hot out of the pot.

Recipe: Cheesy Eggplant Lasagna

This simple and tasty low-carb recipe uses eggplant as the "noodles" in this fun take on lasagna. Use medium-sized long or oval eggplants if you can, so you can get the slices to approximate lasagna noodles in size. This is another great way to use up all those fresh tomatoes, basil, and eggplants your garden may be full of this time of year! Packed with healthy goodness, this one is also a good recipe for those on a low-carb or gluten-free diet.

Cheesy Eggplant Lasagna

Ingredients:

2 medium eggplants, sliced in thin lengthwise strips
1 cup tomato sauce
1 pound tomatoes, sliced thin
1 cup ricotta cheese, softened
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
2 tsp dry basil or 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil
2 tsp Italian seasoning  
salt and fresh black pepper, to taste
cooking oil spray

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Season eggplant slices with salt and pepper. Arrange slices evenly in a nonstick baking pan and bake for fifteen minutes.
3. Spray a glass baking dish with cooking spray and arrange eggplant slices evenly on the bottom. Pour half of the tomato sauce over the eggplant, then top with a few tomato slices. 
4. Sprinkle salt, pepper, basil, and Italian seasoning over this mixture, then spread a little of the ricotta cheese over the tomatoes. Sprinkle some mozzarella on top. 
5. Repeat in layers, topping with mozzarella as a final step.
6. Bake for twenty minutes, then place under a broiler just until cheese turns golden brown.
7. Slice lasagna evenly and garnish with Italian seasoning.