Recipes Featured in this Article
By mid-November, it seems like the year starts to rapidly speed up. Between holiday travel and family gatherings filling up the calendar, there isn’t a whole lot of time for meal prep on the weekends. Luckily, you can always rely on a pasta night to put food on the table in a pinch. To shake up the ol' spaghetti and meatballs, Laura Vitale stopped by TODAY to share her favorite seasonal-inspired recipes.
Nothing says cozy like a big bowl of macaroni and cheese, and Vitale has two versions to make this week. The first blends subtly sweet pumpkin puree with a savory sage-infused roux for a baked shells dish that's bursting with fall flavors. The second is an easy chili mac mashup packed with hearty ground beef that — believe it or not — comes together in just one pot. If you're looking to really impress your dinner guests, go for Vitale's deceptively simple short rib ragu. It's a great way to elevate a standard meat sauce for any upcoming special occasions.
Speaking of special occasions, Thanksgiving is right around the corner! In case you want to taste test a few recipes before they earn a spot on your Thanksgiving menu, we have Vitale's turkey potpie and sweet potato casserole to round out the week. Trust us — they both deserve to be made more than one time this month.
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Geedel Rotary Cheese Grater
Vitale uses this kitchen tool to easily grate and shred cheese.
$29.97
Walmart
Laura Vitale’s fall pasta recipes
This recipe feels really special and it’s a great way to elevate a standard meat sauce. I love serving this around the holiday season paired with a green salad with shaved apple and fennel, plenty of crusty bread and good red wine. It’s the perfect special occasion meal that really doesn’t take much effort.
I love that this recipe gives a classic dish — macaroni and cheese — a bit of an autumnal vibe. The pumpkin adds a touch of sweetness that’s perfectly balanced by the sharpness of the cheeses. It’s like a hug in a bowl.
This easy chili macaroni and cheese is one of my favorite quick one-pot wonders, especially as the weather cools down and afternoon activities are back in full force. It combines the flavors of beef chili with the texture and ease of a box of stovetop mac and cheese. It’s a crowd favorite and even kids will go back for seconds!
More recipes to make this week
Swap out chicken with turkey for a unique take on classic potpie. It's super comforting and flavorful, with that same flakey crust that everyone craves. And yes, store-bought puff pastry is fine!
While Thanksgiving is less than three weeks away, we think you can enjoy this casserole more than just one day a year. It's sweet, savory and the potatoes can be prepped in advance to save time.
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