With butter and cheese when the cupboard is bare.

With a jar of the ‘red sauce’ when you are in a hurry.

Or, if you are my middle child, just by itself with a glass of milk.

Pasta: the kitchen staple that gets you through not just the busy week but the weekend too.

With three pasta-mad kids, I’ve accumulated quite a collection of go-to recipes. From the ones you can throw together at the last minute, to the ones that you can with some of the more unusual types of pasta, here are some of my family’s favourites.

1. Tagliatelle with tuna, lemon & rocket.

This is one for the parents who want something a bit lighter.

Ingredients

500g San Remo tagliatelle

4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil,

1 garlic clove, finely chopped

450g can of tuna in oil

A handful of rocket

Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon

Medium dried red chillies, thinly sliced (optional)

Method

Tagliatelle can be served with a variety of sauces, a very versatile pasta that pleases the whole family. Image: iStock.

2. One pot sausage orrechiette.

Orrechiette is ear-shaped pasta, and what kid doesn’t like sausages? This recipe is easy to make and tastes delicious.

Olive oil

3. Vegetable and risoni bake.

A family favourite for winter nights (and a great way to sneak vegetables into the kids’ diets).

500g San Remo risoni

This risoni bake sneaks in a tonne of vegetables, while the kids are none the wiser. Image: iStock.

4. Chicken meatballs with angel hair pasta.

500g chicken mince or chicken sausage (casing removed)

Chicken meatballs add a new twist to an old favourite. Image: iStock.

What's a family favourite pasta dish you love?