You’ve been asked to bring pasta to the summer potluck this year. Mac and cheese sounds like a good idea, but so does Sensei’s Mom’s Macaroni Salad, a true classic.

But you’re also in the mood for some fresh Tex-Mex food. Ktbnkr shows us that noodles can be tasty without tomato sauce. Her Taco Pasta is full of flavor and color. Her recipe is a flexible one, too, so you can sneak in some of your personal favorite ingredients, maybe a few jalapenos.

Because you’ll finish making Ktbnkr’s salad in no time, you also might want to try The_knittymommy’s Portobello Mushroom Stroganoff. If you’re serving a vegetarian crowd, you can easily substitute the beef broth with vegetable bouillon, the rest of the dish is completely meat free.

What we love about each one of these recipe? They’re affordable, come together easily, and will hit the spot, whether you’re hosting a picnic or looking for a light mid-week bite.