15 Minute Pesto Pasta [+ Video]

Pesto pasta is a fresh, flavor-packed dish made with al dente penne, homemade basil pesto, and a touch of garlic and parmesan. It’s quick to whip up, full of bright, herby goodness, and perfect for tossing together on a busy night. All you need is a few simple ingredients and 15 minutes – yes, really!

This pesto pasta is fresh, flavorful, and ridiculously easy to throw together. The homemade basil pesto is rich with garlic, parmesan, and pine nuts, and it clings perfectly to every bite of penne. We’ve been making it since our basil started taking over the garden, and it’s still a favorite. Tossed, stirred, and devoured in minutes – this dish never lets us down.

Fresh basil has a way of sneaking into just about everything we make during the warmer months. Whether it’s tucked into a cheesy pasta or layered into something heartier, the flavor is always a hit around our table. When the mood calls for something extra cozy, we’ll go for our 20-Minute Cheesy Pesto Pasta – it’s like this dish’s rich, melty cousin. Or if we’re feeling that casual backyard dinner vibe, a slice of Pesto Pepperoni and Sausage Grilled Pizza totally hits the spot. And if you haven’t tried our Creamy Chicken Pesto Lasagna, you’re seriously missing out!

Ingredients for Pesto Pasta

This pesto pasta is proof that simple really can be spectacular. Just grab a few fresh staples, give them a whirl in the food processor, and boom – pasta night perfection.

• Penne Pasta: The perfect pasta shape to catch all that gorgeous pesto sauce in every nook and cranny. Spaghetti or rotini work well too!
• Pine Nuts: Lightly toasted for that buttery, nutty flavor that makes pesto sing. If you don’t have these in the pantry, walnuts or almonds are a good backup.
• Garlic: Adds a bold, savory depth to the pesto. We’re using fresh cloves for that extra zing!
• Sweet Basil: The star of the show. Use fresh basil leaves, packed tightly for the best flavor. No dried stuff here!
• Olive Oil: Helps everything blend smoothly and adds that classic richness. Stick with extra virgin for the best taste.
• Parmesan Cheese: Freshly grated is best – trust us. Adds saltiness and a creamy texture to the pesto.
• Sea Salt and Fresh Black Pepper: Just a pinch or two to bring everything into balance.

The measurements needed for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Easy Greek Pasta Salad [+ Video]

A fresh and easy Greek Pasta Salad just in time for summer! This crowd-pleasing side dish is tasty for backyard barbecues. Curly pasta to trap the dressing is essential, then load it up with a variety of olives, fresh cucumber and more!

This easy Greek pasta salad recipe is all about one thing: the chunks of feta cheese. Yes, I love the chewy pasta, the crunch of the fresh veggies, and the tangy dressing. It’s basically summer in a bowl, colorful and fresh.

But honestly? It’s all about the feta for me. Every time I see someone on the Food Network making a salad with chunks of feta cheese, I vow to stop what I’m doing and immediately follow their lead. And now, you can too.

This is one Greek pasta salad your guests will rave about! It is simply the BEST with your favorite summery grilled meats (find my favorite grilled chicken recipe here) or at any potluck or picnic you are attending.

What’s Needed for Greek Pasta Salad?

The red wine vinaigrette is so simple and flavorful, you can throw it together right before you need it. And it comes together in minutes with just a few pantry ingredients. Save the recipe because you’ll want it on all your other salads, too!

For the Greek Dressing:

• Olive Oil
• Red Wine Vinegar
• Garlic
• Dried Oregano
• Lemon Zest and Lemon Juice
• Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper

I love the classic combination of cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, and olives. Since grocery store tomatoes can be unpredictable, I go with my favorite brand of grape or cherry tomatoes and slice them lengthwise. I also use red onion and kalamata olives, but you are welcome to substitute your favorite onions and olives.

For the Pasta Salad:

• Rotini Pasta
• English Cucumber
• Diced Bell Pepper
• Sliced Red Onion
• Grape Tomatoes
• Feta Cheese
• Kalamata Olives

The measurements and details for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Greek Pasta Salad

This feta and cucumber pasta salad couldn’t be easier to make! Here are the basic steps to making this simple pasta salad recipe:

Easy Italian Pasta Salad [+ Video]

This easy Italian Pasta Salad is a crowd-pleasing dish perfect for summer picnics or potlucks. Packed with fresh vegetables, cheese, pepperoni and dressed with a zesty homemade Italian dressing, this salad is sure to be a hit. Plus, check out the recipe video for step-by-step instructions!

Have you made our Greek Pasta Salad? It’s really good and one of the most popular recipes on our site. Here’s the thing though, not everyone is a fan of feta cheese, so we felt like we had no choice but to bust out an amazingly easy pasta salad recipe complete with mozzarella cheese, fresh and flavorful homemade Italian dressing, and meat and colorful vegetables galore.

There’s something about pasta salad recipes and summertime that just make the world happy. I get almost giddy the closer we get to summer just thinking about dusting off the BBQ and pulling out the lawn chairs for outdoor cookouts with friends. Make some grilled chicken and grilled corn on the cob with this pasta salad with Italian dressing, and you have yourself the perfect summer dinner!

What’s in Italian Pasta Salad?

I’ll be honest with you — our kids totally pick out some of the ingredients in this homemade pasta salad. Two of our kids love straight up cold pepperoni. So Cade and I are left to eat whatever’s leftover from this pasta salad with pepperoni. The joys of parenthood!

To make this pasta salad recipe, you’ll need:

• Rotini Pasta: Any short, sturdy pasta works great like penne, farfalle, fusilli, macaroni, etc.
• Pepperoni
• Salami
• Black Olives
• Mozzarella Cheese: Fresh mozzarella balls are preferred.
• Parmesan Cheese: freshly grated
• Bell Pepper: I prefer a red, yellow or orange bell pepper.
• Tomatoes: Grape or cherry tomatoes work great.
• Red Onion
• Italian Salad Dressing: You can grab some at the grocery store or make it at home with the recipe we’ve included below.

The measurements needed for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

How to Make Italian Pasta Salad

Don’t let all the mix-ins fool you, this Italian pasta salad with pepperoni is as easy as it gets! It’s just a matter of cooking the pasta, choppi

Easy Sizzling Italian Spaghetti Aglio e Olio [+Video]

This simple and delicious Italian dish is perfect for a quick weeknight meal. Learn how to make spaghetti aglio e olio with just a few ingredients and enjoy a flavorful sizzle in every bite.

This recipe was born because our sizzling Italian dipping oil for bread was going crazy on Instagram so I thought…I bet if I tossed this herbaceous oil with some pasta that it would be outrageous! And boy was I right! The whole family gobbled this up and now we are having it on the reg. I hope you love it as much as we do!

Oh and did I mention that it’s so quick and easy?! Dinner on the table in 20 minutes! I know all you busy parents will love that!

What is Aglio e Olio?

Directly translated from Italian, “spaghetti aglio e olio” means “spaghetti with garlic and oil.” It’s a classic Italian pasta dish where spaghetti is tossed with a hot garlic and oil sauce. I’ve also seen it called “midnight spaghetti” because it’s so quick and easy to make and can be thrown together for a late night snack. If this is how midnight snacks go in Italy, count me in!

Ingredients for Spaghetti Aglio e Olio

It only takes a few simple ingredients to make this spaghetti recipe, so head to the fresh herbs section of your produce section and you are just a few more ingredients away from a simple pasta dinner:

• Olive Oil: helps cook the garlic and acts as the sauce for the pasta
• Garlic: be sure to use fresh garlic
• Fresh Herbs: Parsley, Oregano (or Marjoram), Rosemary and Basil
• Red Pepper Flakes: adds flavor and a little heat
• Kosher Salt: adds flavor
• Balsamic Vinegar: adds acidity and a little sweetness
• Fresh Spaghetti: buy it at the store or make your own
• Parmesan: Pasta is always better with parm!

The measurements for each ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of the post.

Two Ways to Make Spaghetti with Garlic and Olive Oil

There are two ways you can make the hot sizzling oil spaghetti and it all depends on how you want the garlic…the “aglio” in our aglio olio! Both versions only take 20 minutes to get on the table! I’ll walk you through each method. Before you start, make sure you get some water heating up and boil your pasta until al dente.

Toasted Garlic

1. Mix: Place all the herbs and spices in a shallow bowl and mix to combine.
2. Heat: Add the oil to a small saucepan and heat over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the garlic and let it toast.
   • PRO TIP: Pay close attention to the garlic because it will brown quickly and you do

BEST Homemade Spaghetti Sauce [+Video]

This homemade spaghetti sauce recipe is a family favorite and is sure to become yours too! Made with fresh ingredients and a secret ingredient that takes it to the next level. Watch the video to see how easy it is to make!

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce Recipe

After years of trying to create the best homemade spaghetti sauce, we’ve finally found the perfect recipe. This spaghetti sauce from scratch is a recipe we’re happy to eat over and over again! 

After years of testing and retesting recipes for easy homemade spaghetti sauce, we finally have one that we want to shout from the rooftops. This spaghetti meat sauce recipe isn’t a quick recipe, but one that simmers and bubbles all day until it’s flavors are irresistible.

Although this spaghetti sauce requires 3+ hours to develop its rich, hearty flavor, it’s very easy to make. The prep work takes all of 10 minutes to complete, and then you can walk away from the stove to tend to other chores around the house. 

In this post, we walk you through how to make spaghetti sauce, and we also address a number of FAQs we’ve received about making homemade pasta sauce. 

Spaghetti Sauce Ingredients

If you’ve already scrolled down to the recipe card to see what’s in this homemade spaghetti sauce, don’t be worried about the longer ingredient list. Most of the ingredients are herbs you already have in your pantry! Here’s what you’ll need to make this spaghetti sauce recipe: 

• Fresh Tomatoes: I recommend Roma tomatoes for the best flavor.
• Garlic: Toss them in with the tomatoes with their skin on to roast. The skins will slide right off.
• Olive Oil: helps roast the tomatoes and garlic
• Salt and Black Pepper: adds flavor
• Onion: adds flavor
• Baby Bella Mushrooms: adds texture and flavor
• Red Bell Pepper: adds flavor
• Mild Italian Sausage: This can be omitted if you want a vegetarian sauce, but it does add great flavor and good protein to the sauce.
• Fresh Herbs: Parsley, Basil, Rosemary and Oregano – I’ve included the measurements for dried herbs in the recipe card too.
• Canned Tomatoes: I recommend Cento brand San Marzano tomatoes.
• Tomato