14 Slow-Cooker Pasta Recipes That Basically Make Themselves

Basil Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo with Prosciutto

Here's a twist on an Easter ham: make this classic comfort food with warm, crisp prosciutto, Italian-style chicken with basil pesto and bright asparagus. (via Half Baked Harvest)

Easy Lentil and Sweet Potato Chili

Easter dinner ideas should be light, yet flavorful. For this dish, use cumin and garlic to accent the chili powder in this comforting and brunch-friendly vegan chili. (via GastroPlant)

Black Bean Meatloaf

Whip up old-school-style meatloaf made with protein-packed black beans and quinoa. Serve with your favorite Easter sides. (via This Wife Cooks)

Spring Vegetable Galette

You don’t need to be a pastry expert to make a beautifully cheesy, crispy galette. Don't worry if this doesn't come out looking perfect — the more crags and “rustic” bits there are in the crust, the better it looks. (via Brit + Co)

Asparagus Puff Pastry Tart With Eggs And Feta

Pair this lemony and cheesy tart with your favorite mimosa recipe for a savory brunch (or dinner!) (via Forks & Foliage)

Rosemary Roasted Whole Chicken

Prepare to graze all day over this roasted chicken with fresh rosemary, lemon, garlic, and shallots. It's sure to become one of your family's favorite Easter dinner ideas. (via Feel Good Foodie)

Vegan Split Pea Soup

Blend creamy split green peas and golden potatoes for a meat- and dairy-free soup that's so delicious.(via Veggie Society)

Baked Ham With Honey Mustard And Apples

Slather your baked ham with honey mustard glaze, stuff it with apples and bake to perfection! Ham sandwiches for days!(via A Spicy Perspective)

Vietnamese Cajun Shrimp Boil

Break out some Easter bibs for this crowd-pleasing cajun shrimp boil made with juicy shrimp, corn, baby potatoes, and smoked sausages.(via Takes Two Eggs)

Pork Tenderloin with Figs And Balsamic Glaze

A delicious balsamic glaze flavored with seasonal figs make an amazing sauce over pork tenderloin. (via Culinary Hill)

Chicken Pastina Soup

Pastina, or "little pasta," refers to any type of tiny pasta and makes for a kid-friendly Easter or anytime meal. (via Barley & Sage)

Creamy Dijon Rosemary Chicken

Made with just a few ingredients, this creamy chicken dish should be at the top of your Easter dinner ideas list. (via Salt & Lavender)

Sesame Peanut Soba Noodle Salad

We love this colorful twist on an Easter pasta salad made with crunchy purple cabbage, sweet carrots, edamame and noodles tossed together in a sweet and spicy peanut dressing. (via Munching With Mariyah)

Lemony Spring Pasta Salad

The lemon dijon dressing is the clincher in this delightful healthy dish made with gluten-free pasta. (via RachL Mansfield)

Brussel Sprouts Pizza With Blue Cheese

Why not pizza for Easter brunch or dinner? Roasted Brussel sprouts, caramelized onions, and blue cheese is a cozy twist and ready in under an hour! (via The Endless Meal)

Baked Chicken And Leeks

Creamy potatoes, lemony leeks, and juicy marinated chicken served with a garlicky greek yogurt sauce is a meal we'd make any time. Just add a glass of wine! (via Cozy Cravings)

Spring Mix Salad With Lemon-Baked Tofu

This colorful spring salad is packed with lemon tofu, edamame, creamy avocado, crunchy radish, fresh mint, and citrus, and will look stunning on your Easter table. (via Two Spoons)

Vegetarian Shepherd's Pie

Carrots, celery, mushrooms, peas and corn are topped with fluffy mashed potatoes made with Greek yogurt in this easy-to-prepare dish that's also so satisfying. It's one of our healthier Easter dinner ideas. (viaLive Eat Learn)

Cauliflower Rice Casserole

Ooey, gooey, and filling, this casserole is enough of a showstopper to take centerstage at your Easter dinner, but is also laidback enough to make for an amazing breakfast. We added zucchini, kale, and mushrooms, but feel free to jazz it up with your favorite veggies. (via Brit + Co)

Bruléed Grapefruit Tart

Ok so this tart couldn't exactly stand on its own as an entrée (unless you're having a ton of desserts for dinner, which we're on board with) but it will definitely make for a colorful and fruity addition to any Easter table. (via Brit + Co)

Chicken Piccata With Sun-Dried Tomatoes

This chicken piccata made with paprika, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and artichokes is keto and gluten-free. (via Cilantro Parsley)

Gluten-Free Avocado Fries

For a healthier take on a fan-favorite finger food (wow, what a mouthful), bake some avocados. This recipe calls for a dash of salt and a spicy aioli, but you can swap for something sweeter. (via Brit + Co)

Blueberry Lavender Fizz

You can't have Easter dinner without some cute Easter cocktails! Whether you sip during dinner or wait until the kids have gone to bed, these blueberry lavender drinks have spring written all over them. (via Brit + Co)

Maple and Pear-Glazed Easter Ham

Ham in and of itself might seem like a pretty simple dish, but in addition to how flavorful this recipe is on its own, there are so many different ways to eat it! Pair it with pineapple, put it on a salad, or have it on top of a biscuit. (via Brit + Co)

Pressure-Cooker Ramekin Eggs

Your favorite veg, eggs, and cream go into individual ramekins, get pressure-cooked, and come out ever-so slightly soft so you can spread the whole thing over toast. It works just as well for dinner as it does brunch. (via Brit + Co)

Spring Pea Salad

This stunning salad will have your guests’ jaws on the floor. Bonus points if you flourish it with edible spring flowers. (via What’s Gaby Cooking?)

Fettuccine Carbonara

This eggs-and-bacon pasta transitions seamlessly from a mimosa-filled brunch to an Italian-themed dinner, and satisfices any time of day. (viaBrit + Co)

Shaved Asparagus and Pea Frittata With Mint and Parma Ham

Breakfast for dinner is always a treat, especially when it comes in the form of a frittata that's packed with veggies and garnished with salty, dry-cured ham. (via Drizzle and Dip)

Sweet Crepes

Round out your dinner (or start your brunch) with some delicious crepes that will satisfy your sweet tooth without leaving you overstuffed. Some classic fillings are strawberries and creme, chocolate, or even cheese and jam. (via Brit + Co)

Easy Chicken Spaghetti

Your entire family will fall madly in love with this easy-peasy pasta dish. Tossed with crisp asparagus and tender chicken strips, the spaghetti is fancy enough for Easter dinner, yet quick enough to throw together for a last-minute brunch. (via Dinner at the Zoo)

Potato-Crust Quiche Lorraine

You’ll forget pastry crust ever existed when you bite into this hashbrown-crusted quiche, which is filled with a silky mixture of eggs, half and half, and shredded Gruyère. Our mouths are already watering. (via Brit + Co)

Cilantro And Calabrian Pasta Salad

This herb and spicy twist on a classic pasta salad recipe is dairy free, egg free, and packed with more than 11 veggies inside for a healthy meal you'll all love. (via Chef Bai)

Brie, Bacon, and Butternut Squash Risotto

This customizable recipe will be delicious no matter what cheese, veggies, and herbs you choose — just don’t leave out the crispy bacon. You won't think twice about adding this to your Easter dinner ideas notebook! (via Brit + Co)

Spiced Chicken Thighs with Garlic Tahini Yogurt

This tasty easter dinner recipe looks the perfect spring meal. From the tahini yogurt to the pomegranate glazed carrots, it looks like a lightweight, but filling recipe we want to perfect! (via The Original Dish)

Garlic Parmesan Smashed Potatoes

Crispy smashed potatoes are right up our alley because they feel like we're cheating on our usual french fry orders. But we especially love the addition of smoky roasted and garlic parmesan flavors. Each bite feels like a party in your mouth. (via Kathryn's Kitchen Blog)

Broccoli Rabe Frittata With Pesto Ricotta

Is this a brunch or dinner recipe? According to Traci of Vanilla and Bean, it's up to you! We prefer to make it after a long day at work because it feels like a treat. Plus, it's a great option for anyone who loves vegetarian or gluten-freen meals. (via Vanilla and Bean)

Beef and Lamb Shawarma Wraps

Wherever there's a wrap recipe, you'll find us salivating over it! But this beef and lamb shawarma meal may be the best we've ever tasted. You'll also need a little bit of yogurt, garlic cloves, paprika, and more amazing spices to help it reach it's full glory. (via Forks and Foliage)

Twohy’s been a TJ’s fan ever since she was little, where she remembers joining her mom on grocery trips to the very first Trader Joe’s store in Pasadena, California. Since then, her love for the Trader Joe’s ‘treasure hunt’ (AKA finding fun, new products to try) hasn’t wavered.

In developing The I Love Trader Joe's Cookbook: 15th Anniversary Edition, Twohy said crafting the collection of 150 recipes took years.

“Many were tested and debuted when I had a cooking school in CA,” she said. “Now that I live 3 hours round-trip from the closest Trader Joe's, the drive can take longer than the recipe testing! I don't pay much attention to the clock when honing a recipe, because it's so much fun.”

When asked about her favorite items to pick up from TJ’s Twohy was quick to give her best recommendations! Some of her go-to’s include: puff pastry, fennel, the Umami Seasoning Blend, the Corn and Chile Tomato-less Salsa, frozen garlic cubes, creme fraiche, and 10 Minute Farro – and, of course, the entire cheese section.

“If you are a ‘can of this, package of that’ sort of cook, TJ's products are great because they don't use artificial colors, preservatives and all that stuff,” Twohy offered. “Not only [are they] time saving, but good for you, too.”

We were lucky enough to get a peek at some recipes from Twohy’s cookbook: One-Pot Pesto Pasta, Potatoes, and Green Beans and Linguini with Leeks, Shrimp, and Arugula. Scroll on for the deets!

Recipe: One-Pot Pesto Pasta, Potatoes, and Green Beans

"The first time I heard of this classic Ligurian dish, I thought it sounded so strange," Twohy writes. "Talk about carb overload! But the flavors, textures, and colors couldn’t be more perfectly paired, and you’ll be converted to the pasta-and-potato combination with the first bite."

Ingredients:

• 1 large boiling potato (or two small ones)
• 1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into 3-inch lengths
• 1/2 (16-ounce) bag thin pasta, such as capellini or spaghetti
• 1/2 cup Trader Joe’s Pesto alla Genovese (in the refrigerated section)
• 2 ounces Trader Joe’s Chevre Goat Cheese, softened
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, scrub the potato and cut into 1-inch cubes. Place the potato cubes in the boiling water and cook until barely tender, about 7 minutes. Scoop the potatoes out of the water with a slotted spoon and set aside.
2. Add the green beans to the same water and cook until just tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the potatoes.
3. In the same water, cook the pasta until tender. When you drain the pasta, reserve 1⁄2 cup of the cooking water.
4. In the pasta pot, combine the pesto, goat cheese, and 1⁄4 cup of the water, then add the cooked pasta and toss. Add the potatoes and green beans.
5. If a saucier consistency is desired, add a bit more of the reserved pasta water. Adjust seasonings to taste with salt and pepper.

Recipe: Linguini with Leeks, Shrimp, and Arugula

"I’m a sucker for the pink-and-green look of this dish," Twohy writes. "The leeks, arugula, and shrimp get all tangled up in the long pasta strands, and the grated Parmesan provides a nutty saltiness I just love."

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 leeks, cleaned and thinly sliced
• 2 cubes frozen crushed garlic
• 1/2 cup vegetable broth
• 1/2 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 (16-ounce) bag linguini (or another long pasta), cooked and drained
• A handful of arugula
• 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• Salt and pepper

Directions:

1. In a medium sauté pan, heat the olive oil and butter. Sauté the leeks over medium-high heat until tender, about 5 minutes.
2. Add the garlic and sauté 1 to 2 minutes, until fragrant.
3. Add the vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes, until the sauce is slightly reduced.
4. Add the shrimp and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, until pink.
5. Toss the leek-shrimp mixture with the cooked pasta. Add the arugula and toss.
6. Add the grated Parmesan, toss, and adjust seasonings to taste with salt and pepper.

1. Airspun Loose Powder

I remember this loose powder being one of the very first makeup products I ever tried after seeing it in my mom's makeup kit. It's super nostalgic for many other beauty fans – and no wonder, because it first launched in 1935!

Formulated to have a "cloudlike softness" to it, this powder is ideal for setting foundation and concealer so your base stays in place.

“I used Coty Airspun loose powder for years," one Redditor wrote about it. "I don't use powder anymore, but I still take a fond look at it in the makeup aisle. The packaging is so retro and pretty. It always made me feel very 1950's movie star.”

I will say that the main disconnect between this "old school" makeup product and today's beauty trends is that more and more brands tend to lean toward dewy, natural finishes rather than fully matte ones – this powder definitely delivers on the latter.

2. L’Oreal Voluminous Mascara

This mascara launched in 1990 and it was quick to become a favorite amongst beauty fans looking for long, full lashes. Claiming to give lashes the appearance of 5 times their natural thickness, this formula goes on super easy, thanks to the streamlined wand design.

This mascara has proved itself a mainstay in many makeup bags, and since its launch, L'Oreal's launched several different colors to play with. I myself am especially fond of the blue and purple mascaras if I just want to get a little playful with my makeup!

"I have tried other mascaras in the past but I find this one is the best for me. I have been using it for years," one reviewer wrote on Amazon. "I now find it difficult to to buy at the drug stores so I order it through Amazon. It goes on easily, dries quickly and does not flake. I wear the burgundy because I have green eyes."

3. Clinique Black Honey Almost Lipstick

You probably recognized this one super quick. Clinique's Almost Lipstick in the shade Black Honey is renowned since it's said to be universally flattering and totally nails the natural look! Though it first hit the market in 1989, it's had an undeniable resurgence in the past couple years, further proving its iconic status.

“My grandmother took me to a Clinique counter when I was 13 and bought me a lipstick and some eyeshadow. I used them until they were gone," one Redditor reminisced. "The only Clinique item I've used since then is Black Honey, which is in my bathroom today.”

4. Benetint Liquid Lip & Cheek Stain

This beloved Benefit product hit shelves back in 1976, though it wasn't originally intended for use on the lips and cheeks. 👀 Benefit revealed that it was actually formulated for exotic dancers to use on their nipples to make them stand out!

Since its introduction, it's been a great pick to reach for to add a natural flush to the cheeks and make the lips a bit bolder. Benefit's launched several different shades over the years to join the OG "rose" one.

5. Max Factor Panstik Foundation

This "old school" makeup product was one of the first foundations that came in a convenient stick form. It launched in 1947, but you can still find it today! This creamy product is noticeably full-coverage and leaves a silky-matte finish once it's applied. A little truly goes a long way.

“I grew up in the 90s and remember using the Max Factor Panstik makeup. I can still remember the scent," one Redditor wrote. "It was a really great product for its time and I used it like a concealer.”

“I have this! What I like about it is it’s quick to apply when I don’t have the energy for liquid concealers," another Reddit user said. "The colour range isn’t impressive though.”

6. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick

Hitting the market back in 1957, it didn't take long for the Lustrous Lipstick from Revlon to become a cult classic. Many shades that the company developed in the latter half of the 20th century are still around today – several makeup fans on Reddit mentioned shades like Cherries In The Snow, Toast Of New York, Wine With Everything, Fire And Ice, and Sandalwood Beige are still their absolute favorites!

"Fire And Ice is one of my favourite lipsticks. It’s a wonderful bright corally red/pink..." one Redditor said. "It dates from the 50s. It’s quite nice to think I’m wearing the same colour as girls who were listening to Elvis.”

7. C.O. Bigelow Rose Salve

This might just be the most old school of all the "old school" makeup products mentioned here. This rosy skin salve was introduced way back in 1838 to heal dry, cracked skin in need of hydration – lips, face, hands, and body included. It's crafted the same way it was back in the 1800's, with rose extract to calm irritation, and lanolin, cotton seed, and jojoba oil to moisturize. The company also sells lavender, mint, and vanilla varieties in addition to the OG rose.

"I've been using C.O. Bigelow lavender salve for years and still love it. I rub it into my cuticles in the winter, spread the excess around my hands and top it with a layer of hand cream to seal it in," one Amazon reviewer wrote. "It works great to keep my skin from drying out and cracking and the lavender scent smells natural and not fake."

"Love this product! Worth every penny," another Amazon user said. "Use it on my lips, face and hands. Softens and is non greasy. My all time favorite product in my beauty stash!"