Parmesan

Chef Jimmy Bradley's wonderfully simple combinations of texture and flavor at New York City's The Red Cat were the inspiration for this zucchini dish—it makes a great accompaniment to "lazy lasagne." Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 20 min

Fresh kernels of raw corn are so sweet and tender that they don't need to be cooked. Their natural sugars and crisp juiciness pair wonderfully with the salty Parmesan and peppery arugula.

Called bianca, or "white," because they are sauceless, these crispy pizzas are the essence of clean flavor. The toppings are added after the crusts come out of the oven, melting the cheese slightly. This recipe makes two round pizzas or four rectangular ones.

This crowd-pleasing risotto works well as a main course—accompanied by green salad and crusty bread—or as a side dish for leftover chicken. Active time: 45 min Start to finish: 45 min

From Ristorante Chianti, Geneva, Illinois.

This classic carbonara traps crispy pancetta and all that silky sauce in big tubes of rigatoni.

Canned butternut squash purée (find it by the canned pumpkin!) makes this cozy, cold-weather recipe come together in a snap.

Crisp-tender green beans meet a punchy Parmesan dressing in this easy, make-ahead fresh green bean salad that’s perfect for dinner parties or holidays.

This riff on the Italian classic comfort food gets its verdant color from kale two ways: blended into the base, and wilted among the pasts and white beans.

Salty pancetta and briny marinated artichokes are a perfect match in this luscious pasta featuring pantry-friendly ingredients.

This no-knead knockout gets its punch from tomatoes in two different ways.

A bowl of comfort with ricotta “meatballs,” tiny pasta, and lots of greens.

Tall, flaky buttermilk biscuits are given the garlic bread treatment–plenty of butter, two kinds of garlic, and lots of herbs and cheese.

Golden beets, hot Italian sausage, and sage come together to make a quick and comforting pasta that’s far greater than the sum of its parts.

Tons of caramelized onions, so much gooey cheese, and very few dirty dishes.

That can of pumpkin purée in your cabinet is for more than just pie.

No coating or frying here! Toasted breadcrumbs and a blanket of melty cheese replicate the flavors and textures of eggplant parm in a fraction of the time.

Alfredo sauce is for more than just pasta. Fresh summer corn is given the pasta treatment with plenty of cheese in this lightning-fast side.