4 Unexpected Pasta Recipes

When it comes to pasta (one of the five food groups, as far as we’re concerned 😉), there are a handful of iconic dishes that belong in the dinner hall of fame, like spaghetti and meatballs, cacio e pepe, and of course, mac-and-cheese.

However, the classics aren’t the only way to approach pasta; in fact, one of our favorite things about ZENB Pasta is how versatile it is. Like a killer pair of boots, pasta can take you from morning to night — yes, you can eat pasta for breakfast, and we’ll show you how!

If you like to cook outside the box, you’ll be stoked to know that the ZENB recipe collection is filled to the brim with imaginative recipes that utilize our various pasta shapes in ways you never imagined.

Ready to fire up the stove? Here are four unique, unexpected pasta recipes to elevate your meals this week:

ZENB Rotini with Brown Butter and Cinnamon

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For many of us, pasta is a treat, but this decadent, cozy dish takes that to a literal level. While this isn’t a dessert recipe, it definitely hits the sweet spot (so to speak!) with a glorious combination of brown butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar. It’s like cinnamon toast all grown up. 

This dish also puts the magic of brown butter on full display. Browning butter is essentially toasting it, which unlocks deeply nutty aromatics and flavor compounds. Just when you thought butter couldn’t get any better, browning it really takes it to the next level. Once you’ve got the technique down, try swapping in brown butter for regular butter in other recipes for a whole new experience.

ZENB Antipasto Penne Skewers

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Every party spread gets an instant upgrade with antipasto-style skewers. The combo of creamy mozzarella, savory charcuterie, briny olives, and fresh basil is so satisfying and crowd-pleasing! Our clever recipe adds protein- and fiber-packed ZENB Penne, tossed in ZENB Final Flair Olive Oil, to the skewers for another dimension of flavor and texture.

Sweet Potato and Kale Pasta Agile Hash

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We promised pasta for breakfast, so here you go! This hash, made with quick-cooking ZENB Pasta Agile, rounds up all the best parts of brunch into a hearty dish that starts your day off on the right foot. Plenty of veggies (hello, sweet potato, kale, and red bell pepper) add color and nutrition to the dish, which is finished with a pop of salty feta cheese and a gorgeous fried egg.

Bonus: Mix up a batch of bloody marys for the ultimate weekend vibe.

Sweet & Spicy Thai-Style ZENB Agile Skillet

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Got a craving for takeout? This fun riff on Pad Thai will scratch that itch in no time, with a nutritious twist, too! In the time it would take for delivery to hit your front steps, you could be dishing up this sweet and spicy skillet, made with ZENB Pasta Agile, a velvety peanut sauce, tofu, bean sprouts, scallions, and peanuts. Make a double batch for filling, healthy lunches all week!


This is just the beginning, fam. Head to the ZENB recipe library to discover even more nutritious, creative recipes to keep mealtimes balanced and exciting. Then, keep the inspo going by following ZENB on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.


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