Cooking with Spaghetti - Cooking Light

Photo: Francesco Tonelli

Surprise with Spaghetti

There’s no need to travel the world (unless you just want to go!) to enjoy delicious spaghetti dishes. Some of our best recipes include unique ingredients like clams, olives, and poached eggs for dinner dishes that will have family and friends singing your praises.

Our first dish is Spaghetti with Clams and Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes. Spaghetti dressed with clams is a Southern Italian classic. The briny liquor released by the clams beautifully coats the noodles, while the little bits of meat get caught up in the tangled strands.

View Recipe: Spaghetti with Clams and Slow-Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

Photo: Randy Mayor

Mussels Marinara

You will love Mussels Marinara thanks to the slow-cooked red sauce. The red wine and basil make the sauce ultra luxurious – the perfect thing to accompany delicate mussels. Serve over pasta, with a glass of vino rosso (red wine) for a lush and tasty meal.

View Recipe: Mussels Marinara

Photo: Johnny Autry

Spanish Spaghetti with Olives

Update spaghetti night by adding a fresh new ingredient: pimiento-stuffed olives for an unexpected but delightful taste.

View Recipe: Spanish Spaghetti with Olives

Photo: Marcus Nilsson

Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Kale, Poached Eggs, and Toasted Breadcrumbs

Tuscan kale, sometimes labeled cavolo nero or lacinato or black kale, has dark leaves that are richly flavored. Combined with whole-wheat spaghetti and poached eggs in this dish, the kale brings out a deep and irresistible flavor in just under an hour.

View Recipe: Whole-Wheat Spaghetti with Kale, Poached Eggs, and Toasted Breadcrumbs

Photo: Nigel Cox

Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and Garlic

Height-of-summer tomatoes burst with flavor and need little embellishment to create a spectacular dish. Churning the oil into boiling liquid emulsifies the mixture, yielding a creamy sauce that coats.

View Recipe: Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes and Garlic

Photo: Oxmoor House

Lady and the Tramp Spaghetti and Meatballs

The name couldn’t be more spot-on. This classic take on a dish from a favorite Hollywood hit is delectable without packing on the pounds, and it’s perfect to share with your special someone!

View Recipe: Lady and the Tramp Spaghetti and Meatballs

Photo: Johnny Autry

Chicken Spaghetti

Porcini and cremini mushrooms plus three types of cheese elevate weeknight Chicken Spaghetti to a higher level. Kids will love the creaminess of Chicken Spaghetti and parents will appreciate the added English peas.

View Recipe: Chicken Spaghetti

Photo: Johnny Autry

Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Clams

Inspired by salsa cruda, or "raw sauce," this seafood dish features a simple and delicious combination of tomatoes, chives, garlic, and balsamic vinegar.

View Recipe: Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Clams

Photo: Johnny Autry

Spaghetti Bolognese

Ready in just 40 minutes, this Italian classic is so good it doesn’t need to be tweaked. Enjoy with fresh bread or a small garden salad for a complete meal.

View Recipe: Spaghetti Bolognese

Photo: Johnny Autry

Pasta with Anchovy-Walnut Sauce

Unexpected combinations make for a mouthwatering dinner dish that’s ready to serve in only 20 minutes.

View Recipe: Pasta with Anchovy-Walnut Sauce

Photo: Johnny Autry

Mushroom Bolognese

The mushrooms in this spaghetti dish are savory and earthy, creating a mouthwatering texture and taste in its own. Tip: For best results, don’t cheat the clock and let the sauce simmer for the full 30 minutes allotted.

View Recipe: Mushroom Bolognese

Photo: Gentl & Hyers

Quick-Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce with Spaghetti

Make a quick, fresh tomato sauce for this meatless pasta dish by roasting cherry tomatoes and topping with basil, parsley, and goat cheese.

View Recipe: Quick-Roasted Cherry Tomato Sauce with Spaghetti

Photo: Romulo Yanes

Spaghetti and Simple Tomato Sauce

This versatile Italian dish goes from stovetop to table in less than 30 minutes. Serve with a simple salad for a filling weeknight meal.

View Recipe: Spaghetti and Simple Tomato Sauce

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Spaghetti with Caramelized Onion and Radicchio

The sweet caramelized onions juxtapose the other flavors of this dish perfectly. Its exquisite taste makes it great to serve to company or for special family occasions.

View Recipe: Spaghetti with Caramelized Onion and Radicchio

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Fennel-Sardine Spaghetti

Easy to make in just four simple steps, this Mediterranean-inspired spaghetti recipe is perfect for dinner during a busy week. Look for imported sardines in the Latin or Mediterranean section of your supermarket.

View Recipe: Fennel-Sardine Spaghetti

Photo: Randy Mayor

Spaghetti with Pork Bolognese

A rich sauce with plenty of meat feels like the old-world Italian dish but fits in the new-world nutrition sense. A little liquid remaining in your sauce helps coat the pasta.

View Recipe: Spaghetti with Pork Bolognese

Shrimp and Pine Nut Spaghetti

Homemade cream sauce is a delicious and easy topper to this pasta toss. Not a shrimp fan? It's also good with rotisserie chicken.

View Recipe: Shrimp and Pine Nut Spaghetti

Photo: Randy Mayor

Garlicky Spaghetti with Beans and Greens

Canned beans are a great pantry staple with lots of protein and fiber. To help reduce sodium in regular canned beans by almost 40%, we rinse and drain them.

View Recipe: Garlicky Spaghetti with Beans and Greens

Photo: Randy Mayor

Tomato-Ricotta Spaghetti

Roasting tomatoes intensifies their sweetness. We also tested this recipe with grated Parmigiano-Reggiano—it's a splurge that makes the difference.

View Recipe: Tomato-Ricotta Spaghetti

Photo: Melissa Springer

Aunt Liz’s Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

This chicken spaghetti casserole is low in calories and can easily be made ahead of time. The recipe makes two casseroles so enjoy one for dinner and freeze the other for later.

View Recipe: Aunt Liz’s Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Spaghetti Carbonara with Leeks and Pancetta

A small amount of the pasta's cooking liquid is whisked into the egg mixture to prevent the eggs from overcooking when added to the hot pasta. This procedure, called tempering, results in a rich, creamy sauce that easily coats the noodles.

View Recipe: Spaghetti Carbonara with Leeks and Pancetta

Photo: Randy Mayor

Lemon Basil Shrimp and Pasta

A zesty one-pot pasta dish is complete after tossing with capers, basil, olive oil, and lemon juice. Serve with focaccia or crusty baguette.

View Recipe: Lemon Basil Shrimp and Pasta

Photo: Becky Luigart-Stayner

Pasta Carbonara Florentine

Whisked eggs and Parmesan cheese are stirred into a skillet of just-cooked pasta to form a rich, creamy sauce that coats the noodles. The spinach isn't traditional but adds color and a subtly earthy flavor twist.

View Recipe: Pasta Carbonara Florentine

Photo: Randy Mayor

Spaghetti and Meatballs

There’s nothing wrong with being traditional, and this dish proves just that. A comfort classic at heart, this dish will have everyone in the family smiling and asking for more!

View Recipe: Spaghetti and Meatballs

Photo: Howard L. Puckett

Chicken Piccata with Summer Vegetable Pasta

Celebrate summer flavor with a fresh pasta recipe that's loaded with veggies and lean chicken. It's the perfect one-dish recipe for a warmer evening.

View Recipe: Chicken Piccata with Summer Vegetable Pasta