The Best Pizza & Pasta Recipes - Cooking with Cassandra

Lasagna Soup

There’s something just so comforting about a big ol' bowl of lasagna soup. It captures all the rich flavors of traditional lasagna—savory meat, tangy tomato sauce, and creamy cheese—but in a warm, spoonable form. It’s the perfect easy dinner for cold nights when you’re craving lasagna but don’t have the time or energy for layering and baking. What makes this lasagna soup recipe extra special? It’s the flavor and the ease. We’re talking ground beef, garlic, Italian herbs, and a swirl of cream for that velvety finish. Add a generous sprinkle of cheese and a dollop of ricotta on top, and...

The Best Pasta alla Vodka

Pot of Pasta alla Vodka topped with freshly grated parmesan cheese and fresh basil

There’s something about a big bowl of creamy Pasta alla Vodka that just speaks to my soul—especially when the sauce is rich, garlicky, and clings to every bite of rigatoni. It’s one of those dishes that feels a little fancy but is surprisingly simple to make at home. The tomato paste gives it depth, the cream makes it silky, and the vodka? That’s the secret to pulling all the flavors together into one irresistibly smooth sauce. I’m sharing my secrets for making authentic, restaurant-worthy Pasta alla Vodka right at home. For this easy pasta recipe I toss the onion in a food...

Best Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Recipe

Do you love lasagna? I’ve tried it all from homemade, at my favorite Italian spots, and even the frozen kind from the grocery store. Each one of those experiences has given me the joy of eating comfort food which is just so flavorful and rich. But I love lasagna so much that I tend to overdo it! Is that just me, or can anyone else relate? So, when I discovered the idea of using spaghetti squash to make lasagna, I was excited to try it out. I’m here to prove that comfort food can be both cheesy and healthy! That’s exactly why I created one of my all-time favorites: Spaghetti Squash...

Easy Creamy Lemon Pasta (Pasta al Limone)

In just 30 minutes, you can whip up this Creamy Lemon Pasta the most delicious comfort food! It’s quick and easy for busy weeknights but fancy enough for guests. The mix of lemon, rich cream, and Parmesan creates a flavorful sauce that clings perfectly to the pasta. Even my father-in-law who is a basic meat and potatoes guy, asks for this every time he comes over. Trust me, you're going to LOVE this one! Creamy lemon pasta, also known as “Pasta al Limone” in Italy, is a classic, no-fuss dish from the Campania region. It’s especially popular along the Amalfi Coast in places like Amalfi and...

Pasta With White Wine Lemon Sauce

Lemon Pasta topped with Cherry Tomatoes and fresh Basil | cookingwithcassandra.com

When life gives you lemons, what do you do? You concoct a divine lemon sauce with white wine to go with fettuccine pasta. This lemon white wine pasta sauce recipe is the ultimate game changer. While I do love myself a rich carbonara and a light aglio olio, this white wine sauce is the perfect in-between. What I love about this pasta is that it is light and simple to make. Great on its own or as a side with Easy Creamy Lemon Chicken or Baked Salmon with Lemon Butter. This is one of my go-to weeknight pastas during the Summer months. Coated with a lemon-infused garlic cream...

Best Fettuccine Alfredo

Chicken and Fettuccine Alfredo Sauce | cookingwithcassandra.com

If you are a sucker for comfort food, then this chicken fettuccine alfredo recipe will be right up your alley. It’s perfect for lunch or dinner at home, and at a potluck party, it’s sure to be a swoon-worthy contribution. It’s luscious, filling, and has the most incredible flavor. And no, we are not going to use any canned alfredo sauce to make this recipe. I’m going to teach you how to make homemade alfredo from scratch. Once you find out how easy it is to put together a delicious sauce, you’re going to skip the artificial, canned stuff. This chicken fettuccine alfredo recipe is...

BEST Baked Mac and Cheese

Okay, I’m not going to reinvent the wheel with classic comfort food that everyone can agree on: mac and cheese. I used to love these as a kid and even more when I moved out on my own and was learning how to cook. There was always a box of mac and cheese in the pantry ready to go for a quick nostalgic meal. But if, like me, you’re ready to graduate from boxed foods and cook your own killer mac and cheese from scratch, read on! This recipe is loaded with secret tips and tricks to make a truly the best homemade macaroni and cheese, a recipe so easy and so delicious you will never go back to...

Easy Pasta Bake (No Boiling Required!)

Last Friday, Walt and I hosted a get-together at our place with our circle of friends. Think geeky board games, wine, delicious food and the end of the night (after a few glasses of wine) Kareoke! After our recent trip to Italy Walt and I couldn't stop dreaming about pasta. I mean, who can blame us, right? When we got back I had a girls night and in a stroke of brilliance, one of my closest friends Hayley suggested we should give pasta its own special day. Move over Taco Tuesday, because we proudly present... Pasta Friday! Okay, maybe the name doesn't have that catchy ring, but who cares?...

Creamy Zucchini Pasta With Avocado Spinach Sauce

Creamed spinach Tagliolini | cookingwithcassandra.com

Toss out that packet of spaghetti and swap it for zoodles. These zucchini noodles are ten times healthier than store-bought spaghetti: they are low-carb, nutrient-packed, and are better for the gut, too. If you’re someone who doesn’t hesitate before digging into regular pasta, I’m sure your body will thank you for changing things up a bit. With a bit of spiralizing and sauce-making, you’ll have a hearty bowl of soft zucchini pasta with the creamiest avocado spinach sauce that’s just as healthy. We get the cream entirely from the avocado, and the blended spinach turns into a...

Easy Mediterranean Pasta Salad

Pasta salad with cherry tomatoes | cookingwithcassandra.com

Growing up, I was surrounded by loads of Mediterranean food influences. I had a family full of amazing cooks and I was always served the best dishes from scratch, and now that I’m older, I realize that I was incredibly lucky to have had someone cook for me. In Mediterranean cooking, we use a lot of flavorful plant-based foods like legumes, grains, and herbs. But, we also love our sauces and dressings. People tend to think of Mediterranean food like Italian, but it actually is a melting pot of European, Middle Eastern, Asian, and African cuisines. This Mediterranean pasta salad...

Healthy Cauliflower White Pizza (with step-by-step instructions)

Cauliflower Pizza | cookingwithcassandra.com

Through the years dabbling with culinary arts, here’s my thesis: Cauliflower works the hardest. You can bake it, make soup from it, air-fry it, mash it, and even make rice from it. This vegetable is definitely versatile, and when you want to make a low-carb pizza, cauliflower will happily rise to the occasion. Keep reading for my tried-and-tested cauliflower pizza crust recipe plus how to make a white, cheesy topping. This vegetarian pizza is a timeless companion - you can have it for lunch, dinner, I will admit I have even had leftovers for breakfast. The blend of...

Mexican Flatbread Pizzas

Can we both agree that Mexican street corn (also known as elotes Mexicanos) is the single most exciting way to eat Canada’s third most grown crop? Yep, I’m talking about corn! We’ve become so used to cooking recipes that name corn as just another topping, but it rarely gets the spotlight, you know? This humble vegetable always contributes itself to dishes like salads, salsa, pizza toppings, and more, going unnoticed and staying in the background. But not this time. Oh, no! In today’s Mexican street corn recipe, we let corn take center stage. The sour cream and...