Who doesn’t love pasta? We know we do. Perhaps that’s why it tends to be a tried-and-true side dish. But being in constant rotation can lead to pasta burnout.
Like that usual macaroni salad heavy with mayo? Forever pass on that. Or how about spaghetti noodles drenched in that boring store-bought spaghetti sauce? No, no; not again. There’s got to be better, easy-to-make pasta recipes out there…
There are! And it’s all about taking a few chances and getting creative to give your taste buds that new, unfamiliar jolt of flavor it’s been longing for.
We’ve rounded up 13 unexpected pasta fusion recipes you’ll only wish you’d tried sooner. From a summer-appropriate ramen noodle salad and a curried pumpkin gnocchi to a spicy Korean penne pasta and a BBQ spaghetti casserole, these recipes are guaranteed to shake up your breakfast, lunch and dinner routines.
A version of this article was originally published in October 2015.
Ramen Noodle Salad
Pick up a few packets of ramen noodles, boil, mix with some veggies and almonds, and in no time, you'll have a summer-appropriate ramen noodle salad.
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Diced ham, fresh pineapple and sweet pickle relish liven up an otherwise bland macaroni salad.
Spicy Korean Penne Pasta
For this recipe, head to your local Asian market to pick up authentic Korean ingredients, including kimchi, sesame oil and gochujang.
Lemony Collard Greens Pasta
If you've never had collard greens before, start with this pasta recipe. You'll love it.
Caribbean Jerk Chicken Pasta
Wait; you've never had jerk chicken pasta before? Get yourself some bell peppers, onions and jerk seasoning, and get on it!
Curried Pumpkin Gnocchi
Curry? Pumpkin? Together? Yes, absolutely. (And no, you don't need to wait until fall to try this.)
BBQ Spaghetti Casserole
The shortcut to making this barbecue spaghetti casserole? Pick up some pulled pork from your fave BBQ restaurant.
Strawberry Balsamic Pasta
Refreshing for these scorching-hot summer months, this strawberry caprese pasta salad has no mayo — none!
Fontina, Spinach & Artichoke Breakfast Pasta
Who says you can't have pasta for breakfast? We want a plate of this pasta hash stat.
Crockpot Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Pasta
This slow-cooker pasta is the stuff of comfort food dreams: Buffalo chicken and tons of rich, creamy cheese.
Caesar Pasta Salad
Caesar salad or pasta? No need to choose one or the other here; have both in one bowl.
Chocolate Pasta
Feast your eyes on the most decadent and sweetest of pastas: chocolate pasta.
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