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Chicken Caesar Pasta

Chicken Caesar Pasta

Chicken Caesar salad is about as classic as it gets, but why should lettuce have all the fun? I’m swapping the romaine for penne in this satisfying, protein-packed, weeknight-friendly pasta. I added chopped bell pepper and some lacinato kale for added nutrition and opted for Barilla’s Protein+ penne for a protein boost, but you can […]

Thai Peanut Chicken Salad

Thai Peanut Chicken Salad

When people ask me how to simplify dinner, I have a handful of go-to suggestions, one of which is to follow this formula: complex carb + vegetable(s) + protein + optional flavor booster (sauce, dip or dressing). Dinner doesn’t need to be complicated, require an abundance of ingredients or take a lot of time to […]

Asparagus Chicken Pasta with Parsley Pesto

Asparagus Chicken Banza Pasta with Parsley Pesto

Asparagus is one of my favorite spring vegetables because it’s quick to prep, quick to cook and full of nutrients. We often enjoy it as a simple roasted side dish, but I love it incorporated into pasta. This recipe calls for Banza pasta, a pasta made from chickpeas! It’s a good source of fiber and […]

Easy No Peel Fresh Tomato Sauce

Easy No-Peel Fresh Tomato Sauce

If you find yourself with fresh tomatoes on their last legs, avoid pitching them and instead roast and blend them into a quick sauce. While the purists may disagree, I don’t remove the skins or the seeds in this version. Whirring the roasted tomatoes in a high-speed blender yields a silky smooth sauce. Use it […]

Creamy Lemon Chicken Baked Ziti

Creamy Lemon Chicken Baked Ziti

A spin on the classic, this Creamy Lemon Chicken Baked Ziti calls for prepared Alfredo sauce instead of red sauce and is brightened up with lots of lemon zest and fresh spinach. Adding shredded rotisserie chicken breast (leftover cooked chicken works great, too) bulks up this family-friendly pasta dish, which is on the table in […]

Tortelloni with Tomato Spinach Cream Sauce

Tortelloni with Tomato Spinach Cream Sauce

My kids love stuffed pastas like ravioli and tortelloni and I am usually guaranteed a whine-free dinner hour when one of these is on the menu. For weeknight cooking, I turn to refrigerated stuffed pastas because they’re versatile, quick to cook (just 5 minutes) and perfect for meatless meals. This Tortelloni with Tomato Spinach Cream […]

Roasted Delicata and Goat Cheese Pasta

Roasted Delicata Squash and Goat Cheese Pasta

As its name suggests, delicata squash has a “delicate” skin that is completely edible when cooked, which means you don’t need to peel it (so it’s perfect for quick meals). Here, roasted delicata is tossed with sturdy bucatini and a mild goat cheese sauce to allow the sweetness of the squash to really shine. It’s […]

Cheese tortellini with roasted red pepper pesto and spinach

Tortellini with Roasted Red Pepper Pesto

Swap in a jar of roasted red bell peppers for basil in this 20-minute weeknight-friendly pasta dish. Be sure to drain and rinse the red peppers to remove the brine (which can be a little too tangy). For an easy protein boost, top this garlicky tortellini with leftover roasted chicken or stir in a can […]

Dinner table setting with two bowls of chicken cacciatore pasta.

Weeknight Chicken Cacciatore

Serve all the flavor of a traditional Chicken Cacciatore in a fraction of the time (I’m talking 15 minutes!) with the help of a few store-bought shortcuts, like pre-sliced peppers and rotisserie chicken. Swap out the pasta for toasted baguette slices to keep this even simpler. Serve with a simple green salad.

One Pot Taco Pasta

One Pot Taco Pasta

Nothing beats taco or pasta night, unless it’s taco pasta night. This One Pot Taco Pasta begins and ends with one pan (which ups your odds of convincing someone else to do the dishes). Saute ground beef (or turkey) along with a couple cups of veg, then cook the whole wheat pasta right in the […]

Linguine with Easy Clam Sauce

Linguini with Easy Clam Sauce

When you’re stuck in the middle of February (or any month not ending in “r”) and craving clams, enter our favorite Linguini with Easy Clam Sauce. This weeknight-friendly pasta is made with canned wild clams and brightened up with a ton of fresh lemon and a generous handful of parsley. Don’t be tempted to skip […]

4 Ingredient Tomato Pesto Chicken

4-Ingredient Tomato Pesto Chicken

Have a meal on the table in minutes with this 20-minute, 4-ingredient Tomato Pesto Chicken, which calls for one of my favorite weeknight shortcuts – store-bought pesto. We like to eat this over whole wheat orzo (tossed in a little olive oil and grated parmesan cheese) alongside a simple green salad.