20+ Best Italian Pasta

These 20+ Best Italian Pasta Recipes, are what pasta dreams are made of. From easy, to baked to Different but all delicious. Some of the best to make an Italian Night authentic and special!

Pasta recipes, gnocchi in a pan, carbonara on a fork, crepe with meat sauce in a white pan & tomato pasta in a black pan.

If you have been following my blog from the beginning or you are a new reader, I think you will understand that I am an absolute diehard Pasta Fan. I love it and I can never eat enough of it. The Italian believes I married him for his Pasta Connections.

Maybe, maybe not! I can honestly say I have never met a Pasta Dish I didn’t like. Therefore, I thought quite a few years of sharing my recipes, I would to share more than 20 of the best! Not to say that the other ones aren’t also delicious, but these are ones that are enjoyed more and more by friends and family.

Easy Pasta Recipes

Hot Caprese Pasta

Pasta with Tuna & Olives

Easy Italian Shrimp Pasta

Italian Pasta All’Amatriciana

Carbonara Pancetta and Egg Pasta

Fresh Tomatoes & Sausage Pasta

Zucchini Cream Cheese Pasta

Easy Italian Mushroom Fettuccine

Italian Penne Arrabbiata

Italian Seafood Pasta Recipe

Summer Pasta Salad Recipe

Simple Bucatini with Eggplant

Spaghetti Aglio, Olio and Peperoncino

Speciality Pasta Recipes

4 different pasta recipes, white lasagna, gnocchi, crepe with meat sauce & 2 ingredient pasta.

White Sauce Lasagna

Pasta & Fagioli – Pasta & Beans

Classic Lasagna

Homemade Potato Gnocchi Recipe

Homemade Creamy Mushroom Ravioli

Ricotta Gnocchi Recipe

Traditional Alfredo Pasta

Authentic Spaghetti Carbonara

Simple Two Ingredient Homemade Pasta

Authentic Cacio & Pepe

Crepe Cannelloni with Meat Sauce

Crepe Cannelloni with Cheese & White Sauce

How to cook pasta

Always cook the pasta in enough water, you will need 4 cups (1 litre) for 3 1/2 ounces (100 grams) of pasta. Be sure to choose the correct size pot, you don’t want the water to reach the rim and overflow, because pasta, when cooked, can increase in volume up to three times. Always cover the pot when boiling the water, but remove it once the pasta has been added.

Calculate about 7 g of salt for every litre of water. Add the salt only when the water has reached a boil and never before.

After adding the pasta to the pot, bring it back to a boil and keep it at a boil while the pasta is cooking. This allows the pasta to achieve an even cooking, be sure to stir frequently while it is cooking.

Never pass the freshly drained pasta under running tap water. You should never stop the cooking, even when you are making a cold pasta salad, let it cool by adding a drizzle of olive oil to prevent it from sticking.

Drain the pasta al dente, this is done by tasting, if it has a bite to it it’s ready, nothing worse than mushy pasta. If you have to toss the pasta in a pan with sauce (like this recipe) then cook it at least one minute less (pasta very al dente). And be sure to leave some pasta water to add to the pan.

Creamy Pasta Recipes

Creamy pasta pepper sauce in a black pan, sausage & mushroom in a pan, pasta salad in a bowl & creamy tomato in a black pan.

Creamy Cheesy Baked Pasta

Creamy Pasta Boscaiola with Mushroom & Sausage

Creamy Mushroom and Ham Pasta

Creamy Tomato Pasta

Creamy Italian Pasta Salad

How to store Cooked Pasta

Most pasta dishes are best consumed at the time they are made. Although if you do have leftovers, then store it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 1-2 days, re-heat on the stove, add a little water (pasta water if available) and heat through. If it is a baked pasta than re-heat in a low oven.

How many types of Pasta are there in Italy?

There are over 300 different types of pasta available in Italy. From dry to fresh pasta, ranging from short, long, fine, ridged, smooth and even striped. The different varieties are distinguished by the type of dough that is used, the shape, surface and of course whether they are filled or not. Also different types of pasta require different sauces.